2015: Fighting Corporate Power Together

PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS January/February 2016 5

“We the People have not conceded the right to decide our own future.”

Those words from Public Citizen Presi- dent Robert Weissman capture the spirit of our members. In 2015, you demonstrated remarkable commitment to the goal of Public Citizen: a democracy that works for and protects everyone. You advanced the movement to overturn Citizens United. Calling for presidential action, in 30 states, you rallied to protest sneaky political spending by corporations, and you supported an executive order to stop businesses with government contracts from influencing elections. You helped us keep the pressure on regulators to issue long-delayed Dodd-Frank Act rules to protect consumers and stop Wall Street predations. In the long battle against bad trade deals that favor multinational corporations, you exercised persistence in calling on lawmakers to reject Fast Track legislation and the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal. On the federal and state levels, you came together to demand bold climate action in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, fought a Chicago energy behemoth’s power grab, opposed bailouts for Ohio power plants and let Texas officials know that you support renewable energy. Buoyed by your fervor for justice, we challenged Big Business in three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and successfully advocated higher fines for automakers that withhold information about safety defects. Your support gave us the resources to campaign for state single-payer programs, demonstrate the harms of unsafe new drugs and successfully drive down the high costs of lifesaving drugs in developing countries. We thank you for your continued support, which keeps our work going — whether we’re on the ground or steeped in data. A few short pages can’t encompass all you helped us accomplish this year, but they are a good reflection of our work together. 6 January/February 2016 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS DEMOCRACY

State voices rise against Big Money

Washington, D.C., 16 states and nearly 700 cities and towns support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. Public Citizen boosted the people power in other states working to join that list:

• We worked with pro-democracy groups in Arkansas, who began col- lecting the 67,000 signatures neces-

sary to place a constitutional amend- Public Citizen photo/Philip Anderson ment initiative on the November “Across political ideologies, Americans are wise to the real threat of unchecked and secret election spending. State by ballot. state, the voice of We the People will win over Big Business and billionaires,” said Jonah Minkoff-Zern (far right), co- • We aided a volunteer-driven effort and director of Public Citizen’s Democracy Is For People campaign. Above, on Dec. 16, activists delivered to the White House 1 million a June “Resolutions Week” in Iowa, signatures supporting an executive order requiring political spending disclosure by government contractors. which resulted in nine cities and coun- ties passing resolutions in support of an amendment. • We bolstered bipartisan efforts to usher 1 Million in Favor of Presidential Action a letter supporting an amendment through the New York Assembly. The state Senate is one signature away from In 2015, the Wild West era litical spending disclosure rule, roads GPS, and it would en- having a majority sign on to the letter. of campaign spending got adding more cities calling for sure that these companies are • We asked our Seattle members to wilder. Experts anticipate a constitutional amendment, not corrupting the government support the Honest Elections Initia- $10 billion will be spent on and winning more sponsors of contracting process through tive, which passed. This will curb Big the 2016 elections. Outside public financing of elections. their political spending. Money contributions and implement groups surely will shatter all But while we’re well aware Mobilizing activists who are small-donor matching funding in city previous spending records, of the barriers blocking action, fed up with the unchecked in- elections. And we’re part of the WA- ensuring months of TV attack we’re acutely aware of the fluence corporations and the mend coalition that gathered signa- ads that alienate the citizenry need to win concrete reform. wealthy have over elections, tures to put an amendment initiative and degrade our democracy. So we focused special at- we helped organize dozens on the November 2016 state ballot. But while the problem is tention on the White House, of April rallies in 30 states to getting progressively worse, urging President Barack support an executive order. and while overwhelming num- Obama to issue an executive From California to Minne- bers of Americans favor far- order requiring government sota to Florida, the grassroots Pushing agencies on dark money reaching reform, including a contractors to disclose their movement to restore the bal- constitutional amendment to political spending. ance of power to voters was overturn Citizens United, the Such an order — which heard, with pro-democracy • We petitioned the Federal Election federal policy response to Citi- doesn’t require the approval groups, including Public Citi- Commission (FEC) to enforce its zens United has been to do ex- of Congress — would affect at zen, delivering a half-million regulations designed to keep dark actly nothing. least 70 percent of Fortune 100 signatures — collected in one money out of elections. In 2015, Public Citizen worked companies, covering indus- month — to the White House. • After two years, the FEC released its in Congress, various regulatory tries from defense to energy to Two weeks later, 6,000 ad- general counsel’s report in the ongo- agencies and the courts to ad- entertainment. It would enable vocates flooded White House ing case Public Citizen v. FEC. The vance reform. We made im- the public to know which com- telephone lines with demands counsel concluded that we likely are portant progress, generating a panies are funneling money for the order. By December, correct that Karl Rove’s Crossroads growing public outcry for the into elections through outfits 1 million signatures had been GPS nonprofit has crossed the line U.S. Securities and Exchange like the U.S. Chamber of Com- collected urging the president into political activity and should dis- Commission to adopt a po- merce or Karl Rove’s Cross- to take action. close its donors. • Our Bright Lines Project kept the pressure on the IRS to revise a rule that clearly defines nonprofit political activity, which, if crafted well, would help keep nonprofits like Crossroads I support Public Citizen and do local GPS from funneling dark money into organizing to overturn Citizens United elections. because I believe we all have an • In ads plastered throughout a ma- “ important role to play in standing up jor Washington, D.C., train station, we called on U.S. Securities and for democracy. Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White to require publicly traded Annie Phillips companies to disclose their political spending, as 1.2 million public com- ” Public Citizen volunteer ments have requested. PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS January/February 2016 7

GOVERNMENT AND FINANCIAL REFORM Congress, don’t gut our regulatory protections!

