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About NHPIRG

For more than 20 years, Consumer Program Director Ed Mierzwinski has helped us stand up against big banks and credit card companies.

An Independent Voice For Consumers

NHPIRG is a consumer group that stands up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security or our right to fully participate in our democratic society. 

For decades, we’ve stood up for consumers, countering the influence of big banks, insurers, chemical manufacturers and other powerful special interests.

Our team of researchers uncovers the facts; our staff bring our findings to the public, through the media as well as one-on-one interactions; and our advocates bring the voice of the public to the halls of power on behalf of consumers.

Our Mission
When consumers are cheated or the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out by special interest lobbyists, NHPIRG speaks up and takes action. We uncover threats to public health and wellbeing and fight to end them, using the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposés, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation. NHPIRG’s mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented public interest activism that protects consumers, encourages a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic government.

Our Top Priorities
Using the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposés, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation, NHPIRG 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. >LEARN MORE
 

 

 

PUTTING PUBLIC HEALTH AHEAD OF BIG AG

 

One in three school-age kids are overweight or obese, yet our government is wasting $16 billion each year on subsidies for sugar-laden, high-fat foods. NHPIRG is calling for an end to subsidies for junk food. >LEARN MORE
 

 

 

CLOSE CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES

 

Corporate tax dodgers cost taxpayers $100 billion last year. That’s why NHPIRG is working to close the loopholes that allow ExxonMobil, Bank of America and others to shift profits overseas to avoid paying their taxes. >LEARN MORE
 

 


 

 

NHPIRG Staff - A Partial List
NHPIRG is an advocate for the public interest. When consumers are cheated, or the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out by special interest lobbyists, NHPIRG speaks up and takes action. We uncover threats to public health and well-being and fight for the public interest.


 

ADDIE SHANKLE

Advocate

(603) 229-1343 x1343

>CONTACT
>BIO
 

 

STEVE BLACKLEDGE

Regional Director

(916) 448-4516 x108

>CONTACT
>BIO
 

 

GARY KALMAN

Federal Legislative Office Director

(202) 546-9707 x311

>CONTACT
>BIO
 

 

ED MIERZWINSKI

Federal Consumer Program Director

(202) 546-9707 x314

>CONTACT
>BIO
 


 

Funded By Our Citizen Members 

Thousands of NHPIRG members and supporters fund our staff so we can counter the influence of powerful special interests by: 

 

• conducting research; 

• educating the public; and 

• advocating in the public interest by, for example, making our case face-to-face with elected officials. 

 

Your contribution provides the resources and the clout we need to win real results. 

 

 

NHPIRG And The Federation Of State Public Interest Research Groups
NHPIRG is an independent, state-based, citizen-funded organization that advocates for the public interest and is a member of U.S. PIRG, 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, advocacy 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 lobby office in Washington, D.C. On national issues that impac tNew Hampshirites, we also coordinate our efforts, pool resources, and share expertise so that we can have the biggest impact—here in New Hampshire and for the country at large.

 

 

What's New

News Release | NHPIRG | Democracy

First-of-its-kind “Refrain From Political Spending” Resolution to Be Voted on at Bank of America Shareholder Meeting

On Wednesday, May 9, shareholders at Bank of America will vote “yea” or “nay” on a first-of-its-kind “refrain from political spending” resolution. Resolutions addressing political spending are among the most popular in the 2012 shareholder season, many dealing with disclosure of such spending. This is the first shareholder season for this groundbreaking resolution which was introduced by socially responsible investment firms Trillium Asset Management at Bank of America and 3M Corporation and by Green Century Capital Management at Target Corporation.

> Keep Reading
Report | NHPIRG | Consumer Protection

New Hampshire Lives at Risk

A new report by NHPIRG and Demos finds that Granite Staters lives, health and livelihoods would be at risk if so-called “regulatory reform” proposals were to become law, slowing or stopping the regulatory process.  The new report details the number of us who will likely be harmed by just a one-year delay in the creation of three popular upcoming rulemakings.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit

New Hampshire Union Leader: Business Briefs

NHPIRG held a news conference Monday to go over results of its survey, conducted last fall involving more than 200 small business owners across the state.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit

The Nashua Telegraph: More Claims Made on Care Act

A progressive research group that did a select survey of small-business owners found strong support for creating a state health exchange in New Hampshire, one of only two states in the country to turn down a federal grant to help set one up.

> Keep Reading
Report | NHPIRG Education Fund

The Small Business Solution

Last fall, NHPIRG researchers went door to door, and interviewed over 200 small business owners about their health care concerns. Small business owners answered an anonymous survey and were invited to share their related experiences.

