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Blog Post | Health Care

Competition and Transparency Bring Down Health Insurance Costs—Here’s the Proof | Jesse Ellis O'Brien

Something remarkable just happened to health insurance costs here in Oregon. Last week, after the state’s health insurers posted their proposed premium rates for next year, two insurers publicly reversed course and moved to cut their prices.

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News Release | OSPIRG Foundation | Transportation

New Report: Reduction in Driving Likely to Continue

As the number of miles driven by Americans heads into its eighth year of decline, a new report from the OSPIRG Foundation 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. 

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Report | OSPIRG Foundation | 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. The time has come for America to hit the “reset” button on transportation policy—replacing the policy infrastructure of the Driving Boom years with a more efficient, flexible and nimble system that is better able to meet the transportation needs of the 21st century.

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News Release | OSPIRG Foundation | Tax

Critical Information on Economic Development Tax Subsidies Remains Out of Public View

Critical details for over $665 million in economic development tax subsidies are still mostly out of reach for Oregonians. A new study released today by OSPIRG Foundation examined the reports made available on Oregon’s transparency website as a result of a two-year old transparency law, and found that only a small fraction of economic development subsidy programs covered by the law provide a report for public review.

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Report | OSPIRG Foundation | Tax

Revealing Tax Subsidies 2013

OSPIRG Foundation's new study examines the first two years of annual reports made available by the law on the Oregon Transparency Website. It evaluates how well the law is being followed, and the degree to which the new information helps the public determine the value of these programs.

> Keep Reading

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News Release | OSPIRG Foundation | Transportation

New Report: Reduction in Driving Likely to Continue

As the number of miles driven by Americans heads into its eighth year of decline, a new report from the OSPIRG Foundation 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. 

> Keep Reading
News Release | OSPIRG Foundation | Tax

Critical Information on Economic Development Tax Subsidies Remains Out of Public View

Critical details for over $665 million in economic development tax subsidies are still mostly out of reach for Oregonians. A new study released today by OSPIRG Foundation examined the reports made available on Oregon’s transparency website as a result of a two-year old transparency law, and found that only a small fraction of economic development subsidy programs covered by the law provide a report for public review.

> Keep Reading
News Release | OSPIRG | Tax

Department of Justice Orders Release of More Hidden Tax Subsidy Data

In response to a petition filed by OSPIRG, the Oregon Department of Justice has ordered the Oregon Department of Revenue to release employment data about Enterprise Zones, a major tax subsidy program estimated to cost Oregon taxpayers over $75 million in the next two years.

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News Release | OSPIRG Foundation | Health Care

$80 Million In Health Insurance Waste Cut Since 2010

Since 2010, close scrutiny of health insurance rate hikes has cut over $80 million in waste and unjustified costs from health insurance premiums in Oregon, according to an OSPIRG Foundation report released today. The report also identifies changes to Oregon’s rate review program that would effectively tackle the biggest driver of costs: waste in the health care delivery system.

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News Release | OSPIRG | Tax

Offshore Tax Havens Cost Average Oregon Taxpayer $816 a Year, Oregon Small Business $2,350

With Tax Day approaching, it’s a good time to be reminded of where our tax dollars are going. The average taxpayer in Oregon in 2012 would have to shoulder an extra $816 in taxes to make up for the revenue lost due to the use of offshore tax havens by corporations and wealthy individuals, according to a new study released today by OSPIRG.

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Result | Budget, Tax

OSPIRG Brings Transparency to Major Tax Subsidy

After OSPIRG filed a petition for public records order, the Oregon Department of Justice ordered Business Oregon, the state's business development department, to release data about the Strategic Investment Program--a major tax subsidy program estimated to cost Oregon taxpayers $322 million over the next two years, stating that there is a “strong public interest” in disclosing the information.

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Result | Budget, Tax

MAKING GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC

This year, the Oregon Legislature passed a groundbreaking new law in 2011 that will allow the public to see exactly which companies are receiving tax subsidies and what taxpayers get in return.