If the 114th Congress did nothing else Making Wall Street Play by the Rules in 2015, it made introducing anti-regulatory legislation a high priority. Each week, it seemed, lawmakers spewed bills that would give a break to corporate criminals The reason our government rules haven’t been finalized or that the ratio was too difficult or big polluters. Representatives even doesn’t control Wall Street issued by regulatory agencies, to calculate. During that time, crafted legislation requiring government is because Wall Street con- and others have been watered Public Citizen pushed back, agencies to consider the effect of regula- trols our government. Along down or rolled back through highlighting the importance tions on businesses before thinking about with campaign spending and corporate lobbying efforts. of the rule and encouraging the benefits to citizens. spending billions on lobbyists, One important Dodd-Frank members to urge the agency to As members of Congress introduced, the revolving door is one vital rule was issued on Aug. 5: The act. The increased transparen- and sometimes reintroduced, these anti- way the big banks exert undue U.S. Securities and Exchange cy will empower shareholders safeguards assaults, we trekked to Capitol influence: by sending execu- Commission now requires to modify CEO pay that drains Hill to testify before and educate lawmak- tives to work as government companies to disclose how funds from investors and hard- ers. At congressional hearings, we showed regulators and by offering jobs much their CEOs take home working employees. how regulations protect vulnerable popu- to officials and regulators once compared to the median em- In 2016, we will press agen- lations and how a strong regulatory system they leave government service. ployee. The rule came after cies to issue more Dodd-Frank benefits public health and safety, financial Employees swooshing back five years of corporate lobby- rules, including one involving security and the environment. and forth between government ing and improbable excuses skyrocketing banker pay. We stressed the timely message that the and corporate jobs is known as regulatory process needs fixing to prevent the “revolving door.” Amazing- further disasters — given the economic ly, Wall Street firms sometimes toll of lax Wall Street accountability and the even pay former executives significant human toll from tragedies such multimillion-dollar packages to as the May Amtrak derailment in Philadel- secure high-level government phia, multiple oil train explosions and the jobs, presenting a conflict of in- General Motors ignition switch scandal. terest once the executive dons the hat of federal regulator. Our research and advocacy informed the proposed Finan- Real-time website tracks bottleneck cial Services Conflict of Inter- est Act, which attempts to al- ter this paradigm by keeping To further shine a light on regulatory de- government workers from the lay, we launched SafeguardsDelayed.org, lure of corporate promises. In- an interactive website that tracks the move- troduced July 15 by U.S. Sen. ment of regulations through one key choke Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and point: The White House’s Office of Informa-

U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings Public Citizen photo/Philip Anderson tion and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). OIRA (D-Md.), the legislation would “Simply put, the financial services sector reaps profits when the regulatory must sign off on all significant regulations, ban bonuses to senior execu- agencies that oversee it are stacked with former employees. It’s time to seal but the site shows rules that have been de- tives when used as an incentive off the revolving door and leave public service to those with honest incentives layed more than 120 days — at a cost of no to take high-level federal jobs. to do so,” said Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist with Public Citizen’s less than $12 billion. Congress Watch division. Above, Holman speaks at a July 15 press conference It also would prohibit govern- to introduce the Financial Services Conflict of Interest Act. On his left is U.S. ment employees — financial Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), and right is U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). services regulators, specifically those who monitor banks’ com- pliance with rules and oversee I support Public the awarding of contracts — Citizen because from Wall Street employment I do not want a for two years after they leave the “ government of federal government. Meanwhile, Public Citizen plutocrats. is pressing regulators to fol- low the law and issue the important rules mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform ” and Consumer Protection Act. Our July report, “Dodd Frank Is Five — and Still Not Allowed Out of the House,” highlights the legislation’s not-yet-real- Photo courtesy of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee ized promises to end reck- “Public Citizen’s work is more crucial than ever with the 114th Congress, which is less banking and ensure that giving Big Business the best chance in a generation to get its anti-regulatory wish taxpayers never again have to list,” said Amit Narang, regulatory policy advocate in Public Citizen’s Congress bail out big banks. Despite the Watch division (second from left). Narang testified before a U.S. Senate Judiciary Janice Gintzler subcommittee on Oct. 6, outlining how the negative consequences of pollution, lax fact that Dodd-Frank became lending rules and unsafe workplaces often fall hardest on low-income communities Public Citizen supporter law in 2010, many Dodd-Frank and people of color. 8 January/February 2016 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS CONSUMER AND WORKER SAFETY

Protecting nurses from injury Safeguards Secured, Courtesy of Clean Budget Coalition Our five-part series, “Nursing: A Pro- fession in Peril,” demonstrated the need to protect nurses, whose injury rate is five With each round of budget times greater than other workers. negotiations in Congress, cor- We recommended use of equipment to porate lobbyists think of cre- replace heavy manual lifting and a federal ative ways to get goodies for standard to protect those in the profession. the companies they represent. In addition, we added our support for One of their favorite tools is the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protec- the “policy rider,” a measure tion Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. Al Fran- that affects policy but is hid- ken (D-Minn.) and U.S. Rep. John Conyers den in must-pass legislation Jr. (D-Mich.) to prevent musculoskeletal that funds the government. disorders by creating standards for safe Proposed spending bills patient-handling. pushed last summer (later combined into a massive omnibus proposal) contained OSHA responds to petition hundreds of policy riders to pay back corporate donors. Some Illustration courtesy of Mike Jenkins of the provisions would have endangered rules on air qual- “This is Washington’s deep corruption at its worst. Adding policy riders to must- Fourteen years after Public Citizen called pass funding legislation would force through measures imposing enormous for improved protections for workers ex- ity and clean water, prevented harm on the American public but benefiting corporate donors,” said Lisa posed to a dangerous metal, the U.S. Oc- the White House from crack- Gilbert, director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division. cupational Safety and Health Administra- ing down on contractors that tion (OSHA) in 2015 finally proposed a rule violate workplace laws, blocked of the corporate wish-list riders More than 200,000 citizens on the issue. rules that limit the number of in the budget. signed petitions calling on law- Beryllium is a highly toxic metal that can hours truckers can work with- As lawmakers’ negotia- makers to oppose policy rid- cause cancer and a fatal lung disease. In out an adequate rest break, and tions over a final spending ers. During a December Twitter 2001, Public Citizen petitioned the agency delayed a rule that would reduce bill continued in October, the town hall, representatives of to limit workplace beryllium levels for the workers’ exposure to silica. coalition hosted a teleconfer- the Public Citizen-spearheaded thousands of workers exposed to the metal. Public Citizen forged a coali- ence with U.S. Sens. Charles coalition answered questions OSHA denied the petition but initiated a tion of almost 200 civil rights, Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Debbie about threats posed by the rid- rulemaking process to update its beryllium consumer advocacy, environ- Stabenow (D-Mich.) to dis- ers, and on Dec. 7, members of standard. After years of foot-dragging, the mental, labor and women’s cuss the dangers of riders and the coalition handed out “No agency’s proposed rule was finally released organizations to press for a call on other senators to re- Riders” packets — complete in August. But as Public Citizen had warned clean budget without these ject them. By November, 165 with what resembled a doctor’s more than a decade before, by the time the inappropriate riders. The part- members of the U.S. House of prescription against “poison rule was drafted, emerging evidence indi- ners — among them the AFL- Representatives — led by U.S. pills” — on Capitol Hill. They cated that an even lower limit than the one CIO, Planned Parenthood and Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D- urged representatives to reject we initially recommended and OSHA now the American Lung Associa- Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) divisive special favors for corpo- has proposed is required to adequately pro- tion — defended protections and G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) rations. (See photo at the bottom tect workers. In November, we called on the for workers and citizens, start- — had signed a letter urging of page 1.) agency to make the proposed rule stronger. ing with a September letter to House leadership to bring to The outreach worked. All but a all 535 members of Congress the floor a clean spending bill, few policy riders were jettisoned and the president opposing all with no dangerous riders. from the final spending bill. Accountable doctors, safe patients

