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VOL. 37, NO. 2 MARCH/APRIL 2017 NEWS

After 15 v. Trump Years, BY RHODA FENG tion of at least two other rules, “If implemented, the order would ince President Donald Trump yielding a net cost of $0, and with- result in lasting damage to our Public Stook office, he has put regula- out consideration of the benefits government’s ability to save lives, tions — and the federal agencies afforded by the rules. In practice, protect our environment, police Citizen Wins that issue these vital public safe- this order will weaken, deter or Wall Street, keep consumers safe guards — squarely in his crosshairs. delay federal agencies from issu- and fight discrimination.” Rule to Prevent Parroting the talking points of ing new health, safety, environ- The complaint, filed in the U.S. big corporations, he has errone- Beryllium Deaths ously claimed that regulations cost jobs and dampen business “No one thinking sensibly about how to set rules for health, BY RHODA FENG ingenuity. safety, the environment and the economy would ever fter years of fighting for stron- Trump is dead wrong. So when issue this executive order. The goal is clearly to confer Ager protections from beryllium exposure, workers and organiza- on Jan. 30 he issued an executive enormous benefits on big business.” order arbitrarily directing that tions who have advocated on their federal agencies could issue new —Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen behalf have achieved a long over- regulations only if they repealed due victory — though one with a two, Public Citizen took action to somewhat uncertain future. block the order. mental, consumer finance and District Court for the District of More than 15 years ago, Public On Feb. 8, Public Citizen, joined worker protections. Columbia, names as defendants Citizen petitioned for stronger by the Natural Resources Defense “No one thinking sensibly the president, the acting director protections for workers exposed Council and the Communications about how to set rules for health, of the Office of Management and to toxic levels of beryllium in a Workers of America, sued the safety, the environment and the Budget (OMB) and the current or variety of workplace settings. Trump administration over the economy would ever issue this acting secretaries and directors Finally, in January 2017, the U.S. executive order. executive order. The goal is clearly of more than a dozen executive Occupational Safety and Health The deregulatory Executive to confer enormous benefits on departments and agencies. Administration (OSHA) adopted a Order requires the cost of new big business,” Public Citizen The suit alleges that the agen- new rule to protect workers from rules to be offset by the elimina- President Robert Weissman said. see Lawsuit, page 13 see Beryllium, page 16

The Republican War on Regulation

BY DAVID ROSEN is being waged on several fronts simultane- resident Donald Trump, his Cabinet of ously. On each front, Public Citizen is leading Pbillionaire robber barons and the corpo- the fight to defend public protections and the rate-backed Republican Congress are trying regulatory process from these unprecedented to plunder our nation’s wealth and resources assaults on public health and safety, our wal- by dismantling public protections, rigging lets and workplaces, and our environment. the rules for their own personal benefit Upon assuming office, Trump temporarily and unleashing big corporations to prey on suspended federal regulatory activity, some- American workers, consumers and families. thing recent presidents have done. But on Jan. The GOP’s war on regulation is payback 30, he signed an executive order requiring the for billions of dollars in corporate campaign repeal of two public protections for every spending on behalf of Republican candidates new one issued — forcing federal agencies to during the past several election cycles, and it see Regulation, page 8 INSIDE ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED CORPORATECABINET.ORG TRACKS TRUMP CABINET PICKS, page 5 SEVEN YEARS LATER, THE FOUNDATION OF CITIZENS UNITED IS IN RUINS, page 10 IN THIS ISSUE GET TO KNOW PUBLIC CITIZEN VOL. 37, NO. 2 • MARCH/APRIL 2017 RICK CLAYPOOL An ongoing series profiling DEMOCRACY Public Citizen leaders and staffers 5 CorporateCabinet.org tracks Trump Cabinet picks 6 Nondisclosure agreements concealed congressional staff work on ick Claypool is the research director for poverty organization in Pittsburgh, Pa. I was Muslim ban RPublic Citizen’s president’s office. He has drawn to Public Citizen’s dedication to stand- 10 In touting Ivanka Trump products, worked at Public Citizen for nearly nine years, ing up to politicians and corporations that pri- Kellyanne Conway crosses legal line previously serving in various roles in the com- oritize private profit over the public interest. 11 Public Citizen’s January 21 munications department and the Congress That was nearly nine years ago, about a month democracy teach-In Watch division. Growing up in a family of before the 2008 financial crisis. I’ve been in the steelworkers in a working-class town in west- thick of it ever since. GLOBALIZATION & TRADE ern Pennsylvania, he witnessed firsthand the Can you share with us a fun/interesting fact 4 Will a Trump renegotiation of NAFTA economic devastation brought on by corporate most people don’t know about your work? make it better – or worse? globalization. Claypool has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in popular Claypool: I once wound up at a charity dinner LITIGATION culture studies. When Claypool isn’t doing in- sitting next to a politician I’d criticized pretty depth investigations on corruption and cor- sharply about a week earlier. He was on the 1 Public Citizen v. Trump porate power, he spends time with his family radio defending himself from what I’d said. But HEALTH & SAFETY and writes fiction. His debut novel is slated for at the dinner, we got along, exchanged a few release later this year. words. Pretty soon the politician started taking 1 After 15 years, Public Citizen wins a better position on the issue. I don’t think I Please tell us about your role at Public Citizen. rule to prevent beryllium deaths was the only reason he came around, but I like Claypool: As research director for the presi- to think I helped. GOVERNMENT & dent’s office, I do in-depth investigations into FINANCIAL REFORM a number of our issues. Some of the issues I What issues appeal to you most? come back to again and again are money in Claypool: Generally, I like knocking down the 1 The Republican war on regulation politics, drug pricing and corporate influ- barriers that corporate interests have erected 10 Seven years later, the foundation of ence in government. As you might expect, against policies that actually help people. So Citizens United is in ruins these concerns have taken on a new urgency money in politics reforms, improving the regu- under President Trump — especially corporate latory system and ensuring that corporations PUBLIC CITIZEN RECOMMENDS influence. Trump’s corporate Cabinet plus can be held accountable via the criminal justice 15 ‘Weapons of Math Destruction’ Congress’ bloodthirst for deregulation means system appeal to me. And I will fight forever 15 ‘The Populist Explosion’ I’m working every day to help arm Public for single-payer health care. Citizen and our members and supporters with What do you enjoy doing in your free time? information to resist destructive policies that, OTHER Claypool: I hang out with my amazing wife left unchecked, would let reckless corporations and son and a cat named Chomsky. I cook. 2 Get to Know Public Citizen rip off consumers, pollute our environment, I drink hoppy beers. I’m kind of addicted to 3 President’s View exploit workers and harm patients. This is the “Adventure Time,” this ridiculous show on 7 Riding into the sunset fight of our lives. Cartoon Network. I’m constantly reading. 11 In memoriam: What led you to Public Citizen? And I write. My first book, a weird science fic- 12 Public Citizen in your state Claypool: Before Public Citizen, I did investiga- tion novel about a safety inspector who joins a 13 Andrea Strong receives 14th annual tive reporting for an alternative newsweekly in resistance movement against a corporate city- Phyllis McCarthy public interest service Toledo, Ohio, and worked for a grassroots anti- state, is coming out later this year. award 14 In the Spotlight 15 Public Citizen Crossword 1600 20TH ST. NW, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20009 • (202) 588-1000 • [email protected] • WWW.CITIZEN.ORG