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Result | Transportation

FUNDING FASTER TRAINS FOR OREGON

OSPIRG Executive Director Dave Rosenfeld recently joined the statewide Rail Funding Task Force. This group, which also includes business leaders from across the state, will recommend the best way to fund Oregon’s rail system.

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Result | Health Care

MAKING HEALTH CARE AFFORDABLE

OSPIRG Health Care Advocate Laura Etherton helped lead efforts to require Oregon health insurers to meet tougher standards to prove premium increases are reasonable. Prompted in part by OSPIRG advocacy, Oregon officials scaled back a request by United Healthcare to raise health insurance rates by nearly 17%, saving 14,000 Oregonians a cumulative $4 million in 2011.

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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.

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Report | OSPIRG Foundation | 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. The time has come for America to hit the “reset” button on transportation policy—replacing the policy infrastructure of the Driving Boom years with a more efficient, flexible and nimble system that is better able to meet the transportation needs of the 21st century.

> Keep Reading
Report | OSPIRG Foundation | Tax

Revealing Tax Subsidies 2013

OSPIRG Foundation's new study examines the first two years of annual reports made available by the law on the Oregon Transparency Website. It evaluates how well the law is being followed, and the degree to which the new information helps the public determine the value of these programs.

> Keep Reading
Report | OSPIRG Foundation | Health Care

Advancing Accountability, Cutting Health Care Waste

Since 2010, close scrutiny of health insurance rate hikes has cut over $80 million in waste and unjustified costs from health insurance premiums in Oregon, according to a new OSPIRG Foundation report. The report also identifies changes to Oregon’s rate review program that would effectively tackle the biggest driver of costs: waste in the health care delivery system.

> Keep Reading
Report | OSPIRG | 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. Our new report reveals the additional burden facing Oregon taxpayers and small businesses as a result.

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Report | OSPIRG Foundation | Tax

The Hidden Cost of Offshore Tax Havens

When U.S. corporations and wealthy individuals use offshore tax havens to avoid paying taxes, it is an abuse of our tax system. This new report reveals that the State of Oregon lost an estimated $506 million due to offshore tax dodging in 2012.

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Blog Post | Health Care

Competition and Transparency Bring Down Health Insurance Costs—Here’s the Proof | Jesse Ellis O'Brien

Something remarkable just happened to health insurance costs here in Oregon. Last week, after the state’s health insurers posted their proposed premium rates for next year, two insurers publicly reversed course and moved to cut their prices.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Health Care

The Supreme Court and the High Cost of Rx Drugs | Jesse Ellis O'Brien

Everyone knows prescription drugs cost more than they should. But 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.

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Blog Post | Financial Reform

Senators Hold CFPB Director Hostage, Roil Markets | Ed Mierzwinski

On Friday, most Senate Republicans again sent the President a letter saying they would not confirm Richard Cordray to a full term as CFPB director unless the agency's powers and independence were first gutted. Their intransigence contributes to market uncertainty that ignores at least three things: The CFPB is here to stay; the public wants the CFPB; and, banks lose to payday lenders if the director is not confirmed.

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Blog Post

Portlanders Can't Follow the Money | Celeste Meiffren

Portland got a D- for transparency in OSPIRG Foundation's latest report. So, what now?

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Blog Post | Democracy

Voters Rejected Big Money, Called for Reform | Evan Preston

Voters in Oregon and across the country stood up against big money in November's elections and called for reform.

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Tools & Resources

  • FIGHTING UNJUSTIFIED PREMIUM HIKES
    It’s time for health insurers to get serious about lowering the cost of care instead of raising deductibles and hiking premiums.
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  • Stop Tax Dodgers
    Corporate tax avoidance cost taxpayers $100 billion last year. We're working to close the loopholes that allow companies to avoid paying the taxes they owe.
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  • 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.
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  • 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."
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