Winning Concrete Results
Lowering The Cost Of Energy In Rhode Island
Rhode Island will reduce natural gas consumption and save more than $300 million on electricity and home heating bills, thanks to RIPIRG’s work on energy conservation and efficiency in the General Assembly.
Alerting Parents To Dangerous Toys
In November 2007, RIPIRG released our 22nd annual toy safety report. Over the years, the report has resulted in more than 100 recalls and other enforcement actions and alerted parents and regulators to dangerous toys. We called on Congress and corporate America to fix the frayed product safety net.
Locking Out Identity Thieves
RIPIRG-backed identity theft prevention measures have put safeguards in the hands of consumers while addressing systemic failures in retail and customer service venues that have left as many as 12,500 Rhode Islanders vulnerable to identity theft each year.
Holding Drugmakers Accountable For Safety
In 2007, the president signed a RIPIRG-backed law to rein in the makers of drugs like Vioxx, Paxil and Avandia, all of which had dangerous and deadly side effects. The bill reforms the Food and Drug Administration’s drug safety review process, makes drugs safer, and holds drug makers more accountable for the safety of consumers.
Holding The Health Insurance Industry Accountable
In the wake of a major political health insurance-related scandal, RIPIRG’s advocacy helped create the new Health Insurance Commissioner position in 2004 to oversee Rhode Island health insurers.
Ensuring A Smoke-Free Workplace
Workers in restaurants, bars and other establishments won’t be exposed to secondhand smoke on the job, thanks to the work of a coalition including RIPIRG. In 2004, we helped pass a law banning smoking in workplaces.
Leading The Charge For More Student Aid
Working with our congressional delegation, we helped pass the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, the most meaningful higher education reform in more than 15 years. The legislation gives billions of dollars in additional aid to students through the Pell Grant program. The bill is funded by reducing wasteful lender subsidies.
Fighting Political Corruption
In 2007, the president signed a RIPIRG-backed lobby reform bill that bans gifts and travel paid for by lobbyists and requires the disclosure of money that lobbyists raise for candidates. We supported the bill in order to change the way that powerful special interests use money and favors to form preferential relationships with lawmakers.