Public Citizen is a national non- PRESIDENT profit membership organization Robert Weissman ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS based in Washington, D.C. Since EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT its founding by in Margrete Strand Rangnes Angela Bradbery, communications director 1971, Public Citizen has fought VICE PRESIDENT OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS for corporate and government Rick Claypool, research director Lisa Gilbert accountability to guarantee Katie Downey, communications intern the individual’s right to safe products, a healthy environ- PUBLIC CITIZEN INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jason Adkins (chair), , Andrew S. Friedman, Rhoda Feng, editor ment and workplace, fair trade, and clean and safe energy sources. Public Citizen is active in Congress, the courts and Danny Goldberg, Jim Hightower, Joy Howell, Shannon Karilyn Gower, press officer government agencies. Liss-Riordan, John Richard, Anthony So, Robert Weissman (ex officio) Caroline Krauss, communications intern Public Citizen does not accept government or corporate grants. Our funding comes from our supporters through- PUBLIC CITIZEN FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bartlett Naylor, financial policy advocate out the country, who believe there should be full-time Mark Chavez (chair), Jim Bildner, Ann Brown, Robert C. Fellmeth, David Halperin, Annie Leonard, Cynthia Renfro, press officer for regulatory advocates of democratic principles working on their David Rosen, behalf; from foundations; and from the sale of our publica- Steve Skrovan, Gerson H. Smoger, Robert Weissman affairs tions. Public Citizen is an equal opportunity employer. To (ex officio) Mike Tanglis, senior researcher become a member of Public Citizen and receive the award- DIRECTORS winning Public Citizen News, please call (202) 588-1000 David Arkush, Climate; Angela Bradbery, Communications; Robert Weissman, president or send a check payable to Public Citizen for $20 to Public Michael Carome, M.D., Health Research; Peter Maybarduk, Citizen Membership Services at the address below. Access to Medicines; Tyson Slocum, Energy; Tom Smith, Public Citizen News (ISSN 0738-5927), entire contents ; Joe Stoshak, Chief Financial Officer; Lori Wallach, copyrighted 2016. Public Citizen News is printed on 10 Global Trade Watch; Allison Zieve, Litigation percent recycled paper. Postmaster: Send address changes EDITOR CONNECT ONLINE to Public Citizen News at the address below. Rhoda Feng WITH PUBLIC CITIZEN 2 MARCH/APRIL 2017 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS EDITORIAL Stopping Trump in Court

resident Donald Trump is a threat to our wildly inaccurate,” he said. And that’s where we will stop him ... in Phealth and safety, our economy, our en- Well, what the lawsuit presumes is exactly court. vironment, our democracy, our liberty, our what the Trump administration intended with With our robust litigation strategy, we’re commitment to the rule of law and our basic its deregulatory executive order. going to expose Trump administration abuses. sense of decency. What is intended is that regulatory agencies We’re going to slow and, where possible, derail We’re not going to let him trample the hesitate to adopt new auto safety standards the Trump administration’s extremist, corpo- things that truly make (even as self-driving cars start to hit the road), rate-friendly, anti-democratic agenda. And America great. We are update rules to keep our food safe and our we’re going to stand up for our Constitution ratcheting up our lob- water free of contamination, or approve new and our liberties. bying and advocacy, protections against the latest bank scams — or Public Citizen Litigation Group has unpar- focusing our com- any new rule to protect Americans and limit alleled expertise in key areas of open records, munications and corporate abuse. To adopt a new rule, they will administrative and constitutional law. Since social media efforts need to get rid of two existing ones. That’s an our founding more than 45 years ago, we have on stopping Trump’s impossible trade-off that requires agencies to participated in many of the key cases involving: abuses and deepen- make arbitrary decisions and to violate their • Government openness and the Freedom ing our investment in governing statutes. of Information Act; grassroots organizing That case highlights the imperative of chal- • Undue corporate influence over policy- to confront Trump’s lenging the Trump agenda, and it’s hard to making and the Federal Advisory Committee PRESIDENT’S VIEW plans. And we are exaggerate the stakes. Act; ROBERT WEISSMAN looking to deploy There are two things we know about Donald • Consumer, worker and environmental aggressive and cre- Trump. First, his authoritarian nature and con- protections and administrative law generally; ative litigation strategies to defend the rule of tempt for due process will drive him to stretch and law and block his harmful agenda. legitimate presidential executive authority far • Abuse of presidential powers and funda- When Trump tries to block mandated health past its breaking point. mental separation of powers questions. and safety rules, or Now we aim to pursue unilaterally roll back litigation in those areas and the Dodd-Frank- more — including the First imposed restraints Amendment, due process and on Big Banks, or run equal protection claims — to roughshod over our curb Trump administration democratic institu- abuses. tions, we’re going to Donald Trump has made take him to court. crystal clear his utter con- Last month, tempt for any constitutional, Public Citizen liti- legal or ethical constraints on gators filed Public his authority — a profoundly Citizen v. Donald dangerous quality in any presi- Trump (described dent, especially one pushing on page 1), the first such an extreme, pro-corpo- of many lawsuits we rate agenda. anticipate bringing The Founding Fathers against the Trump quite purposefully designed administration. That the U.S. Constitution to case challenges the restrain exactly the kinds administration’s of authoritarian maneuvers deregulatory execu- that Trump is embracing. The tive order requiring textbook system of checks the elimination of and balances anticipated and Image credit: Shutterstock two regulatory pro- forbids Trump-style power tections for every new one added. aggrandizement. The day we filed Public Citizen v. Donald And second, as demonstrated by the failed But the system doesn’t work on its own. It Trump, White House spokesperson Sean travel ban executive order, his White House is requires Congress, the courts and the citizenry Spicer went before the cameras to denounce grossly incompetent and will almost certainly to make it function. That’s where we come in. the lawsuit. leave itself open to legal challenge after legal It “presumes a lot of outcomes that are challenge.