For years, we’ve championed the efforts Better roads for truckers, pedestrians, drivers of state medical boards to bring disciplinary action against bad doctors. Considering that large truck to must-pass legislation, our Safety, we also called for So when a bill introduced in the Loui- crashes kill 4,000 Americans analysis called out the out- companies that sell defective siana Legislature in the spring threatened annually, you would think no sized election spending and vehicles or parts to be held to undermine the authority of the state’s member of Congress would lobbying by a FedEx- and UPS- criminally accountable. In medical board, we alerted the media, introduce legislation to put led coalition. The provisions the final highway bill, the fine worked with local partners and educated heavier trucks on the road and extending truck driver hours for automakers that withhold lawmakers to banish the harmful stipula- extend hours for already over- were defeated. information on safety defects tions in it. worked truck drivers. When With partners like Advo- was increased from $35 mil- The final version — cut from 30 to such measures were tacked on cates for Highway and Auto lion to $105 million. three pages — contained none of the bad provisions, some of which would have delayed disciplinary action against doctors, Public Citizen is a true voice for the people and the truth. restricted the availability of investigation information to the public and blocked action on anonymous complaints. “ Dr. Jack Goldstein, Public Citizen supporter ” PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS January/February 2016 9

HEALTH Pushing for affordable drugs

While the outcry over too-expensive drugs echoed in congressional hearings and on ca- ble news, Public Citizen countered Big Phar- Countering Big Pharma’s Greed ma’s price gouging. We partnered with Carleton University in research showing that because Congress As drug costs continue to restricts Medicare from negotiating drug skyrocket, so does public out- prices, Medicare Part D drug prices are not rage over their unaffordability. only higher than those in 30 other countries The most notable example in — most of which purchased the drugs for 2015 involved assured multimil- less than half of what the U.S. pays under lionaire Martin Shkreli — who Medicare — but also higher than drugs pur- bought the rights to the drug chased under Medicaid and Veterans Health Daraprim and, overnight, in- Administration programs. creased the price from $13.50 to Armed with this data, we called for a reduc- $750 per pill. tion of brand-name drug prices, mandatory ge- Working against such insa- neric substitutions and lower co-payments and tiable corporate greed, Public deductibles under all Medicare Part D plans. Citizen took its message — and the fact that these price increases have nothing to do Securing global access to medicines with research and development Public Citizen photo/Philip Anderson or innovation — to Capitol Hill “It’s critical that the FDA stand up to industry pressure and close the safety gap In addition to sounding the alarm about to ensure that affordable, life- for generic drugs. Without this rule, the agency may not know of new risks, and expensive drugs, Public Citizen is countering saving drugs come before Big patients and doctors may not be warned until many people have unnecessarily Big Pharma strategies to lock in high prices Pharma profits. Where corpo- suffered,” said Dr. Michael Carome, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. Carome (above) participated in a U.S. House of Representatives briefing on globally. This year, we fought trade deal pro- rate lobbyists attacked health March 26 and rebutted pharmaceutical industry pushback to a proposal requiring visions that would expand Big Pharma mo- protections, we untangled in- generic drug labels to be updated with the latest research. nopoly power in many countries and pushed dustry doublespeak to advocate the U.S. and governments abroad to encour- on behalf of public health. lawmakers approved it, although agency. At press time, the FDA age generic competition. Blocking dangerous legisla- some bad provisions were re- had announced no further ac- In the final text of the Trans-Pacific Partner- tion: While most legislation in moved. As the U.S. Senate worked tion on the proposal. ship (TPP) — a trade pact negotiated among 2015 stood little chance of be- on its version, we briefed staffers Demanding a better FDA the U.S. and 11 nations (see page 11 for more in- coming law because of lack of on the bill’s dangers and hope to commissioner: Following the formation) — our technical expertise and part- support from either Democrats block it in the coming year. September nomination of Dr. nerships inside and outside of the negotiations or Republicans, a bill pushed Fight Pharma Ripoffs cam- Robert Califf to be the next FDA resulted in the rejection of 16 TPP rules that aggressively by Big Pharma paign: With overwhelming pub- commissioner, we were among would have been bad for patients. If approved, and medical device compa- lic support for reining in Big the few voices demanding the the TPP still means serious harm for patients, nies gained the backing of both Pharma’s bottomless appetite Senate not approve him. As but because of our work, many affordable medi- parties. The measure, the mis- for profits, we launched our watchdog of the agency for 45 cines will be able to enter the market years ear- named 21st Century Cures Act, Fight Pharma Ripoffs campaign. years, Public Citizen pointed lier, saving many lives. For example, automatic is a wish list for industry, so Through policy reforms, the out that Califf has more con- monopoly periods for biotech drugs will be sig- Public Citizen is working hard project aims to stop drug manu- nections to drug and medical nificantly shorter than Big Pharma wanted. to stop it and to win real cures facturers from price gouging. device companies than any pre- In the U.S. and internationally, we advo- for our faulty drug development We’re working on initiatives that vious FDA commissioner. At cated use of a tool that would enable govern- and approval system. would empower Medicare to ne- press time, the Senate had not ments to license generic drugs despite Big The act would do nothing to gotiate drug prices, prohibit Big yet voted on his confirmation. Pharma patent monopolies. Domestically, spur innovation and overcome Pharma mergers and unlawful Ensuring generic drug safety: this strategy could cut treatment costs for regulatory roadblocks to devel- marketing, and make overnight After we successfully pressed the many diseases, such as hepatitis C — for oping new cures, as it promises. drug price spikes illegal. FDA to write a rule permitting ge- which the Veterans Health Administration is Instead, the bill would weaken Preventing pharma rep lies: neric drugmakers to update labels rationing care to control $1,000 per pill costs. U.S. Food and Drug Adminis- Industry influence at the agency with the latest safety information Our advocacy for this approach already has tration (FDA) drug and medical level manifested in an FDA pro- — the same process available to reduced the price of HIV medicines in Co- device safety standards, allow posal that would allow pharma- brand-name drugmakers — lob- lombia and Peru, and it could bring afford- companies to hide payments ceutical representatives to tell byists increased pressure on the able cancer treatment to many countries. made to physicians and hospi- doctors that their companies’ agency. Trade groups sent the tals, and delay the availability of drugs are not as dangerous as FDA a counterproposal, which some generic drugs. Some oth- FDA-approved labels warn. prompted the agency to delay the Medicare-for-All movement erwise consumer-focused legis- We harshly criticized the rule and hold a hearing on the in- lators set aside these concerns, industry-backed proposal, urg- dustry proposal. In a year marking the 50th anniversary of because the legislation calls for ing the agency to withdraw it. At a public hearing, we chal- Medicare, a single-payer system we advocate a significant boost in funding for In a March 11 letter to the sec- lenged that counterproposal, expanding to cover all Americans, we went local the National Institutes of Health. retary of the U.S. Department stressing that it would make with health care advocacy. Focused on bubbling Public Citizen worked to per- of Health and Human Services, the problem worse by taking a momentum for a single-payer system from the suade lawmakers to remove the we highlighted that 99 percent safety gap that exists now for state level to the federal level, we participated act’s most harmful provisions, of public comments — from generic drugs and expanding it in a national coalition to educate lawmakers in educating legislators as the bill doctors and even individuals to brand-name products. The Oregon, urged full funding of universal health worked its way through the U.S. in the pharmaceutical industry FDA says it will finalize the life- care in Vermont and supported a ballot initia- House of Representatives. House — strongly disagreed with the saving rule in July 2016. tive for single-payer health care in Colorado. 10 January/February 2016 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS

ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Action on energy market manipulation Clean Power Leads to Savings The Federal Energy Regulatory Commis- wind power is coming at just out of it, we showed that those sion (FERC) is legally bound to review elec- Texas the right time. The U.S. Envi- lawmakers — among them U.S. tricity rates and ensure that they are just Texas is best known as an oil ronmental Protection Agency Senate Majority Leader Mitch and reasonable. and gas state — a conserva- (EPA) in 2015 finalized the McConnell (R-Ky.) and U.S. Rep. Public Citizen makes sure the agency tive one at that. Clean Power Plan, a rule that David McKinley (R-W.Va.) — does its job. In 2015, with Public Citi- sets a 2030 target date to curb were working to take money from So when our energy experts saw evi- zen’s prodding, the city of carbon pollution from power the hands of their own constitu- dence of companies manipulating energy Austin proved to the nation plants by 32 percent from 2005 ents. The EPA’s rule, we demon- supply auctions to boost prices in Illinois that it’s possible to cut carbon levels. It allows each state to strated, would save Kentucky and and New England — by $110 for consum- pollution and keep the lights creatively meet their targets. West Virginia consumers $104 ers in New England and by 800 percent for on — all while reducing con- For example, states can choose and $160 each year, respectively. many Illinois residents — we took action. sumers’ electric bills. In the to use more renewable energy As 26 states and several in- In Illinois, we filed a formal complaint in fall, Austin signed contracts to sources or improve existing dustry groups filed lawsuits to May demanding FERC investigate the auc- buy enough solar energy to re- coal power plant efficiency. quash the rule, we published re- tions. On Dec. 31, FERC issued a decision place a gas-fired power plant As expected, the fossil fuel search showing that, in fact, the that parts of the auction rules violated fed- — at the cheapest prices per industry and its political cronies Clean Power Plan would benefit eral law and have to be rewritten. kilowatt-hour ever reported. pushed back, and Public Citi- consumers in every state. A future order on refunds for consumers The prices will be fixed for be- zen took them on. Opponents In addition, the EPA heeded will come in 2016. tween 15 and 25 years. contended that the plan would calls from Public Citizen and We also joined the Connecticut attor- Georgetown, Texas, is buy- increase electricity rates, but as 25,000 activists to make the ney general to call for FERC to investigate ing 100 percent of its energy the deadline neared for the rule rule stronger: The final rule there. After exhausting the appeals pro- from renewable sources. to be finalized, we issued a se- calls for a 32 percent reduction cess, we sued the agency in September, In fact, in 2015, Texas cities ries of reports showing how the in power plant pollution in- noting FERC’s duty to review rates and en- and big electricity-generating plan would save households be- stead of 30 percent, increases sure that they are just and reasonable. companies began buying large quantities of solar and tween $129 and $147 annually in the role of renewable energy wind energy because they are a sample of states: Maine, Mis- and decreases incentives for much cheaper than energy souri, New Hampshire, Ohio, new natural gas facilities. The Consumers strike against power grab from coal, oil or natural gas. It Pennsylvania and Virginia. rule no longer encourages the makes good business sense. And when King Coal-friendly use of nuclear energy, which In 2015, Chicago-based energy giant members of Congress intro- creates dangerous radioactive Exelon tried to take over the utility Pep- U.S. duced bills that would kill the waste and cannot exist with- co. Public Citizen jumped into the fray The ascendance of solar and plan by allowing states to opt out large taxpayer subsidies. to block the deal because it would lead to electricity price hikes for customers in Washington, D.C., and parts of Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, and because it would increase reliance on nuclear power at the expense of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Exelon did everything from reportedly buying resident support to paying the chair of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s political action committee to lobby her. We testified before regulators in Maryland and the District of Columbia, educated Public Citizen photo/Philip Anderson Public Citizen photo/Philip Anderson residents and policymakers about the deal’s potential dangers and organized Left: “If the takeover is approved, D.C. will be locked into a relationship with a corporation that opposes clean energy initiatives and wants to put residents on the hook for its failing fleet of nuclear reactors,” said Allison Fisher (far right), activists to call on regulators to pull the outreach director for Public Citizen’s Energy Program. Right: “Lifting the four-decade-old crude oil export ban means that plug on the merger. consumers will see higher prices at the pump, while the oil industry will see increased profits in their pockets,” said Tyson In August, the D.C. Public Service Com- Slocum, director of Public Citizen’s Energy Program. He testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and mission (PSC) rejected the deal. Entrepreneurship on July 13, advocating keeping domestically produced crude oil in the U.S. But after Pepco gave the District government $25 million in exchange for the possibility of naming a street or park after Public Citizen’s energy and climate program the company, the mayor threw her support has provided indispensable leadership in behind the deal, and the PSC waived its own rules and reopened the case. alliance with Washington, D.C., activists in We rallied residents to submit com- “ an ongoing campaign to stop a monopolistic ments to the PSC and to protest near the merger that has been unfriendly to solar and mayor’s office and outside a Nov. 10 PSC wind power. Debby Hanrahan hearing. At press time, the PSC had not made a decision in the case. ” Public Citizen volunteer PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS January/February 2016 11

