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On Capitol Hill, Public Citizen brings the heat of reality to a GOP freeze on...
The U.S. House of Representatives refuses to let up on its quixotic mission to destroy public safeguards. Its latest incarnation is H.R. 4078, the “Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act of 2012,” a misguided...
View ArticleTHIS WEEK: We ask the Senate to play smart ball, get Geithner dancing and...
This week starts off with a bang. Once again, a Public Citizen expert will be participating in a discussion with notorious ex-superlobbyist Jack Abramoff. This time, we’ll be at the National Press...
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Keystone obstructionism, like the pipeline itself, defies consumer interests
As Reuters reports: “The U.S. Senate could vote as early as Thursday on a plan to fast-track the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline, a bid that is unlikely to attract enough Democratic support to pass but...
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New report from Demos, U.S. PIRG highlights the damage done by regulatory...
The people who bring you regulatory “reform” (Big Business, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and their cheerleaders in Congress) are hard at work trying to slow down and even halt regulatory safeguards....
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THIS WEEK: Congressional Summit on our democracy for sale, BP scorecard and...
Congress has just returned from recess and life here for your favorite watchdog continues to be busy! Last week, we reported on a victory for democracy: The Vermont State Senate approved a resolution...
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Obama’s plan to rein in oil speculation is a start
Tyson Slocum (center) was one of three panelists called to testify about speculation, gas prices and Dodd-Frank reforms at a U.S. Senate committee hearing in November 2011. Note: Today, President...
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The unlearned lessons of the BP disaster
Robert Weissman is president of Public Citizen. The BP disaster taught us many things: Giant corporations cannot be trusted to behave responsibly, and have the ability to inflict massive damage on...
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THIS WEEK: Medical devices, scary poultry, trade, the Freeze Act & stand-up...
We are, literally, throughout the world this week (though we plan to call it a wrap with some laughs in Los Angeles this weekend). “Laughs?” you say? We know. We are policy nerds. How could we possibly...
View ArticlePublic Citizen Democracy Is For People activist statement on California bill...
Statement of Mary Zhu, Democracy Is For People Team Leader, Public Citizen’s Democracy Is For People Campaign Today, I am proud to be a Californian. I’m here with people from across the Golden State on...
View ArticleWith Gas Prices, It’s ‘Heads I Win, Tails You Lose’
You might think that the declining price of gasoline means that we don’t have to pay attention to all that talk about oil speculation driving up the price of oil. Right? Wrong. Even though the price of...
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JP Morgan executive under fire
J.P. Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation is under investigation for practices that may have resulted in overcharging consumers $73 million or more on their household utility bills. J.P. Morgan Ventures...
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U.S. Chamber’s Pro-Fracking Tour Proves Its Limited Knowledge of Energy...
Come one, come all. Gather ’round for a pair of misguided tours touting the benefits of fracking, one organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the other by the American Petroleum Institute. The...
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Score One for Wall Street: Court strikes down Dodd-Frank rule on oil...
Excessive speculation on oil and other commodity markets is driving up prices for consumers. Goldman Sachs has suggested that speculation increases the price of a gallon of gas by 65 to 70 cents....
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“Read all about it!” Your favorite watchdog in the news . . .
There are no days off for the people’s lobbyist. Public Citizen’s corporate and government watchdogs, consumer advocates and champions of public interest had another busy week last week and have kept...
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Progress Waddles Forward: Risks and Opportunities in the Lame Duck Session
Taken literally, the term “lame duck” refers to an injured duck that is unable to keep up with its flock. On Tuesday, November 13, the month-long “lame duck” session of the 112th Congress will begin –...
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Public Citizen’s take on BP Settlement
We’re stunned. This settlement is pathetic. The $4 billion penalty is equivalent to just a fifth of the company’s 2011 profits. The point of the criminal justice system is twofold: to punish and to...
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Jackson’s replacement must have her courage plus the White House’s support
Tom “Smitty” Smith, director of Public Citizen Texas Flickr by chesbayprogram Lisa Jackson has been a good EPA administrator and will be missed. Her courage has been evident in many different arenas...
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Suspicious timing: Inaugural contribution linked to $8.3 billion nuclear loan...
Was a $100,000 inaugural contribution linked to a utility’s newfound optimism about receiving an $8.3 billion federal loan guarantee? We need more information to answer that question, but it sure seems...
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Energy security trust puts us on wrong path
The president’s plan announced today to create a $2 billion “energy security trust” – financed by existing government royalties from fossil fuel production – puts us on the wrong path. Linking the fund...
View ArticleNo New Gulf Leases for BP Is Good News, But Activists Must Keep Pressure Up
Great news: BP has declined to bid on new Gulf oil leases. It’s a victory for those still reeling from the havoc BP unleashed on the Gulf region, and it shows the power of activism. In November, the...
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