We are updating Public Citizen News with a new look, starting with this issue. Let us know how we're doing by sending your feedback to ­[email protected].

PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS MARCH/APRIL 2017 3 Will A Trump Renegotiation of NAFTA Make It Better – or Worse?

lipping Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global interest policies cannot be attacked as illegal FMichigan into the Republican column was Trade Watch. trade or investment barriers; and critical to Donald Trump’s election. Polls reveal In the letter, sent Jan. 13, CTC described • Replace NAFTA rules that harm family farm- that Trump connected to widespread public 11 changes that must be included in future ers and feed a destructive agribusiness model. opposition to status-quo trade agreements NAFTA talks, including: The letter also demands an end to secre- with his relentless attacks on decades of trade • Eliminate the investor protections that tive trade negotiations. Noting that continuing deals that have offshored jobs and pushed incentivize the offshoring of jobs and that the previous procedures that provide special down wages to win those states. empower corporations to attack democratic access for corporate interests but lock out the At almost every campaign stop, Trump policies in unaccountable tribunals; public will result in more damaging deals, pledged to declare China a currency manipu- • Add strong labor and environmental stan- the letter calls for the public release of trade lator on his first day in office and launch rene- dards to the agree- gotiations of the North American Free Trade ment’s core text Agreement (NAFTA) within his first 100 days and condition the “The Trump administration can rename NAFTA the to make NAFTA “better” for working people. pact on those terms North American Free and Most Fairest of Them Having reneged on his China commitment, being enforced with All Trade Agreement, but given that NAFTA is Trump is facing mounting pressure to start improved conditions renegotiations of NAFTA, which he labeled “the on the ground to packed with incentives to offshore jobs and special worst trade deal in history” while announcing stop the race to the protectionist goodies for various industries, NAFTA that he would “tell our NAFTA partners that I bottom; must be replaced — not tweaked — to actually intend to immediately renegotiate the terms.” • Change NAFTA deliver better outcomes for working people.” While Trump has missed the Jan. 31 date terms so that only necessary to provide Congress notice to start imported food, prod- —Lori Wallach, director of Global Trade Watch NAFTA renegotiations within his first 100 days, ucts and services that his administration has indicated to Congress meet U.S. consumer, that such notice may be provided by the end environmental and other standards are permit- agreement texts after each negotiating round of March. ted access; so the public knows what is being demanded Depending on how Trump changes NAFTA, • Eliminate NAFTA rules that grant pharma- and how the pact is shaping up while it is pos- he could make it worse for most people, not ceutical firms monopoly rights to limit generic sible to correct course. only in the U.S. but also in all three NAFTA competition and thus keep consumer prices In the past two decades, millions of work- nations. Congressional Republicans and vari- high; ing people across the , Canada ous corporate interests have stated that NAFTA • Eliminate NAFTA terms that ban the use and Mexico have voiced opposition to trade renegotiations are the way to revive many of Buy Local and Buy American procurement agreements like the TPP that are modeled on of the worst elements of the Trans-Pacific policies so our tax dollars are not offshored and NAFTA. They have called for an end to cor- Partnership (TPP) given that Mexico and that expose to challenge sweat-free, recycled porate power grabs enacted under the trade Canada were also involved in that deal. content, renewable energy and other condi- agreement brand that give new powers to mul- And absent effectively replacing much of tions on government contracts; tinational corporations to push down wages by NAFTA’s core terms, the deal certainly will not • Add strong, enforceable language against playing working people off each other across become “better” for people — or the planet. currency manipulation to ensure a fair playing borders, attack public interest safeguards in Starting a decade ago, Public Citizen field for U.S. workers, farmers and firms; unaccountable tribunals, displace farmers and worked with partners from environmental, • Add a broad exception to ensure that promote forced migration, increase medicine labor, consumer, family farm, faith and other environmental, health, labor and other public prices, flood countries with unsafe imported public interest organizations and foods and destabilize the climate. progressive members of Congress Public Citizen and its partners to develop and build consensus in the Citizens Trade Campaign around a progressive alternative have called for trade policies that model for U.S. trade pacts. reverse this harmful tide and That was at the heart of instead create good jobs, raise a letter sent to Trump the week wages, promote equality and before his inauguration from the ensuring a healthy environment Citizens Trade Campaign (CTC), and access to affordable safe med- the national coalition that Public icines and essential services. Citizen helped found in 1992 to As the fate of NAFTA hangs battle NAFTA and with whom in the balance, so too does the Public Citizen has worked closely future of other trade deals predi- ever since. The CTC letter sets cated on the NAFTA model that out the standards that Trump the previous administration had must meet to replace NAFTA with not completed. This includes terms better for most people and the Transatlantic Trade and pledges to fight any deal that does Investment Partnership, the Trade not meet those standards. in Services Agreement and the “The Trump administration U.S.-China Bilateral Investment can rename NAFTA the North Treaty. That Trump did not call American Free and Most Fairest for an end to these talks — each of of Them All Trade Agreement, which contradicts his trade reform but given that NAFTA is packed pledges in fundamental ways — is with incentives to offshore jobs a worrying signal that Trump’s and special protectionist good- trade rhetoric may not translate ies for various industries, NAFTA into actions that remedy the dam- must be replaced — not tweaked age of the failed status quo trade — to actually deliver better out- People demonstrating in Portland, Oregon in 2007. policies that he exploited to win comes for working people,” said Credit: Citizens Trade Campaign. the presidency.