GLOBALIZATION AND TRADE Fast Track legislation not so fast

Trade topped the issues that consumed Congress in 2015, with debate over Fast Track trade authority provoking one of the year’s most tumultuous battles. Fighting Corporate Trade Deal Fast Track is an anti-democratic proce- dure that enables the president to negoti- ate trade agreements and then push them “The intense national battle over Fast Track through Congress with minimal debate trade authority was just a preview of the massive and no amendments. opposition the TPP will face,” said Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch. Here, From 2012 to 2015, smart strategy and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) speaks at an Oct. hard work enabled a broad civil society 29 press conference demanding text of the Trans- coalition to block the effort launched by Pacific Partnership be shared with Congress and the a massive corporate coalition, the GOP public. U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) (second from left) is dressed as Sherlock Holmes and stands congressional leadership and the White with Roxy, the “TPP Tracker” that will help sniff out House to pass Fast Track trade authority. the TPP. (Public Citizen photo/Mina Itabashi) Despite an unprecedented Obama-led seduction campaign — described by the press as the administration’s most intense policy campaigning effort to date, surpassing even the push for Obamacare Seven years of negotia- efforts inside and outside the medicine prices. — the U.S. House of Representatives de- tions. Five “final” Trans-Pacific many negotiating sessions we A U.S. proposal to extend nied the president Fast Track authority Partnership (TPP) ministe- attended. Big Pharma’s monopoly rights when it held a vote in June. rial meetings since 2013. Zero Working with public inter- was one of the last issues However, the White House and GOP deals. est allies from other TPP na- holding up the deal. leadership worked together to force By fall 2015, the TPP had tions, we conducted analysis In Atlanta, we rallied against more votes on various elements — to reached the point that every and helped to alert negotiators the deal with anti-TPP activ- which they added outrageous riders to trade negotiation facing broad about what was at stake for ac- ists, including cancer “thriv- “buy” more GOP votes. public opposition reaches: cess to medicines, financial ers” who rely on the medicines On June 18, the final vote resulted in Either a deal had to be com- stability, and environmental the TPP would make more ex- the narrow passage of Fast Track. Had pleted quickly or the process and consumer policies. pensive. just five additional House members voted would unravel. We also often organized When the TPP text was final- “no,” Fast Track would have been defeated So at an October Atlanta protests outside negotiations. ly released in November, Pub- again. TPP meeting, top trade offi- As the pact grew increas- lic Citizen was ready, having Before Fast Track legislation was intro- cials decided that they would ingly controversial in several organized a team of experts to duced, Public Citizen helped organize hun- not leave until either a deal TPP countries, it became ever provide analysis of the chap- dreds of groups to educate lawmakers, talk was done or the TPP, an agree- more difficult to make a final ters the day they were released. to the media and rally activists. ment among the U.S. and 11 deal. This allowed allied policymak- The day the bill was unveiled, Public Cit- other nations, was done in. The agreement, designed ers and civil society partners izen sprang into action, with analysis for More than 500 official U.S. as an expansion of the North to communicate a unified the press and an action alert to members. trade advisers representing American Free Trade Agree- message: The final deal was Throughout the year, Public Citizen or- corporate interests had spe- ment, replicates and then ex- even worse than we had feared ganized protests in the districts of key law- cial access during the seven pands on many of the most and had to be stopped. makers, held briefings for reporters and years of closed-door TPP ne- controversial terms of past The TPP can take effect only lawmakers, met with lawmakers and their gotiations, while the public, deals that have promoted job if Congress approves it, mean- staffs, and organized other groups to op- Congress and the press were offshoring, pushed down U.S. ing that Public Citizen now pose Fast Track. locked out. wages, flooded us with un- will focus on ensuring the deal Fast Track had a silver lining: The Public Citizen focused our safe imported food and raised cannot pass Congress. high-profile debate it sparked enabled Public Citizen to educate policymakers and the public about the TPP’s dangers Using WTO ruling to show TPP dangers and to build a progressive coalition of a size and scope rarely seen. This coalition is now engaged in stopping the TPP in The outcomes of two long- annual trade sanctions against ing against U.S. dolphin-safe tuna Congress. running World Trade Organiza- the U.S. unless the policy was ter- labels, ordering the elimination of tion (WTO) attacks on U.S. laws minated. In response, Congress the popular environmental policy. enabled Public Citizen to high- in December tucked a provision Both were glaring examples light the dangers of trade pacts. to kill the popular labels into an of how trade agreements can Korea FTA dangers One case involved the popular omnibus funding package that undermine U.S. public interest country-of-origin meat labeling President Barack Obama quickly policies, and Public Citizen made Last year marked the third full year (COOL) law for beef and pork. signed into law. that point to policymakers and that the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agree- The WTO approved $1 billion in The WTO also issued a final rul- the media. ment (FTA) has been in effect. The deal was sold on the same “more exports, more jobs” claims now being used for the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal. Public Citizen supports working people, military veterans and Our analysis of government data re- consumers — all of which I consider family. Thank you. vealed that the job-displacing U.S. goods trade deficit with Korea nearly doubled. “ Claude Reeson, Public Citizen supporter Exports declined 7 percent, and imports ” soared. 12 January/February 2016 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS

