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News Release | Consumer Protection, Health Care

Big Pharma’s Pay-for-Delay Deals Take a Hit

Big Pharma’s controversial “pay-for-delay” agreements took a hit today. In FTC v. Actavis, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the FTC’s case against the payoff keeping generic AndroGel from the market can move ahead in the lower courts.

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News Release | Higher Ed

Interest Rates for 105,027 Student Loan Borrowers in Maryland Set to Double on July 1

Baltimore, MD– Unless Congress acts, on July 1, the interest rate for 105,027 student loan borrowers in Maryland will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. According to an issue brief released today by Maryland PIRG, the rate increase would hike the cost of Maryland students’ loans by $95,469,543 million. That translates into a $909 increase in debt per student, per loan.

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News Release | Public Health, Health Care

New Report Documents a Decade of Safety Violations by Compounding Pharmacies

Baltimore, May 23 – The contaminated drug that caused last fall’s fungal meningitis outbreak and killed 55 people is just the tip of the iceberg of an industry-wide problem, according to a new report released today by Maryland PIRG. The meningitis outbreak was simply the latest and deadliest in a long line of errors and risky practices by compounding pharmacies.

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Report | Maryland PIRG Foundation | Consumer Protection

Prescription for Danger

Prescriptions are regularly compounded at pharmacies, after a doctor writes a prescription for a compounded drug. However, compounding pharmacies are increasingly behaving like pharmaceutical companies by producing drugs in bulk, despite the fact that they are not inspected or regulated like the pharmaceutical industry. Due to this lack of oversight, many compounding pharmacies have not adhered to safe manufacturing practices, and shown little regard for consumer safety.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Democracy

IRS Scandal Highlights Need for Increased Transparency in Campaign Financing | Jenny Levin

It’s up to the IRS to ensure that nonprofits are not being used as illicit vehicles to funnel untraceable money into our elections. However the agency’s handling of this responsibility has been thoroughly outrageous, the latest scandal being just the latest example of disturbing action—or, as has been more often the case, inaction.

> Keep Reading

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News Release | Consumer Protection, Health Care

Big Pharma’s Pay-for-Delay Deals Take a Hit

Big Pharma’s controversial “pay-for-delay” agreements took a hit today. In FTC v. Actavis, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the FTC’s case against the payoff keeping generic AndroGel from the market can move ahead in the lower courts.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Higher Ed

Interest Rates for 105,027 Student Loan Borrowers in Maryland Set to Double on July 1

Baltimore, MD– Unless Congress acts, on July 1, the interest rate for 105,027 student loan borrowers in Maryland will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. According to an issue brief released today by Maryland PIRG, the rate increase would hike the cost of Maryland students’ loans by $95,469,543 million. That translates into a $909 increase in debt per student, per loan.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Public Health, Health Care

New Report Documents a Decade of Safety Violations by Compounding Pharmacies

Baltimore, May 23 – The contaminated drug that caused last fall’s fungal meningitis outbreak and killed 55 people is just the tip of the iceberg of an industry-wide problem, according to a new report released today by Maryland PIRG. The meningitis outbreak was simply the latest and deadliest in a long line of errors and risky practices by compounding pharmacies.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Maryland PIRG Foundation | Transportation

New Report: Reduction in Driving Likely to Continue

 

As the number of miles driven by Americans heads into its eighth year of decline, a new report from the Maryland PIRG Foundation finds that the slowdown in driving is likely to continue. Baby Boomers are moving out of the phase in their life when they do the most commuting, while driving-averse Millennials move into that phase. These demographic changes will likely keep driving down for decades, according to the report, “A New Direction: Our Changing Relationship with Driving and the Implications for America’s Future.”

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News Release | Maryland PIRG | Budget, Tax

Offshore Tax Havens Cost Average Maryland Taxpayer $1,065 a Year, Maryland Small Business $3,245

April 15, Baltimore – On Tax Day, it’s a good time to be reminded of where our tax dollars are going. Maryland PIRG  released its  annual study showing the average Maryland  taxpayer in 2012 would have to shoulder an extra $1,065 in taxes to make up for the revenue lost due to the use of offshore tax havens by corporations and wealthy individuals. 

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Result | Safe Energy

Commission Renews and Expands Commitment to EmPOWER Maryland

The Maryland Public Service Commission has ordered a series of measures that will expand and refocus—and ultimately improve—programs designed to meet the goals of the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act of 2008.

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Result | Consumer Protection, Financial Reform

Reining in Wall Street

On July 15, the U.S. Senate passed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act by a count of 60 to 39.

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Result | Public Health

KIDS’ SCHOOL LUNCHES NOW SAFER

For years, America’s schoolchildren have been eating beef, chicken and other foods that would have been rejected as substandard even by fast food chains. Thanks in part to our advocacy, the U.S.D.A. has stopped buying such low-quality meat for school lunches.

