Home

What's New

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.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Public Health, Consumer Protection

Maryland PIRG 2013 Testimony: HB 99 | Jenny Levin

Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate, or TCEP, is a flame retardant found in polyurethane foam as well as in other products.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Democracy

Maryland PIRG 2013 Testimony: HB 1499 | Jenny Levin

Maryland PIRG supports passage of HB 1499, which includes important reforms to increase transparency in campaign finance, close loopholes that allow big donors and corporations outsized influence in politics, and enables local governments to introduce public financing of elections.

> Keep Reading
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. 

> 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.

> Keep Reading

Pages

News Release | Maryland PIRG Foundation | Budget

New Report: Maryland Receives a “C” in Annual Report on Transparency of Government Spending

Maryland received a “C” when it comes to government spending transparency, according to “Following the Money 2013: How the States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,” the fourth annual report of its kind by the Maryland PIRG Foundation. 

> Keep Reading
News Release | Maryland PIRG Foundation | Tax

Offshore Tax Dodging Blows $966 Million Hole in Maryland Budget: New Maryland PIRG Study Exposes the Real Cost of Tax Loopholes for Maryland Residents

With Maryland facing tough budget choices, especially with regards to transportation, Maryland PIRG released a new study revealing that Maryland lost $966 million due to offshore tax dodging in 2012. Many of America’s wealthiest individuals and largest corporations, use tax loopholes to shift profits made in America to offshore tax havens, where they pay little to no taxes.

 

> Keep Reading
News Release | Maryland PIRG | Budget

Baltimore Receives a Grade of “B+” for Spending Transparency

Baltimore received a grade of “B+” for spending transparency, according to a new report released today by Maryland PIRG. The report reviews Baltimore’s progress toward comprehensive, one-stop, one-click budget accountability and accessibility.

 

> Keep Reading
News Release | Maryland Environmental Health Network

Health Advocates Call for Stronger Protections from Environmental Threats for Children

The Maryland Environmental Health Network (MDEHN) released a report today documenting progress and challenges in protecting children from environmental health threats in Maryland. The 2013 Maryland Children’s Environmental Health Report details how contaminants in a community's environment – in water, land, air, and homes – can harm children – and offers policy-makers strategies for more protective action.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Maryland PIRG | Democracy

Activists, Citizens, Lawmakers Come Together To Oppose Citizens United

Annapolis- Marylanders gathered today to voice their support for an amendment to over tune Citizens United, the controversial court decision that led to the rise of super PACs and unlimited independent political spending in our elections. Lawmakers and activists spoke out against the decision and its corrosive effect on democracy.Annapolis- Marylanders gathered today to voice their support for an amendment to over tune Citizens United, the controversial court decision that led to the rise of super PACs and unlimited independent political spending in our elections. Lawmakers and activists spoke out against the decision and its corrosive effect on democracy.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Result | Consumer Protection

BPA Ban

In 2010, Maryland became the 4th state in the nation to phase out the toxic chemcial CPA from baby bottles and sippy cups.

> Keep Reading
Result | Consumer Protection

Ending Credit card abuses

Many abusive credit card practices, such as repeated over-the-limit fees and universal default are outlawed thanks to a 2010 federal law backed by Maryland PIRG.

> Keep Reading
Result | Democracy, Financial Reform

Voting and Democracy Protections

Money plays far too great a role in American elections, from the municipal level all the way up to the presidency.  Large contributions from a limited number of wealthy interests unduly influence who wins elections and reduce the role of citizen voters in our democracy. Maryland PIRG worked to protect voting rights and increase transparency.

> Keep Reading
Result | Transportation

More and Better Public Transportation

In 2010, Maryland PIRG helped ensure that Maryalnd's transportation projects are in line with existing transportation goals

> Keep Reading
Result | Consumer Protection

Eliminating Toxic Mercury

In 2009, we played a role in addressing the largest manufacturing source of mercury in the state.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Report | Maryland Environmental Health Network

Maryland Children’s Environmental Health Progress Report

Because of children’s special vulnerability, reducing environmental risks demands our society’s full attention. Government’s role in this is central. Emerging evidence suggests that the epidemics of obesity and diabetes as well as the rising prevalence of allergic diseases and autism are due, at least in part, to chemical exposures during those most sensitive and vulnerable windows of development, mainly in-utero and the first few years of life.

