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Public Citizen Annual Report 2007

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Public Citizen Annual Report 2007 Public Citizen Annual Report 2007 www.citizen.org President Joan Claybrook Board Members Public Citizen Inc. Adolph L. Reed Jr., Chair Joan Claybrook Public Citizen is a national, nonprofit advocacy organization David Halperin that represents people in the halls of power. For more than 35 years, Howard Metzenbaum we have successfully fought for openness and democratic accounta- Joseph A. Page, bility in government; public funding of elections; a more ethical Secretary-Treasurer Congress; clean, safe and sustainable energy; safer trucks and auto- mobiles; stronger worker safety protections; safe, effective and Public Citizen affordable prescription drugs; and fair trade. Foundation Inc. Robert C. Fellmeth, Public Citizen does not take corporate or government money, so Chair we can name names and hold those in power accountable. For that Lisa A. Blue reason, we rely on financial support from our members and founda- Joan Claybrook tions. We also rely on the sale of publications, including our block- Joseph W. Cotchett buster “Worst Pills, Best Pills” book and newsletter, as well as the Liz Figueroa continuously updated Web site WorstPills.org. Jim Hightower, Secretary-Treasurer If you would like to contribute to Public Citizen or become a Steve Skrovan member, please call (202) 588-1000 or visit our Web site at www.cit- izen.org/join. Directors David J. Arkush, Congress Watch; Marilyn Berger, Administration; Brent Berwager, Development; Angela Bradbery, Communications; Tyson Slocum, Energy; Tom Smith, Texas; Lori Wallach, Global Trade Watch; Sidney M. Wolfe, M.D., Health Research; Brian Wolfman, Litigation Editor Bridgette Blair Production Manager James Decker From the president n the 2006 congressional elec- Itions, the American public – fed up with Washington’s status quo of scandals, ethics abuses and bad policies – showed tection of consumers in medical guarantee for energy companies Republicans the door. Voters malpractice cases and repealing cut in half, and that money must brought in a new guard – the estate tax at a cost of $1 bil- still be appropriated. Democrats, led by House Speak- lion to taxpayers. Another example of a con- er Nancy Pelosi and Senate In 2007, Public Citizen also gressional misstep is the House Majority Leader Harry Reid. saw success outside Congress. A of Representatives’ Energy and Since Democrats took over new rule issued in September by Commerce Committee’s Dec. congressional leadership in the National Highway Traffic 18 approval of an inadequate bill January 2007, they have shown Safety Administration requires reauthorizing the Consumer great promise, ushering through vehicles to protect passengers’ Product Safety Commission pro-consumer legislation, includ- heads in side-impact crashes – (CPSC). Not only does it not ing increased fuel economy stan- something Public Citizen has require safety data on dangerous dards and lobbying and ethics long pushed for. By 2013, all products to be made public, but reforms. Public Citizen helped vehicles will have this protection it does not enable the CPSC to craft and push through these and – most likely side head air bags – block unsafe imported products other important measures, and helping to reduce the 9,000 at the border – before they reach worked to limit federal subsidies deaths caused annually by side- store shelves. Further, its increase for oil, gas, coal and nuclear impact crashes. And in April, in civil penalties is minimal and industries. Public Citizen urged the Food funding is insufficient. With all After much pressure from and Drug Administration (FDA) the headlines about unsafe toys Public Citizen and its ally to reject a new painkiller, and other products, the failure of groups, Congress also voted in Arcoxia, because it is associated the House bill to protect late 2007 to eliminate funding with an increased risk of heart Americans in this case is uncon- for the administration’s danger- problems. An FDA advisory scionable. ous “pilot project” that would committee voted against Public Citizen will continue allow heavy trucks from selected approval, and Arcoxia has not to hold both Democrats and Contents companies in Mexico to travel made it to the market. Republicans in Congress throughout the U.S. even That’s not to say Public accountable for bad policy deci- Congress, 3 though they may not meet our Citizen hasn’t been disappointed sions. In 2008, we’ll continue environmental or safety stan- by some decisions of the new issuing reports chock full of solid dards. Congress. In 2007, Democratic research, walking the halls of Courts, 5 Earlier in the year, Congress lawmakers, who need Republican Congress, holding press confer- handed Public Citizen another support to pass bills that will ences, challenging bad decisions Trade, 7 major victory when it did not withstand a presidential veto, in court and otherwise alerting renew fast track trade authority. weakened several strong meas- the American public. We want to Fast track gives the executive ures. Take, for