4 MARCH/APRIL 2017 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS CorporateCabinet.org Tracks Trump Cabinet Picks

BY KARILYN GOWER federal agencies Trump empow- This blatant conflict of inter- and overtime violations. Puzder resident Donald Trump has ered them to lead. est, coupled with the fact that is a major GOP donor and made Pdeep-seated conflicts of inter- Republican senators have DeVos is an advocate of priva- more than $20,000 in campaign est and corporate ties, and so do voted mostly along party lines tizing public education (a Wall contributions to Trump and his members of his Cabinet. So when to approve Trump’s nominees; Street-backed scheme predi- allies. When Puzder’s past became Public Citizen got wind of the cor- their Democratic counterparts, cated on profiting by undermin- available for the public to see, the porate cronies Trump picked to strengthened by grassroots activ- ing teacher compensation), drew opposition to his nomination run his Cabinet, the organization grew. He withdrew his nomina- sprang into action and created tion in February. CorporateCabinet.org to highlight “Donald Trump, the candidate who ran against Creating a website like the business ties and conflicts of corruption, cronyism and insider dealmaking, CorporateCabinet.org is just one interest with Trump’s top picks. is handing control of the government over to example of the different watch- “Donald Trump, the candidate dogging tactics Public Citizen will who ran against corruption, cro- corporate chieftains.” use over the next four years to nyism and insider dealmaking, —Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen make sure the Trump administra- is handing control of the gov- tion is held accountable and that ernment over to corporate chief- the corporate ties and conflicts of tains,” said Robert Weissman, interest are exposed for the public president of Public Citizen. “We’re ists, meanwhile, have mostly ire from Democrats nationwide. and media to see. facing a government literally been opposed. The Senate confirmation vote was “Within the first month of the of the Exxons, by the Goldman For example, billionaire Betsy 50-50; Vice President Mike Pence administration, we have seen Sachses and for the Kochs.” DeVos narrowly squeaked by broke the tie. Trump drive an anti-consumer The website was created to be to become the secretary of the CorporateCabinet.org also agenda, use the government a tool for media, activists, non- Department of Education. In the called attention to Trump’s as an apparatus to advance the profits and policymakers as they days leading up to her approval, original pick for secretary of interest of the family business seek to learn more about Trump’s CorporateCabinet.org highlighted labor, fast-food mogul Andrew and pay back favors by putting Cabinet picks — picks that are more that the DeVos family has been Puzder, chief executive officer his corporate cronies in office,” entangled with corporate interests among the foremost funders of of CKE Restaurants, the parent Weissman said. “We will continue than any Cabinet in American his- right-wing politicians and ideo- company of Hardee's and Carl's to be the people’s eyes and ears in tory. Many of the appointees, who logical causes since the 1970s. Jr. The website highlights that Washington, D.C., and make sure have since been confirmed, have Since 1980, DeVos and her family Puzder’s companies are notori- the American public knows the connections with corporations gave 23 senators — all of whom ous for being anti-worker and anti- real facts about Donald Trump, whose profit-driven interests are ultimately voted to confirm her — union; the companies have been not the alternative lies he spouts directly at odds with those of the campaign contributions. investigated for minimum wage on TV.”

PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS MARCH/APRIL 2017 5 Nondisclosure Agreements Concealed Congressional Staff Work on Muslim Ban

BY CAROLINE KRAUSS out on the evening of Friday, Jan. a tumultuous weekend on Capitol ment, because it appears to have onald Trump campaigned on 27, confusion and chaos erupted Hill, as frenzied Republicans fran- prevented them from conveying Da promise to run the govern- almost immediately. Members of tically searched for answers as to information to their direct supe- ment like a business. He may have Congress publicly declared that why they were left in the dark riors,” said Craig Holman, govern- gone too far. they had not been fully informed about such a contentious order. ment affairs lobbyist for Public In what appears to be a first, about the existence of the order. Allies of the Trump adminis- Citizen. congressional staffers were According to a Public Citizen tration acknowledged that the The letter urges the House required to sign nondisclosure press release, “The nondisclosure rollout of the Muslim travel ban Committee on Ethics to “revise agreements before helping incom- agreement seems to have barred would have been smoother had this guidance to make clear that ing President Donald Trump’s congressional staff from disclosing there been even a brief exchange congressional staffers are pro- transition team work on what any of the transition team work — of information between those hibited from signing non-disclo- would become the controversial not only to the public, but also to crafting the order and those sure agreements that prevent executive order banning refugees members of Congress for whom responsible for its execution. them from communicating with from Muslim-majority countries. they work.” According to the letter Members of Congress regarding Such an agreement seems to U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte the groups sent to the House any work they do for presidential have prevented the staffers from (R-Va.), chairman of the Judiciary Committee on Ethics, it is unclear transitions or for other entities or disclosing any of the transition Committee, said the order, which whether the congressional staff- individuals in the future.” team’s work to the public and per- banned immigration from seven ers were consulting with the “If staffers had been permit- haps even to their bosses. Muslim-majority countries, was Trump administration on a volun- ted to discuss the details of the In a letter sent to the House not discussed with him, even teer basis, as a part of their con- Muslim travel ban with their con- Committee on Ethics, Public though several of the committee’s gressional duties or if they were gressional employers, the chaos Citizen, along with a coalition of aides were involved in construct- temporarily reassigned to help the of the following days would have 12 citizens groups and academics, ing it. transition team on a general basis. been minimized,” Holman said. says that nondisclosure agree- This prevention of communi- “Regardless, the staffers “A nondisclosure agreement, in ments should never be used again. cation between staffers and their should not have been required this case, caused more trouble When the travel ban was rolled bosses appears to have resulted in to sign a nondisclosure agree- than it prevented.” the extraordinary generosity and commitment of our ­donors, who make our mission and goals their own. This Public Citizen salutes . . . list includes recent leadership donations. TRUSTEES Cyrus Mehri James Littlefield Kent Carlsen Elin and David Hampton David Oberweiser Elizabeth Verbeck Martin Nickerson Ricahrd and Susan Master James Causey and Fury Victoria Olson Barbara Walden ($25,000+) Maria Ragucci Methvin Randall Chapman J. Henshaw Michael Osborne William Ruel Walker Elizabeth Cabraser Gertrude Reagan Michael Murray Charles Charrow Stephen Herman Paul Overhauser Walter Watson Mark Chavez Patrick Regan Andrea Nace Nancy Chasen and Don John Hershey David Perry Sanford Waxer Polly and Randy Cherner Steve Skalet Barry Nace Spero Jerome Hoffman Elaine Phelps J. Dix and Barbara Wayman Abe and Ida Cooper Marsha Soffer Chris Nace Ellen and Richard Lorraine Honig Michael Piuze Waldon Welty Foundation Natalie Sticesen Matthew Nace Clattenburg Michael and Linda Mimi Plevin-Foust Mary Williams Caragh Fay Marjorie White Peter Nicholl Edward Cohen and Charlene Honigfort Duane Polzien Scott Wilson Thomas Fortune Fay Jamie Wolf Bruce Pfaff Barshefsky Edward Hopkins Gary Pomerantz Theodore Winsberg Jonathan Gertler John Zavez Phil and Monica Rosenthal David Colby Joy Howell Steven and Helen Postic Amy Woods D. Howard Gold Michael Royce and Alexis Ann Collier Corliss and Joseph Jacobs Rita Rausch Wyatt Wright The Sheila Gold Foundation TORCHBEARERS Rappaport Theresa Daniel Michael and Patricia Johnson Emily Reed Michael Yessik and Christine Neil Holtzman Stephen Tillery Samuel De Merit Lynn Johnson Lesli Rice Doyle Thomas and Evelyn Hunt DIRECTOR’S Gibson Vance Richard Debs Edward Jones David Rigsby Taras Kick CIRCLE Rachel and Ben Vaughan Mary Charlotte Decker Giff and Mary Jones Rick Rosenthal and Nancy Shannon Liss-Riordan FOUNDATIONS ($5,000-$9,999) Carol Wardell Harriet Denison Emily Mason Kahn Stephens 11th Hour Project of Michael Rooney Ted and Rita Williams Jeffrey Dennis Helen Kaplan David Rossetti Elizabeth Abbe and Lewis the Schmidt Family Jay Scheide Foundation Mary Ann Diamond Jay Kasberger Greg Roth Schneider Foundation Ian Simmons Elsa Wood Benjamin Dinolt Charles and Angeliki Keil Larry Roussell Richard Barsanti Arca Foundation Steve Skrovan and Shelley James Worth Eve Dorfzaun Sarah Kellam Kenneth Rule and Patra Jere Beasley The Bauman Foundation Powsner George Zelcs David Dressler Willis Kleinenbroich Bonham Rule Steve Berger and Paula C.S. Fund Gerson Smoger Carmen Eanni David and Frances Korten Michael Sacks Hughmanick Deer Creek Foundation Jeremy Stoppelman John Eder Kevin Kraus Norbert Salz Steve Cohen TORCHBEARERS Edna Wardlaw Charitable Ruth Eisenberg A. J. 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6 MARCH/APRIL 2017 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS Riding into the Sunset