JUSTICE ‘Supreme’ Defense of Consumer, Worker Rights

When companies deceive or injure consumers or workers, class actions empower those wronged to seek redress col- lectively, which, for many, is Jen Palmer more affordable than bringing individual cases. Public Citizen plaintiff Instead of curbing the anti- consumer misconduct that I asked lawyers, ‘Do leads to such lawsuits, corporations are stepping up their we have a case?’ and fight against people who band they would say, ‘Yes, together to hold them ac- “ you do, but we’re not countable. touching that with a In three cases now before the U.S. Supreme Court, Pub- 10-foot pole.’ Public Kentoh/Shutterstock.com lic Citizen is countering Big Citizen came forward Business’ maneuvers to evade preme Court, we’re arguing for online, is trying to shirk liabil- and said, ‘We can accountability and disempow- that ruling to stand. ity for reporting false credit in- help you. We want er consumers and workers. Tyson Foods Inc. v. Boua- formation about a consumer. phakeo: We took the lead in The company claims that the to help you. We have Campbell-Ewald Co. v. Go- mez: We’re helping to shut crafting arguments for Tyson consumer cannot sue because the means and re- down a corporate tactic we Foods workers in this class- his injury can’t be measured in sources to do so.’ have successfully challenged action case, in which the monetary terms. Public Citizen many times: A defendant employees won at trial com- filed an amicus brief explain- company offers an individual pensation for time they spent ing that, in making companies settlement to the plaintiff (in working but for which they accountable for false credit re- ” this case, Jose Gomez) in a were not paid. The corpora- porting, Congress acted within lawsuit brought as a class action is trying to overturn the its power to define legal inju- tion but not yet certified as a lower court’s award because ries and provide remedies for Victories for veterans and more! class action. If the offer is de- of differences in the amounts them, and that the dangers clined, the company moves to of time employees worked. of false credit reports are very dismiss the entire lawsuit as We’re defending use of “rep- real. A ruling favoring Spokeo In 2015, Public Citizen secured victories moot because the company resentative proof,” which al- would let corporations off the for veterans, workers, students, research- offered the named plaintiff all lows juries to use information hook in numerous consumer ers and online reviewers of businesses in that he personally seeks. If the about the time workers spend cases. the following instances: court grants the motion, no on relevant tasks to set an ap- We’re pushing for victory • A string of victories upholding the plaintiff receives relief, and the propriate award. in each case to keep class ac- right of online consumers to anony- defendant walks away scot- Spokeo Inc. v. Robins: tions available as an avenue of mously critique businesses. free. In Gomez, the lower court Spokeo, a company that posts redress for misled consumers rejected this tactic. In the Su- information about consumers and wronged employees. • A lawsuit leading to the U.S. Depart- ment of Veterans Affairs immediately releasing medical records of 13 veter- Reducing use of forced arbitration ans whose requests for their files had been delayed a year or more. Forced arbitration clauses know if their contracts have the vices, which regulates long-term • An appeal establishing that a student are contract terms that require clauses, but the CFPB found that care facilities — to strengthen loan servicing company can be held consumers — should they suf- 53 percent of credit card contracts its proposed rule on forced arbi- accountable for false credit reporting. fer harm from use of a compa- do. tration clauses in nursing home • Friend-of-the-court briefs supporting ny’s products or services — to The CFPB was congressionally contracts. With a stronger rule, U.S. Department of Education efforts give up their day in court. The mandated to conduct the study residents and their families can to address abuses by for-profit col- clauses require them to use an as a prerequisite to issuing a rule hold facilities accountable for leges. arbitration provider who often regarding the use of arbitration substandard care. is picked by the company itself clauses. In great news, the agen- Arbitration clauses are some- • An appeal that allowed Applebee’s and likely to be biased. cy is moving forward with the times tucked into college enroll- workers to pursue a class-action law- The U.S. Consumer Financial rulemaking based on the over- ment forms, too. Our advocacy suit alleging that the company vio- Protection Bureau (CFPB) in whelming evidence of consumer with the Fair Arbitration Now lated state and federal labor laws. March released findings that at harm in the study, and we are coalition led to a February agree- • Success in a Freedom of Information least 85 percent of mobile phone pressing the agency to make the ment between the CFPB and Act case that resulted in disclosure of contracts, private student loans final rule as strong as possible. Corinthian Colleges in which stu- information about corporate wrong- and prepaid cards come with a We’re also urging another dents — who may have been mis- doing. forced arbitration clause. Three federal agency — the Centers led about future employment — of four credit card holders don’t for Medicare and Medicaid Ser- will not be subject to the clauses. PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS January/February 2016 13 2015 LEADERSHIP GIFTS

Public Citizen Salutes Our 2015 Major Donors (Oct. 1, 2014-Sept. 30, 2015)

