Home

Welcome to Ohio PIRG

What's New

All
News
Milestones
Reports
Blog

News Release | Ohio PIRG | Public Health

New Report Documents a Decade of Safety Violations by Compounding Pharmacies

The contaminated drug that caused last fall’s fungal meningitis outbreak and sickened 20 Ohioans (killing one) and killed 55 people nationally is just the tip of the iceberg of an industry-wide problem, according to a new report released today by Ohio PIRG. The meningitis outbreak was simply the latest and deadliest in a long line of errors and risky practices by compounding pharmacies.

Report | Ohio PIRG | Public Health

Prescription for Danger

The fungal meningitis outbreak caused by contaminated steroid injections that killed 55 people to date and sickened more than 740 is one of the worst public health disasters the nation has seen in recent history. The tainted injections came from a drug manufacturer doing business as a “compounding pharmacy,” a classification which allowed them to evade the system of safety rules, inspections, and oversight that keep our drug supply safe.

Blog Post | Democracy

IRS Scandal Highlights Need for Increased Transparency in Campaign Financing | Tabitha Woodruff

The IRS’s incomplete actions represent both an embarrassment to the agency and a threat to democracy. Furthermore, the rest of the federal government should use its authority to shine the light on dark money—the FEC must enforce its rules, the SEC must require business corporations to disclose their political spending, and Congress must pass legislation to ensure that every dollar spent on elections is disclosed to the public.

Add new comment

News Release | Ohio PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

New Report: Reduction in Driving Likely to Continue

COLUMBUS —As the average number of miles driven by Americans heads into its eighth year of decline, a new report from the Ohio PIRG Education Fund 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.”

Report | Ohio PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

A New Direction

The Driving Boom – a six decade-long period of steady increases in per-capita driving in the United States – is over.

Pages

News Release | Ohio PIRG | Public Health

New Report Documents a Decade of Safety Violations by Compounding Pharmacies

The contaminated drug that caused last fall’s fungal meningitis outbreak and sickened 20 Ohioans (killing one) and killed 55 people nationally is just the tip of the iceberg of an industry-wide problem, according to a new report released today by Ohio PIRG. The meningitis outbreak was simply the latest and deadliest in a long line of errors and risky practices by compounding pharmacies.

News Release | Ohio PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

New Report: Reduction in Driving Likely to Continue

COLUMBUS —As the average number of miles driven by Americans heads into its eighth year of decline, a new report from the Ohio PIRG Education Fund 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.”

News Release | Ohio PIRG | Financial Reform

OHIOANS TELL SENATOR PORTMAN TO STOP CODDLING PREDATORY LENDERS AND BLOCKING CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

That was the message of petitions delivered to Senator Portman today by the Ohio Public Interest Research Group (Ohio PIRG) and Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People (ESOP), both members of Americans for Financial Reform (AFR). The petitions, which call on the Senate to confirm Richard Cordray to a full term as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, bore the signatures of more than 160,000 people, including over 5,000 citizens of Ohio.

News Release | Ohio PIRG | Transportation

Ohio PIRG Supports Overturning Cincy Parking Plan

With this many red flags, the parking proposal poses too many threats to the public interest and provides too little transparency. Cincinnatians should reverse the parking proposal on the ballot this November.

Media Hit | Financial Reform

Cordray, bureau deserve support from senators

It is time for Cordray’s opponents to back off and let the CFPB do its job.

Pages

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.

Result | Health Care

Young People Now Covered

This year, the federal health care reforms that Ohio 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.

Report | Ohio PIRG | Public Health

Prescription for Danger

The fungal meningitis outbreak caused by contaminated steroid injections that killed 55 people to date and sickened more than 740 is one of the worst public health disasters the nation has seen in recent history. The tainted injections came from a drug manufacturer doing business as a “compounding pharmacy,” a classification which allowed them to evade the system of safety rules, inspections, and oversight that keep our drug supply safe.

Report | Ohio PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

A New Direction

The Driving Boom – a six decade-long period of steady increases in per-capita driving in the United States – is over.

Report | Ohio PIRG | 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 | Ohio PIRG 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.

Report | Ohio PIRG Education Fund | Tax

The Hidden Cost of Offshore Tax Havens

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. Based how much income is federally reported in each state, and on state tax rates, it is possible to calculate how much each of the state governments lose as a result of offshore tax dodging.

Pages

Blog Post | Democracy

IRS Scandal Highlights Need for Increased Transparency in Campaign Financing | Tabitha Woodruff

The IRS’s incomplete actions represent both an embarrassment to the agency and a threat to democracy. Furthermore, the rest of the federal government should use its authority to shine the light on dark money—the FEC must enforce its rules, the SEC must require business corporations to disclose their political spending, and Congress must pass legislation to ensure that every dollar spent on elections is disclosed to the public.

Add new comment

Blog Post | Health Care

The Supreme Court and the High Cost of Rx Drugs | Tabitha Woodruff

Everyone knows prescription drugs cost much more than they should. But I find many people are surprised to learn about one of the key ways drug companies keep prices high: Paying off competitors to keep generics off the market. On Monday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case about this very practice.

Add new comment

Blog Post | Health Care

Here’s That Rx Refill You Didn’t Order | Allison Cairo

Is your pharmacy refilling your prescription without your knowledge or approval, and billing your insurance company for the cost?

Add new comment

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
STOP TAX DODGERS

Corporate tax avoidance cost Ohioans $4.8 billion last year. We're working to close the loopholes that allow companies to avoid paying the taxes they owe.

Learn more

Take Action
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.

Take Action

Online Action
Join Us
Donate

Priority Action

The CUT Loopholes Act would put an end to the price and profit shifting that allows publicly traded companies to engage in pervasive tax avoidance.

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

/* Site Analytics code end */