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About Illinois PIRG

For 35 years, Illinois PIRG has stood up for consumers against big banks, credit card companies and others when they overcharge or mislead their customers. 

An Independent Voice For Consumers

Illinois PIRG 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, Illinois PIRG 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. Illinois PIRG’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, Illinois PIRG 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. Illinois PIRG 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 Illinois PIRG 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
 


 

Illinois PIRG And The Federation Of State Public Interest Research Groups
Illinois PIRG 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 impact Illinoisians, we also coordinate our efforts, pool resources, and share expertise so that we can have the biggest impact—here in Illinois and for the country at large.

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


 

BRIAN IMUS

State Director

(312) 544-4433 ext. 210

>CONTACT
>BIO
 

 

CELESTE MEIFFREN

Legislative Director

(312) 544-4433 ext. 216

>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 Illinois PIRG 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. 

 

What's New

Report | Illinois PIRG | Higher Ed

Issue Brief: Student Loan Debt in Illinois

The resolution of the on-going national debate about whether or not to extend the low interest rate on federal student loans will have a sizable impact on Illinois’ economy.  Without a new plan, on July 1 the interest rate on subsidized Stafford student loans will double, from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. 

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Tax

Questions remain on infrastructure trust

A few days ago, the City Council passed an ordinance to establish the Chicago Infrastructure Trust — a nonprofit that will leverage private, for-profit investment for public infrastructure projects. Much of the recent attention has been on the lack of strong public protections to make the trust transparent and accountable to citizens. But there is a more fundamental question: Do we really need it?

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Higher Ed

The New Student Battle Cry: Don't Double My Rate!

The media and the country are just waking up to the alarming fact that unless Congress acts by July 1, the interest rate on subsidized Stafford student loans will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. Congress must not let that happen.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Odd Bedfellows Oppose the Tenaska Tax | Brian Imus

Illinois PIRG joined with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to oppose Senate Bill 678 – legislation that would force Illinois consumers to pay for a proposed coal plant the Tenaska Corporation wants to build

> Keep Reading
News Release | Illinois PIRG | Tax

Infrastructure Trust Approved Without Proper Taxpayer Protections

Today the Chicago City Council voted 41-7 to establish the Chicago Infrastructure Trust, despite many continued, substantial concerns from aldermen, Illinois PIRG and other advocacy organizations, and members of the public.

> Keep Reading

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Media Hit | Tax

Questions remain on infrastructure trust

A few days ago, the City Council passed an ordinance to establish the Chicago Infrastructure Trust — a nonprofit that will leverage private, for-profit investment for public infrastructure projects. Much of the recent attention has been on the lack of strong public protections to make the trust transparent and accountable to citizens. But there is a more fundamental question: Do we really need it?

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Higher Ed

The New Student Battle Cry: Don't Double My Rate!

The media and the country are just waking up to the alarming fact that unless Congress acts by July 1, the interest rate on subsidized Stafford student loans will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. Congress must not let that happen.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Illinois PIRG | Tax

Infrastructure Trust Approved Without Proper Taxpayer Protections

Today the Chicago City Council voted 41-7 to establish the Chicago Infrastructure Trust, despite many continued, substantial concerns from aldermen, Illinois PIRG and other advocacy organizations, and members of the public.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Illinois PIRG | Budget

Offshore Tax Havens Cost Average Illinois Taxpayers $508 a Year, Each Illinois Small Business $2,556, New Study Finds

With tax day approaching, a new study released by Illinois PIRG found that the average Illinois taxpayer in 2011 would have to shoulder an extra $508 tax burden make up for revenue lost from corporations and wealthy individuals shifting income to offshore tax havens. The report “Picking up the Tab” also found that to cover the cost of the corporate abuse of tax havens in 2011, small businesses in Illinois would have to foot a bill of $2,556 on average.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Illinois PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

New Report: Long-Term Drop in How Much People Drive

A new report released today by the Illinois PIRG Education Fund demonstrates that Americans have been driving less since the middle of last decade. The report shows that young people in particular are decreasing the amount they drive and increasing their use of transportation alternatives.

> Keep Reading

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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 Illinois 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. 

> Keep Reading
Report | Illinois PIRG | Higher Ed

Issue Brief: Student Loan Debt in Illinois

The resolution of the on-going national debate about whether or not to extend the low interest rate on federal student loans will have a sizable impact on Illinois’ economy.  Without a new plan, on July 1 the interest rate on subsidized Stafford student loans will double, from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. 

> Keep Reading
Report | Illinois PIRG | Budget

Picking up the Tab

Some U.S.-based multinational firms or individuals avoid paying U.S. taxes by transferring their earnings to tax haven countries with minimal or no taxes. These tax haven users 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.

> Keep Reading
Report | Illinois PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

Transportation and the New Generation

From World War II until just a few years ago, the number of miles driven annually on America’s roads steadily increased. Then, at the turn of the century, something changed: Americans began driving less. By 2011, the average American was driving 6 percent fewer miles per year than in 2004. And the trend away from driving has been led by young people.

> Keep Reading
Report | Illinois PIRG | Budget

Loopholes for Sale

Loopholes for Sale pursues the intersection of corporate campaign contributions to members of Congress and the absence of Congressional action to close corporate tax loopholes and raise additional revenue from corporate taxes.

> Keep Reading
Report | Illinois PIRG Education Fund | Tax

Following the Money 2012

This report is Illinois PIRG 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.

> Keep Reading

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Odd Bedfellows Oppose the Tenaska Tax | Brian Imus

Illinois PIRG joined with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to oppose Senate Bill 678 – legislation that would force Illinois consumers to pay for a proposed coal plant the Tenaska Corporation wants to build

> Keep Reading
Blog Post

Aldermen offer new Trust ordinance | Celeste Meiffren

This morning, a group of aldermen including Alderman Waguespack and Alderman Arena filed a substitute to the Ordinance Establishing the Infrastructure Trust to be considered at tomorrow’s City Council meeting. The new version of the ordinance is a sign that some aldermen have learned from the mistakes of the parking meter deal.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post

Six More Days to Improve the Infrastructure Trust | Celeste Meiffren

At the City Council meeting today, Alderman Ed Burke and Alderman Patrick O’Connor deferred the Ordinance Establishing the Chicago Infrastructure Trust, a not-for-profit organization designed to leverage private dollars to help rebuild Chicago’s public infrastructure. This move came amid many substantial concerns from aldermen, advocacy organizations and members of the public.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Democracy

Disempowered Bankers Start Super PAC, Reveal Plans for World Domination | Brian Imus

Members of the American Bankers Association recently announced that after years of being ignored in the halls of power, the industry will at last be creating its own super PAC to serve as its proverbial "big stick."

> Keep Reading
Blog Post

New Transparency Website for Illinoisans | Celeste Meiffren

Yesterday, The Illinois State Comptroller, Judy Baar Topinka introduced a new transparency website. I’m getting dizzy from all of the transparency websites in Illinois. So, what makes this one any different?

> Keep Reading

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Tools & Resources

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We’ve got a chance to clean up the health care industry in Illinois, but with lobbyists lining the halls of the state capitol, we need your support.

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