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For more than 20 years, Federal Consumer Program Director Ed Mierzwinski has helped us stand up against big banks and credit card companies, and the new Wall Street reform law finally sets rules to protect consumers from risks taken by big banks.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH & EDUCATION
CoPIRG Foundation is an independent, non-partisan group that works for consumers and the public interest. Through research, public education and outreach, we serve as counterweights to the influence of powerful special interests that threaten our health, safety or well-being.
With public debate around important issues often dominated by special interests pursuing their own narrow agendas, CoPIRG Foundation offers an independent voice that works on behalf of the public interest. CoPIRG Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, works to protect consumers and promote good government. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public, and offer Coloradans meaningful opportunities for civic participation.
OUR TOP PRIORITIES
Using the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposés, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation, CoPIRG Foundation stands up to powerful interests and delivers concrete results.
STANDING UP FOR THE PUBLIC ON HEALTH CARE
As our leaders put the health care reform law into practice, we’re working to promote a more competitive health insurance marketplace that lowers costs for consumers.
PUTTING PUBLIC HEALTH AHEAD OF BIG AG
One in three school-age kids are overweight, yet our government is wasting $16 billion each year on subsidies for sugar-laden, high-fat foods. CoPIRG Foundation is calling to end to subsidies for junk.
CLOSE CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES
Corporate tax dodgers cost taxpayers $100 billion last year. That’s why CoPIRG Foundation is working to close the loopholes that allow ExxonMobil, Bank of America and others to avoid paying their taxes.
HOW TO CONTACT US
For information about a specific report, please contact the author. If you are a foundation interested in supporting CoPIRG Foundation’s work, or if you have general inquiries, please contact us here:
CoPIRG Foundation
1543 Wazee St., Ste. 330
Denver CO 80202
(303) 573-7474
CoPIRG Foundation is an independent, state-based, citizen-funded organization that educates for the public interest and is a member of U.S. PIRG Education Fund, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups.
Since 1970, state PIRGs have delivered results-oriented citizen activism, stood up to powerful special interests, and used the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposés, grassroots organizing and litigation to win real results on issues that matter.
Across the country, state PIRGs employ close to 400 organizers, policy analysts, scientists and attorneys, and are active in 47 states, with a federal office in Washington, D.C. On national issues that impact Coloradans, we also coordinate our efforts, pool resources, and share expertise so that we can have the biggest impact — here in Colorado and for the country at large.
CoPIRG Foundation Staff
CoPIRG Foundation is an independent voice that works on behalf of the public interest. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public, and offer meaningful opportunities for civic participation. CoPIRG Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization working to protect consumers and promote good government. Find out more about our staff
What's New
Tomorrow, Colorado joins fifteen other states and the District of Columbia in stopping predatory payday lenders from charging Coloradans triple-digit rates to borrow small loans of $500 or less. Starting February 1st, payday loan companies can no longer charge interest and fees that add up to over 200% APR but must abide by Colorado’s usury cap of 36%. The change comes after 77% of voters passed Proposition 111 in November, ending an era of predatory payday lending practices that targeted low-income borrowers, veterans, and communities of color. Coloradans will save an expected $50 million per year in payday loan fees.
A new progress report card released by safety advocates with the Denver Streets Partnership awarded Denver an overall “C“ grade for the City and County of Denver’s progress on the Vision Zero Action Plan designed to improve the safety of Denver’s streets. The progress report card looked at Denver’s 2018 infrastructure goals in eight categories and found that, while Denver met its goals for miles of bike lanes constructed and operational improvements at major intersections, it failed to meet its goals for sidewalks constructed, traffic calming work, and street lighting enhancements.
From E. coli-infected romaine lettuce to Salmonella-tainted beef, contaminated foods lead to illnesses that sicken as many as 1 in 6 Americans annually. In 2018, this epidemic helped spur major recalls, which caused stores and restaurants to toss millions of pounds of meat and produce. CoPIRG Foundation’s new report How Safe is Our Food?, released today, reveals how fundamental flaws in our current food safety system have led to a jump in these recalls since 2013.
While we are glad that Fiat Chrysler is paying something for damaging the health of Americans and deceiving customers, this settlement does not go far enough. It neither ensures these violations of the public trust won’t happen again nor makes consumers whole.
Today, McDonald’s released a new policy to restrict medically important antibiotic use in its beef supply chain. The company will monitor antibiotic use in its top ten beef sourcing markets and set reduction targets for medically important antibiotic use by the end of 2020. Principles in the policy include restricting the routine use of the drugs to prevent disease, a practice that the World Health Organization recommends ending because it breeds antibiotic resistant bacteria. As the largest beef purchaser in the United States, McDonald’s new commitment could spark an industry-wide change to help keep antibiotics effective.
Support us
Your tax-deductible donation supports CoPIRG Foundation's work to educate the public on the issues that matter, especially when powerful special interests are blocking progress.
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You can also support CoPIRG Foundation’s work through bequests, contributions from life insurance or retirement plans, securities contributions and vehicle donations.