BY ANGELA BRADBERY He also: him, solar power in Texas is now I walked out of the Legislature so • Worked with state policymakers cheaper than coal-generated disheartened that I vowed never n 1988, Public Citizen’s Texas to create the Texas Emissions power. Because of his mentor- to come back,” Smith said. “But I Ioffice issued a report about the Reduction Program (TERP), ing of students and assistance in did. Because we do make change.” damage climate change would which has awarded more than creating and helping new groups, Public Citizen has named inflict on Texas over the coming $1 billion to replace 10,000-plus consumer advocacy in Texas is Adrian Shelley, executive direc- decades. The predictions were diesel engines and has cut more more robust. Smitty is an amaz- tor of Air Alliance Houston, as the dire and the solution was clear: than 160,836 tons of smog-form- ing and dedicated advocate for next director of Public Citizen’s Texas must stop using coal to ing NOx; the public interest, and he has Texas office. He will start his new generate electricity and turn to • Along with Karen Hadden of the made Texas — and the United job in April. renewable energy. SEED coalition, his organizing States — safer, cleaner and more So began the biggest project partner and wife, started local just.” of Tom “Smitty” Smith’s career. groups that stopped the con- Smith has testified more Smith, who just a few years ear- struction of 12 of 17 proposed than 1,000 times on energy and lier had become director of Public coal plants over the past decade other issues before the Texas Citizen’s Texas office, would and four new nuclear reactors; Legislature and Congress. He also spend another 29 years to wean the state from coal. Smith is retir- ing this spring after leading the “It was a great experience. The watchdog work Texas office of Public Citizen being done behind the scenes is really what since 1985. Smith made significant gains resonated with me. I can’t help but think that in the quest to shift the state to the experience influenced what I wanted to do renewables. Texas is now the in my career and what I have done.” leading wind power producer —April Molina, investigative reporter for News 4 San Antonio and former in the United States. More than intern with Public Citizen’s Texas office 22,000 people work in the wind industry in Texas — nine times more people than are working in • Helped pass the state’s building has won more than 20 awards for Tom "Smitty" Smith at the Capitol in the coal industry. energy code, which has saved his advocacy, including the 2009 Austin, Texas, in the 1990s. Public “We laid out a blueprint to tran- money for every new home- Heinz Award for “his work as one Citizen file photo. sition the state to renewables, and owner since 2003 and saved of the most effective renewable we have exceeded even our wildest more energy than a coal plant energy advocates in Texas.” estimations of how quickly it would would produce; Hector Rivero, the president come and the impact it would have • Helped craft and pass major and CEO of the Texas Chemical on the economy in terms of new ethics reforms that included Council, who has often ended up jobs created and lower electricity the creation of the state’s ethics on the opposite end of issues from bills,” Smith said. “Now, more than commission; Public Citizen, told the Austin two decades later, renewables are • Halted construction, through American-Statesman in December cheaper than coal.” work with whistleblowers, at that the state’s progress in renew- To get there, Smith traveled a the South Texas and Comanche able energy state “would not have long road. He engaged in pains- Peak plants while been possible without Smitty's taking coalition building, testified safety improvements were advocacy … I have a strong affec- at late-night city council meet- made; tion and respect for him.” ings, traveled thousands of miles • Helped craft insurance reforms Under Smith’s leadership, the throughout the state, jawboned passed in 1991; Texas office has hosted almost with state lawmakers, broke bread • Successfully pushed for a better 400 interns. Many went on to Smith and Karen Hadden at a February with legislators from all sides of state lemon law; and work in the public interest. Their 2017 gala honoring Smith. Credit: the aisle and befriended local and • Co-founded and mentored ranks include federal judges, Janelle Matous. state reporters. 13 nonprofit organizations product safety lawyers and inves- And he never gave up. including Solar Austin, Clean tigative reporters, as well as pol- “You lose more than you Water Action in Texas, Texas icy experts in governors’ offices win, but you always try to make ROSE (Ratepayers Organized focusing on criminal justice and sure that at the end of a session, to Save Energy) and the consumer affairs. or the end of a career, you have Sustainable Energy & Economic won more than you lost,” Smith Development (SEED) coalition. Handling defeats said recently as he walked along “Smitty’s work has had an Smith didn’t win everything, of an Arkansas beach near Corpus immeasurable impact on peo- course. He never did reach his goal Christi Bay. “I didn’t even bring ple’s lives in Texas,” said Robert of plugging a loophole in state eth- my towel on this walk. I don’t Weissman, president of Public ics law that allowed lawmakers, have a towel to throw in.” Citizen. “Because of him, the air who are part-time, to put on their Ensuring that Texas became in Texas is cleaner, so fewer peo- full-time job hats and do business a leading wind and solar power ple are suffering from asthma or with corporations and interests state was just one of Smith’s dying early because of pollution- seeking legislative favors. Smith and Robert Redford in 2008. accomplishments. related lung disease. Because of “There have been days where Public Citizen file photo.

PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS MARCH/APRIL 2017 7 The Republican WAR on Regulation

Regulation, from page 1 down recently issued public protections by CRA repeal. Launched this January, the coali- focus exclusively on the costs of regulation to majority vote in both chambers, with limited tion's RulesAtRisk.org website is updated daily industry and ignore the overwhelming ben- debate and no possibility of a filibuster. Making with the latest news and resources; informa- efits to the public. On Feb. 8, Public Citizen, matters worse, the CRA blocks federal agen- tion on the benefits and beneficiaries of pro- the Natural Resources Defense Council and the cies from issuing “substantially similar” pro- tections we might lose; and intelligence on the Communications Workers of America jointly tections without express authorization from members of Congress and corporate interests sued the Trump administration, asking the Congress. What this means is that once these pushing for repeal. court to bar federal agencies from implement- protections are repealed, we won’t get them ing the order (see story, page 1). back any time soon. Cabinet Nominations “In the recent election, Americans did not In practical terms, Congress will have until Nearly all of Trump’s Cabinet nominees vote for deregulation of Wall Street, more pol- sometime in June to undo Obama administra- are on record as being ideologically opposed luted air and water, inaction on climate change, tion rules finalized after June 13, 2016. At press to the missions of the agencies, bureaus, com- unsafe workplaces, fewer protections against time, lawmakers already had repealed three: missions and departments they have been discrimination and unequal pay, more food a rule protecting the nation’s streams from appointed to direct — and are similarly hostile safety scandals or the gutting of consumer mountaintop removal waste, a rule making it to the regulatory and enforcement work they protections,” said Robert Weissman, president harder for big oil and gas companies to bribe are supposed to (and in some cases required of Public Citizen. “Rather, the election was a governments and a rule keeping firearms out of to) carry out. That is why Public Citizen took referendum on the need to hold powerful and the hands of the severely mentally ill. At least a leading role in opposing many of Trump’s wealthy interests accountable — and that is 50 major public protections, and hundreds of nominees — drawing attention to their con- precisely what our regulatory system does.” others, are still in danger. flicts of interest and longstanding ties to giant If Republicans continue their destructive corporations (see story, page 5). The Congressional Review Act CRA maneuvers, payday lenders, debt collec- At press time, Trump had not yet tors and prepaid credit card companies will announced a nominee to direct the U.S. Office Among the most powerful tools at the be able to scam and rip us off. Polluters will disposal of Republicans in Congress is an of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the be able to dump in our backyards and poison White House’s clearinghouse for federal rule- obscure law called the Congressional Review the wells near our homes. We’ll pay more out Act (CRA). The CRA allows Congress to strike making activity. But he did pick U.S. Rep. Mick of pocket for home appliances, Mulvaney (R-S.C.) to direct the U.S. Office of trucks and electricity bills. The Management and Budget (OMB). OMB coor- resulting pain and suffering will dinates the president’s legislative proposals be real and widespread. and policies, proposes and implements the That’s why the Public Citizen- federal budget, supervises executive branch led the Coalition for Sensible departments and agencies, manages federal Safeguards and hundreds of allied procurement, implements executive orders organizations are drawing atten- and oversees the regulatory process. tion to the protections targeted for Mulvaney’s record, which Public Citizen documented in a January report, revealed an unmistakable pattern of ideological extremism, Deregulation reality denial and flagrant hypocrisy, which rendered him unqualified to carry out the basic Regulation duties of the agency he was picked to lead. In his two confirmation hearings, Mulvaney promised that he would leave behind his past as a tea party radical who relished government shutdowns and the threat of national default, The stakes called for steep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and are clear. Social Security, and denounced regulation. “We shouldn’t hand the reins of our gov-

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8 MARCH/APRIL 2017 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS PROBLEM: When industry titans run federal agencies, they rig the ernment to someone who doesn’t value its through April 28. As we saw in previous years continual and effective operation,” said Lisa rules in their favor. and expect to see again this spring, congres- Gilbert, Public Citizen’s vice president of leg- sional Republicans attach hundreds of harmful islative affairs. “Mulvaney’s anti-government SOLUTION: Let's close riders to appropriations legislation. These are beliefs could have disastrous consequences special favors that pay back ideological extrem- for American workers, consumers and fami- the revolving door. ists and big corporations in their ranks. Many lies, because he is now in a position to carry of these riders attack the regulatory process or them out.” specific public protections. As the lead author of the president’s pro- lyzing agencies that already are struggling to Public Citizen chairs the Clean Budget posed budget, Mulvaney will be in a positon operate under tight budgets. In addition, the Coalition, made up of hundreds of groups to impose steep cuts to our nation’s social RAA would establish a default requirement opposed to these riders. In the weeks ahead, insurance programs as well as to agencies that agencies adopt rules that are the least Public Citizen will be reconvening the coalition throughout the government — sabotaging their costly to industry, irrespective of the benefits to gear up for the next round of budget battles. regulatory and enforcement work. He also will to the public. This looms as a greater threat With Republicans controlling both chambers play a critical role in upcoming budget negotia- than the other two bills because conservative of Congress and the White House, the organi- tions with Congress. Democrats in the Senate might sign on to it. zation will fight to stop anti-regulatory riders The 2017 version of the RAA now con- and to preserve funding levels, so that federal Anti-Regulatory and tains six other anti-regulatory bills that Public agencies can keep doing the important work of Deregulatory Legislation Citizen helped defeat in previous Congresses. protecting the public and enforcing our laws. “Our government’s ability to protect all of In January, the U.S. House of Representatives “The resulting bill is a Frankenstein’s monster us from corporate predators, pickpockets and passed three bills designed to sabotage the fed- that should horrify the American people,” polluters is under siege like never before, and eral rulemaking process that establishes and said Weissman. “Why would congressio- the dangers cannot be overstated,” Weissman enforces public protections. The Midnight nal Republicans unleash this horror on the said. “Whether it’s by prohibiting big banks Rules Relief Act expands the scope of the CRA American people? The only answer is to sat- from destroying our economy, stopping credit (see the above section). Instead of repealing isfy the demands of big business, no matter card companies from charging billions in hid- one regulatory protection at a time, as the CRA the harms to the country.” den fees or preventing environmental catastro- requires, this legislation would allow Congress The Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, phes that poison our water and air, regulatory to repeal multiple rules all at once. In a sin- chaired by Public Citizen, is mounting an protections save lives, safeguards our jobs gle vote, Congress could wipe out dozens, aggressive lobbying effort to defeat the RAA and pocketbooks, and hold big corporations maybe even hundreds, of public protections. and any other dangerous anti-regulatory legis- accountable.” Fortunately, this legislation stands little chance lation congressional Republicans propose over You can help us fight back by donating to of passing in the filibuster-prone U.S. Senate. the next two years. support Public Citizen’s one-of-a-kind regula- Another bill that stands little chance of In addition to legislation that attacks the tory work, by demanding that your elected rep- passing is the REINS Act, which would require rulemaking process, Republicans in Congress resentatives defend public protections and by all new economically significant regulations — are trying to repeal or erode popular laws writing letters to the editor about these issues the big-ticket public protections that provide such as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform in your local newspaper. the most health, safety, environmental and and Act, the Affordable economic benefits — to be approved within a Care Act and the Endangered Species Act. So narrow window of time by both chambers of far, these deregulatory efforts have been sty- To learn more about what’s at stake, Congress before taking effect. This legislation mied by dysfunction within the Republican caucus. But if they start to move forward, please visit any of the websites run by is nothing more than a backdoor way to block Public Citizen including: enforcement of existing legislation and future Public Citizen and its allies in the Coalition for safeguards that powerful corporate interests Sensible Safeguards will fight back. do not want. Citizen.org CorporateCabinet.org Of significant concern is the Regulatory Appropriations Riders SensibleSafeguards.org Accountability Act (RAA), which would add The last Congress never passed a budget for RulesAtRisk.org more than 80 burdensome and time-consum- fiscal year 2017 and instead passed a continuing ing hurdles to the rulemaking process — para- resolution that extended 2016 funding levels

PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS MARCH/APRIL 2017 9 Seven Years Later, the Foundation of Citizens United is in Ruins

BY MIKE TANGLIS groups taking advantage of the new flexibility” in states where the mayor,” giving to FreshPAC ince the U.S. Supreme decision would not truly be inde- there is “far more stringent “is something you do.” SCourt’s 2010 Citizens United pendent of candidates. control.” In Elizabethtown, N.J., a super decision, it has been well The examples in the report, In Washington, D.C., a year PAC whose largest individual documented that the court’s while not all strictly enabled by after Mayor Muriel Bowser’s elec- donor was a for-profit bail indus- ruling empowered numerous Citizens United, illustrate the fal- tion, her former campaign trea- try lobbying group spent hun- outside groups — many of lacy of assuming that outside surer created an outside group, dreds of thousands of dollars on which were essentially arms groups operate independently by FreshPAC, which was named after a race for unpaid school board of candidates’ campaigns — to definition. Bowser’s own campaign slogan — seats. The super PAC’s expendi- spend massive amounts to In Chicago, a super PAC dedi- a “fresh start.” tures were so overwhelming that influence federal elections. cated largely to Mayor Rahm FreshPAC’s donors were sup- the candidates it supported barely But increasingly, unregulated Emanuel’s re-election was formed portive of Bowser, as 74 per- bothered to raise money for their outside groups are acting as by close Emanuel ally Rebecca cent of them had contributed campaigns. accessories to campaigns in state Carroll immediately after she left directly to Bowser’s campaign In Oklahoma, a candidate and local races around for state school superin- the country, according tendent, Joy Hofmeister, to a new Public Citizen “From high-profile mayoral races to elections for unpaid school strategized that the “inde- report, “Citizens United’s board seats, Citizens United has turned state and local politics pendent” group supporting her could do the dirty work Foundation in Ruins.” into the Wild West.” In its Citizens United by running negative ads decision, the Supreme — Michael Tanglis, about her opponents while Court, by a 5-4 vote, freed researcher with Public Citizen’s Congress Watch Group she would “take the high organizations not run by road.” Hofmeister denied candidates to spend at having specific knowledge will to influence elections. about the group, though The decision, which led investigators turned up to “super PACs” that can emails and texts showing accept unlimited contributions, Emanuel’s administration. By the the year before. Bowser herself otherwise. was based on the faulty assump- end of Chicago Forward’s first day even attended two of the group’s Hofmeister was ultimately tion that outside entities are of existence, the super PAC had fundraisers. FreshPAC came indicted — not by dint of a well- independent of candidates “by received $950,000 from seven under immense criticism when functioning campaign finance definition.” individuals — all of whom had reporting showed that many of system catching a candidate’s Because they are independent, previously given the maximum its donors were currently doing misdeeds, but as a result of leaked the court claimed, their activities amount allowable to Emanuel business, or seeking to do busi- communications with the outside are not likely to corrupt politi- himself. ness, with the District. An uniden- group. cians and therefore should not be Carroll has called super PACs tified donor to the group told The Ultimately, Citizens United restricted. But the court’s major- the “shiny new object in cam- Washington Post, “If you want to must be overturned, Public ity overlooked the fact that many paigns today,” as “they provide continue to have good favor with Citizen maintains.

BY KATIE DOWNEY ing illusions that there was some separation In Touting Ivanka between the Trump administration and the hen Kellyanne Conway on Feb. 9 gave Trump family businesses has had their fantasy Trump Products, WIvanka Trump what Conway termed a shattered.” “free commercial” on national television, it White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer Kellyanne Conway was obvious to Public Citizen that Conway had responded that Conway had been counseled. crossed a line. Public Citizen was right: In a Feb. 14 state- Crosses Legal Line In a morning interview on & Friends, ment issued by the Office of Government Conway touted the clothing and shoe line of Ethics, the office said that Conway should the president’s daughter: “It’s a wonderful be disciplined for her endorsement of Ivanka line. I own some of it … I’m going to just give Trump’s brand. a free commercial here, go buy it today every- Conway’s defense of Trump’s daughter body. You can find it online.” came after Trump took to Twitter to complain Within a few hours, Public Citizen had filed that Nordstrom had dropped his daughter’s a complaint with the U.S. Office of Government products because of poor sales. Ethics, calling on it to investigate what “Kellyanne Conway never would have appeared to be a clear violation of the law. made those statements had she subjected Federal employees may not use their public herself to the most elementary ethical stan- office for the purpose of endorsing products. dards,” Weissman said. “The administration’s “Conway’s remarks clearly highlighted pervasive conflicts of interest, recklessness, the problem we have been raising about this carelessness and disregard for anti-corruption administration since before it took office: that standards and even truth all start from the the Trump administration will use the govern- president.” ment apparatus to advance the interests of the Public Citizen will continue calling out family businesses,” said Robert Weissman, the administration for apparent ethical Kellyanne Conway. Credit: Wikimedia president of Public Citizen. “Anyone harbor- violations.­