TRUSTEES and Lewis Mary Alexander Naoma Clague Friedman Diane Ichiyasu Ilse Meyer Dorothy Salant Sanford Waxer Frank & Roslyn ($25,000+) Schneider Paul Allen Ellen and Richard Paul Friedman John and Tracy Robert Michael Deborah Salkind J. Dix and Grobman Greg Allen Sue Ananda Clattenburg David Froba Ingold Lindsay Mickles David Santos Barbara Wayman Foundation David E. Breskin Lauren Barnes Judith Ancel Alice Cohen Grace Gabrielsen Jay Ives Herbert and Herminia Sayre Theodore The Grodzins Elizabeth Richard Barsanti Clifford Anderson Ted Cohn Anthony Gair Stephen Ives Nancy Milstein Sandra Schmaier Weicker Fund Cabraser Jere Beasley Grace Anderson Prentiss Cole Orman and David Jacobs Emil Mintz Natalie Schmitt Alan Weiner and Growald Family Mark Chavez Tim Becker Susan Anstrand George Coleman Richelle Gaspar Margaret Jacobs David Mirkin Sara Schuett Nancy Maizels Fund Polly and Randy Medea Benjamin Marcia and Louis Scott Cooper Ladnor Geissinger Judy Jacobson William Mitchell Cynthia Schumacher Jenelle Welling The Houston Cherner Steven Berger Anthony Christine Cottrell Jon Geist Paul Jennings Roy Miyamoto Judith Screaton Val Welman Endowment Andrew Friedman and Paula Alan Appleford Susan and Venita Georgieff Per Brostrup-Jensen Barbara Moore Christian Searcy Mariquita West JMG Foundation Glenn Garland Hughmanick Bob and Joseph Coulter Susan Gerbi- Michael and Alan and Anne Nancy Seats Jack Westman J.M. Kaplan Jonathan Gertler Robert Bramson Jacquelin Apsler Wendell and Mcilwain Patricia Johnson Morrison Joseph Sellers Barbara Whitney Foundation Sherry Gold Jeffrey Burns Richard Aronson Ginger Covalt David Gerson Virginia Johnson Mary Morse and Marc Seltzer Beverly and The Johnson Neil Holtzman Alison Carlson David Arpi and Jean Craig Celia Gilbert Gifford Jones Jim Mcbride Andy Shallal David Wickstrom Family Fund Daniel F. Johnson Dan Castellaneta Natalie Glubb Harte and Ann Bruce Gillam Mary Jones Holly Mosher Helen Shanbrom Jean Wilhelm The W.K. Kellogg Ray W. Kahler and Deborah Sheila Ary Crow Rhoda Gilman Miriam Jones Celia and Eric Michael Shannon Wayne and Marsha Foundation Shannon Liss- Lucasta Brook and Judith Elizabeth Cullington William Gitt Emily Mason Mueller Margaret Sharp Williams Kohlberg Family Riordan Steven Cohen Baker Katrin and Kevin Eli Glastein Kahn Barry Nace Stephen Sheller Ed Williamson Foundation Richard and Alfred Contarino David Balamuth Czinger Danny Goldberg Henry Kahn Christopher William Shernoff Carol Wills The Kresge Marilyn Mazess Robert Cordova Allan Barnes and Laura Dale Michael Goldberg Helen B. Kaplan Nace Beverly Shulman Lorraine Foundation Michael Rooney Sandra Davidson Shirely Coleman Mohammed and Fred Goldman Yuliya Karelina Jonathan Nace Dianne Shumaker Wilmoth Malakoff Family Daniel Shih Florence Dembling Eric Bass Tehmeena Dar Sidney Goldstein Amalie Kass Matthew Nace Aaron Shure Diane Wilson Fund Stephen Silberstein Tim Dollar Colleen and Charles Davis Gretchen Gordon Edward Kasselman Carl Nash Edward Sichterman Theodore Winsberg Media Democracy Steve Skrovan Jim and Maggie Darryl Bates John Dear Shari Gore Debra Katz John and Shirley Will Siegfried Andrew Wolf Fund and Shelley Dunn Peter Beckman Russell De Burlo Gail Gorlitz and Thomas Kehler Nash and Susan Jamie Wolf The John Merck Powsner Marion Edey Andrew Bell Mary Decker Cris Smith Margaret Keyes Bruce Nayowith Powers Ralph Wolfe Fund Gerson Smoger Charles Eldridge Ray Bellamy Sarah Delaney Frances Gould Douglas Kinney Michael Nimkoff Marie Sigan Elsa Wood Cynthia and Jonathan Soros Donald and Joseph Belth Samuel De Merit Fay Graning Willis Kleinenbroich Peter Nosler Robert Silsbee Amy Woods George Mitchell Roger M. Townsend Martha Farley Cecilia Benner Carol Denney Joan Granlund Jean Kliewer Victoria Nugent Susan Singh Lisa Woodside Foundation Jeffrey Goldberg Max Berger Harriet Denison Jay Greenberg Richard Klinkner Frances Nyce Donald Slavik Council Wooten The MMHBO PRESIDENT’S and Alison Bella Berlly Elisabeth Frank and Rose Joshua Konecky Harold Oaklander Donald Smart James Worth Fund CIRCLE Black Lynne Bernabei Desmarais Greene Jay and Brown and Isabelle Meredith Smith Charles Yeager Moriah Fund ($10,000- Bernard Gross Anne Berndt Victoria De Jerry Greenfield Kogen Rapin George and Michael Yessik New Venture $24,999) Margie Haley Edgar Berners Toledo David Greer Joshua Konecky Jack Olender Carolyn Snelling Mrs. Victor Fund Jason Adkins Howard Heffron Caroline Beverstock Rosemary Dexter Xan and Bonnie David and Karl Olson Anthony So Yngve North Pond and Karen Kraut Ruth Hofmeister Joyce Biby Mary Ann Gregg Frances Korten Victoria Olson Stephen Soble Carlton Young Foundation Franz and Elise Jerard Jim Bildner Diamond Frank Grobman Albert Kramer Gilbert Omenn Vivian Sodini Faith Young Open Society Marcia Allina Anne Hale Susan Binger Kenneth Barbara Grodd William Krieg and Martha Stanley and Allen and Gayle Foundations Abe and Ida Cooper Johnson Thomas Bird Diamondstone Janet Grossman Nobuko Kuhn Darling Judith Sorscher Yurko Open Society Foundation, T. Stephen Jones William and Frederick Dick George and Betty Sharon La Rocca- Scott Owens Christine Spagnoli Joyce Zaitlin Policy Institute in memoriam Morton and Ilene Birge Fred Dietz Haakenson Miranda Michelle Parfitt Ann Stack Overbrook of Fred Cooper Merle Kane John Blume Donald Dodd Marvin Habbinga Burritt Lacy Nancy and Chris John Stadler FOUNDATIONS Family Advised John Koza Mark Bocci Peter Dodge Dave and Sally Celinda Lake Parkinson Pearl Staller Fund of the Paul Cornoni 11th Hour Project James Kunz George Bogert Robert Dodson Hackel Donald Lateiner Richard Parrish Jean Stanfield New York Jonathan Cuneo of the Schmidt Alice La Prelle Silas Bolef Norman and Patrick Hagerty Nadine Lauru Wayne Parsons Jennifer Stanley Community Edna Dillon Family Foundation Anne Evans David and Judy Ruth Don Robert Hagge Thomas Lehrer Malcolm Peabody Marlowe Steege Trust Roxanne Elder Arca Foundation Larimore Bonior James Donnell Jon Hagler Charles and Eugene Peek Mary Ann Stein The Overbrook George Farah Bauman Paul and Eileen Scott and Janet Eve Dorfzaun Corky Hale and Carol Leiwant James Pelinski Jennifer Stevens Foundation Caragh Fay Foundation Lefort Borison John Dubois Mike Stoller May Lesar Eve Pell Frances Stevenson Panta Rhea Thomas Fortune Fay Billstein Family Peggy Lichter Philip and Maria Dunlop Thomas Hall Joan Levin