example, the fail- ensure that Congress puts the Health, 9 branch enormous discretion to ure of the Senate to pass a com- interests of its employers – the negotiate and write trade agree- prehensive energy bill in American people – first. Energy, 11 ments and delegates away December. The bill would have For us to continue our work, Congress’ constitutional power repealed $12.5 billion in recently we need your help. You can sign to set the terms of U.S. trade created subsidies for the oil up for our activist alerts (visit Texas, 12 policy. industry and shifted that money www.citizen.org/action) to stay In addition, Democrats have into renewable energy and ener- up-to-date on our efforts. Or Safety and put an end to the consideration gy efficiency measures. But the you can donate to Public Citizen – or even the mention – of a Senate, pressured by its friends in by visiting www.citizen.org/join Regulations, 13 number of anti-consumer bills the oil and fossil fuel industries, to help us keep the fight strong. that businesses pushed hard for caved, leaving intact these bil- Thank you for your support Financials, 14 in prior Congresses. These lions in unnecessary subsidies. in 2007. Stay tuned in 2008 – include laws lessening the pro- However, we got a huge loan it’s going to be a busy year. 2 Congress Congressional Ethics Reform This Great Law Passed in 2007. Now, Who’s Going to Enforce It? In 2007, congressional by other members of Congress abuses in Congress, and even short, recommending an Democratic leadership, with through the ethics committee, testified before congressional Office of Congressional Ethics reform-minded congressional whose members are appointed committees about the prob- to oversee ethics violations freshmen, stormed Capitol by the majority and minority lems – but at that time it was without any investigative Hill and passed a lobbying and leaders. all to no avail,” said Joan authority, such as subpoena ethics reform law. With scandals around Claybrook, president of Public power. The office could Public Citizen had worked Capitol Hill and the nation, Citizen. research complaints; however, on lobbying reform since the congressional ethics com- In 2007, when Democrats the public could not file com- 2005, when no attention was mittees did not want to admit took control of Congress, all plaints against lawmakers or given to lobbying abuses. We a problem existed. However, this changed. staffers. Final determinations helped craft and promote the reform groups like Public On Day One, the 110th of a violation would be made final legislation in 2007 to cur- Citizen pushed harder when Congress passed rules banning by lawmakers. tail lobbyist-funded congres- former superlobbyist Jack gifts from lobbyists and This is not an improved sional trips, ban gifts from lob- Abramoff, found guilty for restricting congressional travel. ethics enforcement system; it is byists, rein in earmarks and attempting to bribe public Other sweeping lobbying and the same old system with more disclose lobbyist fundraising officials, agreed to point out ethics reforms passed both bureaucratic layers to shield for lawmakers. those he bribed. chambers and were signed into members from culpability. An But who will monitor and “Public Citizen organized law on Sept. 14. independent enforcement enforce the law? Traditionally, press conferences denouncing But the creation of an office with investigative enforcement of ethics among the inaction by the ethics com- effective ethics enforcement authority is needed to recom- members of Congress has mittees, issued reports docu- agency to ensure compliance mend final enforcement been monitored and enforced menting the egregious ethics to the new rules was excluded actions to congressional ethics from the new law. The Senate committees in public reports rejected Public Citizen’s call and allow the public filing of for an independent Office of complaints. Public Integrity to enforce the Public Citizen condemns new ethics rules – with Sen. the task force recommenda- Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), sub- tions and will appeal to ject of a Department of Justice reform-minded members of ethics investigation, declaring Congress in 2008. We are ethics enforcement is counting on Speaker Pelosi Congress’ job and should not and the congressional fresh- be turned over to an inde- men to come through once pendent agency. again and create a real enforce- House Speaker Nancy ment system for the new lob- Pelosi (D-Calif.) appointed a bying and ethics law. task force, headed by Rep. If not, Public Citizen will Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), monitor compliance on to study ethics enforcement in Capitol Hill and call the pub- Congress and recommend lic’s attention to corruption on reforms. The task force pro- our own. posed changes in ethics Ethics task forces come enforcement on Dec. 19. and go, but we’re not going But the task force fell anywhere. Craig Holman, lobbyist for Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division, speaks in October about lobbying reform at a European Parliament hearing in Brussels, Belgium.
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