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Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | Tax

Picking Up the Tab 2013

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.

News Release | PIRGIM Education Fund | Budget

Michigan Receives an “A-” in Annual Report on Transparency of Government Spending

Michigan received an “A-” 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 PIRGIM Education Fund.

Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | Budget

Following the Money 2013

Every year, state governments spend tens of billions of dollars through contracts with private entities for goods and services, subsidies to encourage economic development, grants, and other forms of spending. Accountability and public scrutiny are necessary to ensure that state funds are well spent. In 2013, for the first time, all 50 states provide some checkbook-level information on state spending via the Internet.

Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | 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. Federal taxpayers are not the only victims of offshore tax havens. Tax havens deprive state governments of billions of dollars in badly needed revenues as well.

Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | Democracy

Elections Confidential

The first post-Citizens United presidential election cycle was bought and paid for by a handful of wealthy donors, but the corrosive influence of money in politics was amplified by the fact that we don’t know who – or what – actually provided much of the funding.

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News Release | PIRGIM Education Fund | Budget

Michigan Receives an “A-” in Annual Report on Transparency of Government Spending

Michigan received an “A-” 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 PIRGIM Education Fund.

News Release | PIRGIM Education Fund and Demos | Democracy

Big Money and Secret Spending Distorting Democracy

A new analysis of pre-election data from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and other sources by PIRGIM Education Fund and Demos shows that outside spending in the first presidential election since Citizens United is living up to its hype: new waves of “outside spending” have been fueled by dark money and unlimited fundraising from a small number of wealthy donors. Outside spending organizations reported $1.11 billion in spending to the FEC through the final reporting deadline in the 2012 cycle. That’s already a 200% increase over total 2008 outside spending.

Media Hit | Democracy

Mlive.com: East Grand Rapids grad's super PAC: Good for Romney, bad for democracy?

An East Grand Rapids native’s role in heading the country’s largest Super PAC was profiled Wednesday by The Detroit News... But Super PACs like Restore Our Future are drawing criticism for how they allegedly give rich people a bigger voice in election campaigns than the average Joe.

News Release | PIRGIM Education Fund | Budget, Food

Ag Subsidies Pay for 21 Twinkies per Taxpayer, But Only Half of an Apple Apiece

Federal subsidies for commodity crops are subsidizing junk food additives like high fructose corn syrup, enough to pay for 21 Twinkies per taxpayer every year, according to PIRGIM’s new report, Apples to Twinkies 2012. Meanwhile, limited subsidies for fresh fruits and vegetables would buy one half of an apple per taxpayer.

Media Hit | Higher Ed

MLive.com: Rising student loan interest rates would push students deeper into debt

Michigan college students would face higher interest rates on a popular student loan starting this summer – unless federal lawmakers choose to act and reduce the hike.

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Result | Food

Researching How Tax Dollars Become Twinkies

PIRGIM research found that since 1995, $17 billion in agricultural subsidies have gone to corn syrup and other junk food ingredients. That’s enough to buy 2.8 billion Twinkies, and vastly more than has gone to apples and other fresh fruits and vegetables.

Result | Consumer Protection

Kids' 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 USDA has stopped buying such low-quality meat for school lunches.

Result | Health Care

Young People Now Covered

This year, the federal health care reforms that PIRGIM 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.

Result | Democracy

Promoting Young Voter Participation

Two million more 18- to 24-year-olds voted in 2008 than in the last presidential election in 2004, part of a record overall voter turnout. The Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project did its part by deploying 80 organizers to more than 100 campuses in 22 states to help turn out vote.

Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | Tax

Picking Up the Tab 2013

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.

Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | Budget

Following the Money 2013

Every year, state governments spend tens of billions of dollars through contracts with private entities for goods and services, subsidies to encourage economic development, grants, and other forms of spending. Accountability and public scrutiny are necessary to ensure that state funds are well spent. In 2013, for the first time, all 50 states provide some checkbook-level information on state spending via the Internet.

Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | 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. Federal taxpayers are not the only victims of offshore tax havens. Tax havens deprive state governments of billions of dollars in badly needed revenues as well.

Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | Democracy

Elections Confidential

The first post-Citizens United presidential election cycle was bought and paid for by a handful of wealthy donors, but the corrosive influence of money in politics was amplified by the fact that we don’t know who – or what – actually provided much of the funding.

Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | Tax

Subsidizing Bad Behavior

BP’s recent $4.5 billion legal settlement with the Justice Department for its misdeeds in the Gulf oil spill was historic for being the largest ever criminal settlement. But it was historic for another reason as well—none of it is allowed to be tax deductible. Unfortunately, too many settlements for wrongdoing end up as tax deductions.

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How Your Taxes Become Twinkies

Find out how government subsidies disproportionately benefit junk food over fresh fruit and vegetables.

Get the report
PROTECT YOURSELF

We've created consumer tips to help protect you from unfair bank fees, identity theft, loan rip-offs and more.

Get The Tips
Our Unsafe Nuclear Power Plants

Our report, “Unacceptable Risk,” examines two decades worth of “close calls,” leads and other problems at our country’s 104 nuclear reactors.

Get the report
Making the Grade

Find out how our state stacks up in reforming our health care system and learn more about health insurance exchanges.

Get the report

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