> Keep Reading
Report | US PIRG, Center for Media and Democracy | Democracy

Elections Confidential

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mystery donors poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the 2012 elections via nonprofits and shell corporations, despite widespread public support for disclosure and decades of legal precedent supporting the public’s right to know the sources of election-related spending. A new report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and the Center for Media and Democracy found that contributions from phony for-profit corporations accounted for nearly 17 percent of all business donations to Super PACs.

> Keep Reading
Report | Demos and Maryland PIRG | Democracy

Billion Dollar Democracy

The first presidential election since Citizens United lived up to its hype, with unprecedented outside spending from new sources making headlines.
Dēmos and Maryland PIRG Foundation analysis of reports from campaigns, parties, and outside spenders to the Federal Election Commission found that our big money system distorts democracy and creates clear winners and losers.

> Keep Reading
Report | U.S. PIRG | Tax

Subsidizing Bad Behavior

Corporations accused of wrongdoing commonly settle legal disputes with government regulators out of court. Doing so allows both the company and the government to avoid going to trial and the agency gets to appear as if it is teaching the company a lesson for its misdeeds. However, very often the corporations deduct the costs of the settlement on their taxes as an ordinary business expense, shifting a significant portion of the burden onto ordinary taxpayers to pick up the tab.

> Keep Reading
Report | Maryland PIRG | Tax

What America Could Do with $150 Billion Lost to Offshore Tax Havens

Many corporations and wealthy individuals use offshore tax havens—countries with minimal or no taxes—to avoid paying $150 billion in U.S. taxes each year. By shielding their income from U.S. taxes, corporations and wealthy individuals shift the tax burden to ordinary Americans, who must pick up the tab in the form of cuts to public services, more debt, or higher taxes. The $150 billion lost annually to offshore tax havens is a lot of money, especially at a time of difficult budget choices. To put this sum in perspective, we present 16 potential ways that income could be used.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Blog Post | Democracy

Maryland PIRG 2013 Testimony: HB 1499 | Jenny Levin

Maryland PIRG supports passage of HB 1499, which includes important reforms to increase transparency in campaign finance, close loopholes that allow big donors and corporations outsized influence in politics, and enables local governments to introduce public financing of elections.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Budget, Tax

Senate Budget Debate Shows Bipartisan Support for Closing Offshore Tax Loopholes | Jenny Levin

A bipartisan group of senators agree that closing offshore tax loopholes, which allow large profitable companies to dodge billions in taxes, needs to be part of the budget.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Democracy

Voting Rights Take Center Stage at the General Assembly | Laura Muth

Last week was a big week in Maryland politics. One of Maryland PIRG’s top priorities, same-day voter registration (SDR), got plenty of airtime. We worked with a broad coalition of partners to provide testimony on a bill introduced by the governor that aims to expand voting rights by letting eligible Marylanders to register to vote at polling places during the early voting period, as well as increasing the number of early voting days to eight and increasing the number of polling places during early voting.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Maryland PIRG 2013 General Assembly Session Priorities | Jenny Levin

Maryland PIRG is an advocate for the public interest. Our mission is to deliver persistent, results-oriented public interest activism that protects public health, respects consumers’ rights, encourages a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters a responsive, democratic government. There are hundreds of registered lobbyists in Annapolis all are looking out for one particular segment of the population or special interest; we are one of the few groups working in the Capitol whose job is to think about what’s good for EVERYONE.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Trouble in Toyland | Laura Muth

It’s a holiday morning and kids all over the world are waking up to open their presents. Big smiles and laughter abound.  What could be wrong with this picture?

> Keep Reading

Pages

Tools & Resources

  • 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
  • Reclaim Democracy
    The Supreme Court's Citizens United decision ushered in an era of unprecedented spending by big money in our elections, but we're working to return our democracy back to the principle of "one person, one vote."
    Learn more
    Add your voice
  • YOUR TAX DOLLARS BECOME CORN SYRUP
    At a time when one-in-three kids is overweight or obese, over a billion taxpayer dollars go to high-fructose corn syrup and junk food ingredients.
    Learn more
    Take Action
  • 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

Priority Action

The Stop Tax Havens Abuse Act would put an end to the price and profit shifting that allows publicly traded companies to engage in pervasive tax avoidance.

Take Action

Consumer Alerts

Join our network and stay up to date on our campaigns, get important consumer updates, and take action on critical issues.

Support us

Your donation supports Maryland PIRG's work to stand up for consumers on the issues that matter, especially when powerful interests are blocking progress.

Donate Today