Edward Pelz Anne Stillwell Foundation Steven Fineman Foundation Michael and Miriam Bourdette Carmen Eanni David Halperin Glenn Lewis Israel Perla Julie E. Stindt Park Foundation Solomon Fingold Bjornson Ohana Louise Malakoff John Boyd Benjamin Edelman Benjamin Hammett Emily Lin Hassel Perrel Virginia and Passport Pamela Gilbert Charitable John McKee Stephen Boyd Robert and Peter Hanauer Paul Lipke Charlotte Perret Warren Stone Foundation Wade Greene Fund Thomas Methvin Hugh Brady Helen Edelman Olivia Hansen Leslie and Rhoda Bruce Pfaff Richard and Perls Foundation J. Gary Gwilliam Herb Block David and Lida Jeffrey Braemer Ruth Eisenberg Dale Haralson Lipoff Michael and Barbara Stuart Piper Fund, a Robert Habush Foundation Morgenstein Ann Bramwell Diana and Fred Ellen Hardebeck Jacob Lipton Peggy Pitt Nicole Suard Proteus Fund Keith Hebeisen Bright Funds Peter Nicholl Rena Bransten Elghanayan Virginia Hardy Karen Littlejohn Michael Piuze Tara Sutton Initiative Donald Henley Foundation Wayne Oertel David and Kay Nancy and Henry Linda Harmon Brodie Lockard Russell and Suzi Robert Swiatek Public Welfare Molly Hoffman Broad Reach Jose Rigau Perez Brennan Elghanayan Amy Harr Jean Logan Posch Clifford Swisher Foundation Gloria Jarecki Fund of the Bruce Pfaff James Brewer Margaret Leo Harris Linda Logan Arvidas Poshkus Sara Syer Rockefeller Bob Jennings Jr. Maine Community Peter Warren Harland Bright Elizares Kriss Hart Dennis Loo Elizabeth Powell Lucretia Tanner Brothers Fund and Barbara Bott Foundation Riggs Mrs. Walter Emmons and Robert Hart Robert Louttit Henry Powsner Kathleen Taylor Rockefeller Family Annie Kaplan C. S. Fund Susan and David Brissenden Elizabeth Ellis Ruth Harvey Julie Lovins Harriet Pruett Sandy Terranova Foundation Bryan Kemnitzer Cedar Elm Fund Rockefeller Mary Brock Robert Ellis Doug Hayner Stephanie Low Edith Quevedo Beth Terrell The Screaton and Nancy Barron of the Dallas Phil and Monica Harold and J. Kent Emison Curtis Heaston Ruth Lubic Albert Ratcliffe Joyce Thibodeaux Family Fund Kristen Kemnitzer Foundation Rosenthal Stephanie Richard Epstein John Heitner Elizabeth Luster Elizabeth Ethan Thiel Allen and Linda and Adam The Clements Michael Royce Bronson Benjamin Ewing Stephen Herman Theodore Lynn Rattenbury Kate Thill Saeks Family McNeile Foundation and Alexis Catherine Brown Louis Farese John Michael Ted Lyon John Rattunde William Thomas Foundation Adam Koranyi Inc. Rappaport Christopher and Susan Farrell Hershey Patrick Malone Rita Rausch Kathy Thonet The Seattle George Krumme Abe and Ida Cooper Joseph Sellers Susan Brown Rosemary Nancy Heymann Thomas Malone Marie Dorothy Thorman Foundation Charles La Duca Foundation, Michael Shoop Kathe Brown Faulkner Alexander Hill Jill Marlowe Rautenberg Gil Thornally Solidago Kurt and Gladys Lang in memoriam Thomas Sobol Don Bruckner Roger Feinthel Leonard Hill Hermine and Karen Rebb Stephen Tillery Foundation Victor Long of Fred Cooper Lois Sontag John Budin Neil and Judy John Hirschi Sumner Marshall Doris Reed Edward Tomeo Mark and Mary Kerry and Neal Stephen and Robert Spohrer Judith Buechner Feldman Cynthia Hobart Redge and Carole Robert and Mary David Topper Ellen Stinski Madigan Joyce Davis Mary Stinski Alex Burke Sylvan Feldstein Rosemary Martin Resnik Barbara and Foundation Cyrus Mehri Family Fund Elaine Stokes Jean Campbell Robert Fellmeth Hobson Victor Martino Lesli Rice Fuller Torrey Swift Foundation Merry O'Donnell The Democracy Genevieve Szuba William and Alan Ferguson Fredrick Hoeptner William Masters Alyson Rieke Lila Trachtenberg Taubert Memorial Maria Ragucci Fund John Vail Loulie Canady Robert Ferguson Jerome Hoffman and Gail Berman David and and George Foundation Patrick Regan Energy Foundation Kim and Michael Cantor Harvey Fernbach Wayne Hogan Dean and Margaret Suzanne Rigsby Handler Tides Foundation Naomi Seligman The Fine and Kathleen Paul Carrington Ray Flesher Michael and Mattson Michele Ritchie Marjorie Traub Town Creek William and Greenwald Wennesland Ann Carton William Foege Linda Honigfort James McClelland Cecil Roberts Matthew Turner Foundation Helen Silvka Foundation Wyatt Wright Ben Castle Wilmer Fong Helen Hopkins Connie McEvoy Abby Rockefeller Hope Turney Wallace Global Steve Skalet Flora Family George Zelcs James Causey Marsha Forcum Stephen Hopkins Hugh McGavick and Lee Halprin Louis Ugliuzza Fund Marsha Soffer Foundation Richard Zitrin John Cawley Ronald and Mary Theron Hosford Chris McGinn John Roddy Roy Ulrich Edna Wardlaw Natalie Sticesen Mertz Gilmore Jeanne Cebulla Forthofer Joy Howell Lanny McGrew Marv Roelofs Annie Umbricht Charitable Benjamin Taylor Foundation LEADERSHIP Michael Charney Jennifer and Don Huddleston Howard Mechanic Salvatore Romano Katrina Vanden Fund Salvatore Zambri Samuel and CIRCLE Charles Charrow Scott Frank Thomas Hunt Barbara Meislin Brent Rosenthal Heuvel Western Grace Gorlitz DIRECTOR’S ($1,000-$4,999) Nancy Chasen Rick Frankfort Thomas and Ilse Melamid Christopher Gregory Vanni Conservation Foundation and Don Spero Cline Frasier Evelyn Hunt Ellen Mertins Rothko Janet Van Zandt Foundation CIRCLE Helen Abadzi Greater Kansas Jarrett Cherner Ivor and Barbara Marion Hunt Robert Maria Rubin Eileen Vizcaino White Cedar ($5,000-$9,999) Eric Abramson City Community Jeffrey Chester Freeman Priscilla Messerschmidt Allen and Linda Robert Vogel Fund of the Hesham Al-Alusi Foundation Elizabeth Abbe James Ciocia Benjamin Huntington J.C. Metcalf Saeks Betty Walters Tides Foundation

BEQUESTS We are grateful to the following individuals who passed away and named either Public Citizen Inc. or Public Citizen Foundation a beneficiary of their will, trust, life insurance policy, or retirement plan; or established a charitable gift annu- ity. Their thoughtfulness and generous support serves as a legacy to the values that they held during their lives and will benefit generations to come. R.D. “Del” Angelo G. Casas Margaret Frey Trude R. Helen S. Lillibridge Sharron L. Miller Nancy J. O’Rourke Ruth A.M. Schmidt Anderson Charles Davis Garnet Gorin Hirschmann Norman Masonson Lilly E. Nelson Ruby A. Pashby Arthur Stern Adeline Bianchi Richard E. Dwyer Janet E. Hasset David L. Joseph Priscilla R. Meyer Andrew V. C. Laurence Piersol Janice Weinman Maxine Busby Mary E. Edmondson Lawrence J. Wells Anne R. Levine Richard O. Miller Nowak Ethel M. Sanjines Morton Zivan