Blog

U.S. PIRG Mourns the Loss of Common Cause President Bob Edgar

Thursday, April 25, 2013

By | Blair Bowie

Democracy Advocate

The movement to create a more equal and participative democracy lost an inspirational and tireless leader this week.

Democracy

The Supreme Court and the High Cost of Rx Drugs

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

By | Laura Etherton

Health Care Policy Analyst

Everyone knows prescription drugs cost much more than they should. But many people are surprised to learn about one of the key ways drug companies keep prices high: Paying off competitors to keep generics off the market. On Monday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case about this very practice.

Health Care

Students to Congress: Don’t Double Our Rates

Friday, March 15, 2013

By | Chris Lindstrom

Higher Education Program Director

Earlier this week, the Education and Workforce Committee in the U.S. House held a hearing to purportedly “strengthen” the federal student loan program. Sadly, the proposals put forth by leaders in the hearing do anything but help solve the problem of high cost federal student loans. What the hearing did do was serve as a grave reminder that on July 1, student loan interest rates on subsidized Stafford student loans will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent—driving up the cost of higher education for 8 million students by $1,000 per loan.

Higher Ed

Meat Industry Admits: We Need Food Safety Inspectors

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

By | Nasima Hossain

Public Health Advocate

We’ve already written about the impact that sequestration’s across-the-board cuts will have on food safety. Consumers are understandably troubled, and now it seems that even the meat industry is concerned enough about this problem to write to the President.