Blog

Toxic Toys Found at Houston Port

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Public Health Advocate

An article published in the Houston Chronicle on Monday, January 23rd, revealed that 25,000 children’s toys have been confiscated at the Port of Houston in the past two years, because the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found them to be unsafe.

Public Health

Supreme Court Puts Sick Cows Back on the Menu

Thursday, January 26, 2012

On Monday the Supreme Court overturned a California law that required the euthanization of downed livestock at federally inspected slaughterhouses to keep this meat out of the nation’s food system.

Public Health

The "Dirty Thirty" Corporations that Spend More on Lobbying than Taxes

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

By | Phineas Baxandall

Senior Analyst for Tax & Budget Policy

Two years ago the Supreme Court's misguided Citizens United decision struck down long-standing Congressional limits on the political power of large corporations by vastly expanding the legal metaphor that "corporations are people." Now there is fresh evidence that corporate influence over Congress makes it easy for those same corporations to avoid their civic duty of paying taxes.

Obama's New Consumer Finance Chief Can Lower Student Debt

Thursday, January 5, 2012

By | Rich Williams

Higher Education Advocate

President Obama took a bold and important step this week, standing up for student consumers by making a recess appointment of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The president's action means that the CFPB now has all its powers to protect students from unfair financial practices that pile on student debt, including lenders offering dangerously expensive private student loans and aggressive credit and debit card marketing.