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Result | Health Care

Young People Now Covered

This year, the federal health care reforms that Maryland PIRG worked to win have started to pay off for young people. In the past, teens saw their premiums soar or were denied coverage when they turned 19, even if they’d been insured their whole lives. Now, they can remain on their parents’ plans until age 26. 

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Result | Health Care

Health Care Reform Enacted

In 2010, President Obama signed comprehensive health care reform into law.

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Report | Maryland PIRG Foundation | Consumer Protection

Prescription for Danger

Prescriptions are regularly compounded at pharmacies, after a doctor writes a prescription for a compounded drug. However, compounding pharmacies are increasingly behaving like pharmaceutical companies by producing drugs in bulk, despite the fact that they are not inspected or regulated like the pharmaceutical industry. Due to this lack of oversight, many compounding pharmacies have not adhered to safe manufacturing practices, and shown little regard for consumer safety.

> Keep Reading
Report | Maryland PIRG Foundation | Transportation

A New Direction

Americans drive fewer total miles today than we did eight years ago, and fewer per person than we did at the end of Bill Clinton’s first term. The unique combina­tion of conditions that fueled the Driving Boom—from cheap gas prices to the rapid expansion of the workforce during the Baby Boom generation—no longer exists. Meanwhile, a new generation—the Mil­lennials—is demanding a new American Dream less dependent on driving.

> Keep Reading
Report | Maryland PIRG | Budget, Tax

Picking Up the Tab

Some U.S.-based multinational firms and individuals avoid paying U.S. taxes by using accounting tricks to shift profits made in America to offshore tax havens—countries with minimal or no taxes. They benefit from their access to America’s markets, workforce, infrastructure and security; but they pay little or nothing for it—violating the basic fairness of the tax system and forcing other taxpayers to pick up the tab.

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Report | Maryland PIRG Foundation | Budget

Following the Money 2013

In recent years, state governments across the country have created transparency websites that provide checkbook-level information on government spending – meaning that users can view the payments made to individual companies and details about the goods or services purchased. These websites allow residents and watchdog groups to ensure that taxpayers get their money’s worth from deals the state makes with companies.

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Report | Maryland PIRG Foundation | Tax

The Hidden Cost of Offshore Tax Havens

When U.S. corporations and wealthy individuals use offshore tax havens to avoid paying taxes to the federal government, it is an abuse of our tax system. Tax haven abusers benefit from our markets, infrastructure, educated workforce, and security, but they pay next to nothing for these benefits. Ultimately, taxpayers must pick up the tab, either in the form of higher taxes, cuts to public spending priorities, or increased national debt.

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Blog Post | Democracy

IRS Scandal Highlights Need for Increased Transparency in Campaign Financing | Jenny Levin

It’s up to the IRS to ensure that nonprofits are not being used as illicit vehicles to funnel untraceable money into our elections. However the agency’s handling of this responsibility has been thoroughly outrageous, the latest scandal being just the latest example of disturbing action—or, as has been more often the case, inaction.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Democracy

Maryland PIRG 2013 Testimony: Same Day Registration | Jenny Levin

Same day registration during the early voting period has potential to increase voter turnout among all demographics, but most especially among groups that have historically experienced low turnout, such as young voters.

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Blog Post | Democracy

Maryland PIRG 2013 Testimony: Election Day Registration | Jenny Levin

Election Day registration has potential to increase voter turnout across the board.

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Blog Post | Democracy

Maryland PIRG 2013 Testimony: Voter ID | Jenny Levin

Voter ID would exacerbate low voter turnout, a major problem confronting our democracy.

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Blog Post | Democracy

Maryland PIRG 2013 Testimony: Shareholder Approval | Jenny Levin

SB 772 requires that corporations and businesses operating in Maryland provide an opportunity for their shareholders to vote on any political spending by the company.

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Tools & Resources

  • FIGHT HIGH Rx COSTS
    Prescription drugs cost too much. Brand-name drug companies have been paying off generic drug makers to delay competition and keep prices high, and it's costing us billions. Together, we can stop them.
    Learn more
    Take Action
  • HELP STOP THE LITTER
    Maryland throws away 3 billion recyclable beverage containers a year. Help us pass a Bottle Bill to increase recycling and reduce litter.
    Learn more
    Add your voice
  • STOP TAX DODGERS
    Corporate tax avoidance cost Marylanders as much as $2 billion last year. We're working to close the loopholes that allow companies to avoid paying the taxes they owe.
    Learn more
    Sign the petition
  • Growing Up Toxic
    A growing body of research demonstrates the link between toxic chemicals and serious health burdens, including cancer and learning disabilities, especially in young children.
    Learn more
    Get the report

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Tell Governor O'Malley: Help reduce litter by supporting a Bottle Bill for Maryland.

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