> Keep Reading

Pages

News Release | NHPIRG | Democracy

First-of-its-kind “Refrain From Political Spending” Resolution to Be Voted on at Bank of America Shareholder Meeting

On Wednesday, May 9, shareholders at Bank of America will vote “yea” or “nay” on a first-of-its-kind “refrain from political spending” resolution. Resolutions addressing political spending are among the most popular in the 2012 shareholder season, many dealing with disclosure of such spending. This is the first shareholder season for this groundbreaking resolution which was introduced by socially responsible investment firms Trillium Asset Management at Bank of America and 3M Corporation and by Green Century Capital Management at Target Corporation.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit

New Hampshire Union Leader: Business Briefs

NHPIRG held a news conference Monday to go over results of its survey, conducted last fall involving more than 200 small business owners across the state.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit

The Nashua Telegraph: More Claims Made on Care Act

A progressive research group that did a select survey of small-business owners found strong support for creating a state health exchange in New Hampshire, one of only two states in the country to turn down a federal grant to help set one up.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit

The Nashua Telegraph: New Hampshire gets D-minus in Report Gauging Transparency in Spending

New Hampshire is nearly failing when it comes to transparency in spending.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Tax

The Union Leader: State’s finance website lacks key data

CONCORD — A government watchdog group on Wednesday gave the New Hampshire state government a grade of D-minus for its efforts to improve transparency of spending information.

New Hampshire Public Interest Research Group praised the state for instituting the Transparency NH website, which includes an online checkbook register.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Result | Consumer Protection

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.

> Keep Reading
Result | Health Care

Young People Now Covered

This year, the federal health care reforms that NHPIRG 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. 

> Keep Reading
Result

Turning Out Young Voters

Our New Voters Project helped to register and mobilize young voters before the 2008 presidential primary. Youth voter turnout surged by 25 percent in New Hampshire, with 53,000 more young voters at the polls than in 2004.

> Keep Reading
Result

Paving the Way for 21st Century Transportation

Passenger rail travel will improve, and America will begin investing in a new generation of high-speed rail thanks to a NHPIRG-backed law that authorizes $13 billion in spending over the next five years, a small step in a shift toward public transit and away from wasteful new highway projects.

> Keep Reading
Result

Keeping Our Families Safe From Dangerous Products

Manufacturers that violate product safety laws will face stiff fines and penalties, and hazardous products will be removed from store shelves more quickly, under a landmark law we promoted in Congress in 2008. Our members and staff helped overcome the last-minute opposition of Exxon-Mobil.

> Keep Reading
Report | NHPIRG | Consumer Protection

New Hampshire Lives at Risk

A new report by NHPIRG and Demos finds that Granite Staters lives, health and livelihoods would be at risk if so-called “regulatory reform” proposals were to become law, slowing or stopping the regulatory process.  The new report details the number of us who will likely be harmed by just a one-year delay in the creation of three popular upcoming rulemakings.

> Keep Reading
Report | NHPIRG Education Fund

The Small Business Solution

Last fall, NHPIRG researchers went door to door, and interviewed over 200 small business owners about their health care concerns. Small business owners answered an anonymous survey and were invited to share their related experiences.

> Keep Reading
Report | NHPIRG Education Fund | Budget

Following the Money 2012

Over the past two years, the number of states that give citizens access to their state’s checkbook has increased from 32 to 46.
This report is NHPIRG Education Fund’s third annual ranking of states’ progress toward “Transparency 2.0” – a new standard of comprehensive, one-stop, one-click budget accountability and accessibility. The past year has seen continued progress, with new states providing online access to government spending information and several states pioneering new tools to further expand citizens’ access to spending information and engagement with government.

> Keep Reading
Report | NHPIRG | Democracy

Auctioning Democracy

 

Today NHPIRG Education Fund and Demos released a new analysis of the funding sources for the campaign finance behemoths, Super PACs. The findings confirmed that since their inception in 2010, Super PACs have been primarily funded by a small segment of very wealthy individuals and business interests, with a small but significant amount of funds coming from secret sources.

> Keep Reading
Report | NHPIRG Education Fund

Too Close to Home

The drinking water for 3,921,516 could be at risk of radioactive contamination from a leak or accident at Seabrook, and 3,114,882 people rely on water intakes which are vulnerable to a leak at Vermont Yankee.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Blog Post

In the Public Interest: The "Dirty Thirty" Corporations that Spend More on Lobbying than Taxes | Phineas Baxandall

The companies in the Dirty Thirty include household names like General Electric, Verizon, Mattel, Wells Fargo, Dupont and FedEx. There's no avoiding how the story at each of these companies represents a mockery to both our tax system and our democracy. The tax data in the report comes from companies' own Security and Exchange Commission filings, which also list some of their subsidiaries in offshore tax havens.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post

Holiday Shopping is Here....

Holiday shopping season is upon us once again. As a parent, relative or friend, shopping for toys for the children in your life can be a challenge.

We don't always know if the gifts will be a hit but the one thing we count on is that the toys we purchase are safe.  Thanks to the hard work of agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and consumer advocates like U.S. PIRG that's largely true.  But as our toy shopping researchers have found, that's not always the case.

> Keep Reading

Tools & Resources

Take Action

Some of the nation’s best-known companies—including GE, Google and Goldman Sachs—have avoided paying the taxes they owe, costing us $100 billion last year.

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Your donation supports NHPIRG’s work to stand up for consumers on the issues that matter, especially when powerful interests are blocking progress.

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