10 MARCH/APRIL 2017 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS In Memoriam: Clarence Ditlow, Crusader for Auto Safety

BY RHODA FENG budget, [Clarence] moved moun- ormidable” and “tenacious.” tains and brought down many “FThose are two words that Goliaths.” friends and colleagues frequently His college wrestling career use to describe Clarence M. Ditlow, provided a glimpse into the kind III, who dedicated 45 years of his of advocate he would become. life to pushing the auto industry “The qualities of a successful to put safety first. Mr. Ditlow, the wrestling mindset fit Clarence per- executive director of the Center fectly,” Claybrook said. “Wrestlers for Auto Safety, died on Nov. 10, are highly disciplined, mentally 2016. He was 72. and physically, with great endur- Mr. Ditlow spent four decades ance and determination; coura- prodding the auto industry to geous and not afraid to fall; and install lifesaving features such are resilient when facing setbacks Clarence Ditlow, the late executive director of the , at a 2008 as air bags and make sweeping press conference at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Public and adversity.” improvements in the safety, reli- Citizen, the Center for Auto Safety and the Center for Injury Research called on the Mr. Ditlow quickly gained a ability and fuel efficiency of the federal government to make vehicles safer in rollovers. Public Citizen file photo. reputation as the “go-to” expert vehicles on which Americans for the media and congressional depend daily. He was tireless in round-the- of the Center in 1976, testified more staff on auto safety. He authored his pursuit of stronger consumer motorists and pedestrians,” said than 50 times before congressio- multiple books on auto safety, protections. For 45 years, he consumer advocate and lawyer nal committees regarding auto air pollution and transporta- harangued regulators, filed law- Ralph Nader. safety, warranties, service bul- tion, including “The Lemon suits and public records requests, Mr. Ditlow graduated from letins, air pollution, consumer Book,” “Lemon Law Litigation and testified before Congress to Lehigh University with a degree in protection and fuel economy. He Manual,” “Little Secrets of the expose deadly and dangerous chemical engineering. He gradu- was the leading consumer advo- Auto Industry” and “Sudden defects in millions of vehicles as ated from Georgetown University cate for enacting lemon laws in all Acceleration.” He updated and well as to force auto companies Law School and earned a master 50 states, which forced manufac- edited the “Automobile Design to recall millions of faulty vehicle of laws degree in tax from Harvard turers to improve vehicle quality Liability” manual, a six-volume and auto parts. These included Law School. He began his career in and helped 100,000 consumers work published by Thomson the Ford Pinto (exploding gas 1965 in Washington, D.C., as a pat- get relief for defective vehicles Reuters. Mr. Ditlow maintained tank), the Firestone 500 radial ent examiner with the U.S. Patent each year. Under his leader- a lifelong passion for taking his tire (a defect), various models of Office while attending law school. ship, the Center for Auto Safety research to the public to mobilize Toyotas (sudden acceleration), In 1971, he joined Ralph Nader’s contributed to 29 federal motor reform and effect broader social various models of GM vehicles Public Interest Research Group vehicle safety standards and pur- change. (defective ignition switches) (PIRG) as a staff lawyer. sued 15 major defects cases (and Eulogizing her former col- and Takata air bags (prone to The Center for Auto Safety hundreds of smaller ones) that league, Claybrook recalled, explode). played a key role in reducing the resulted in tens of millions of cars “Clarence was a tough and focused “With a marvelous civic per- death toll on America’s roads, being recalled. advocate. But the driving force in sonality of knowledge, determina- from 5.2 deaths per 100 million Joan Claybrook, his then-col- his soul was protection of inno- tion, compassion and resiliency, vehicle miles traveled in 1969 to league at PIRG (who later became cent consumers who lost their lawyer and engineer Clarence 1.1 per 100 million vehicle miles Public Citizen’s president), recalled, lives or their loved ones, or were Ditlow was for decades the in 2010. Mr. Ditlow, who joined “Despite his small staff and meager horribly injured.” Public Citizen’s January 21 Democracy Teach-In: A Day of Grassroots Organizing and Resistance

BY RHODA FENG smaller groups for panels and n the seventh anniversary workshops, speakers launched a Oof the U.S. Supreme Court’s wide-ranging and vigorous con- disastrous Citizens United ruling versation about what it means to and a day after the presidential have a democracy in an America Nina Turner delivers a rousing address. inauguration, Public Citizen and where votes are suppressed, cor- Public Citizen file photo. dozens of allies hosted a teach-in porate interests are gaining more in Washington, D.C., to comple- power and the constitutional collective commitment to move- ment the Women’s March on rights of millions are publicly ment building and solidarity. Washington. Held on Saturday, threatened by our elected leaders. The event was rounded out by a Jan. 21, the event focused on the The goal of the teach-in was to diverse array of speakers, includ- critical grassroots campaigns for help Women’s March attendees ing Public Citizen’s own Robert the coming year − from campaigns plug into grassroots campaigns Weissman; Cornell Brooks, presi- advancing the rights of women, and acquire skills to take home to dent of the NAACP; Lily Eskelsen immigrants, Muslims and peo- their communities. Momentum Garcia, president of the National ple of color to campaigns geared and enthusiasm continued to Education Association; Tefere toward upholding democracy, build well into the evening, when Gebre, vice president of the AFL- former Democratic Ohio state CIO; consumer advocate and Public Citizen President Robert Weissman economic justice and a healthy speaks at the January 21 teach-in. environment. senator Nina Turner rounded author Ralph Nader; and U.S. Rep. Public Citizen file photo. As attendees dispersed into out a singing event to reaffirm a Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).

PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS MARCH/APRIL 2017 11 PUBLIC CITIZEN IN YOUR STATE Much of Public Citizen’s work focuses on federal policies, but we also work in the public interest at the local and state levels. Here’s what Public Citizen has been doing in your state lately.

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Bexar County commissioners ist attack could put the community at risk a rally. Their purpose: to urge Congress to reject shipment of high-level of radiation exposure, which causes cancer oppose Donald Trump’s #SwampCabinet. radioactive waste and birth defects and even death. While the The Jan. 24 event was one of many planned construction of a high-level waste storage by the Central New York Solidarity Coali- In February, the voices of Bexar County site in Andrews County remains outside the tion, a grassroots coalition of organizations residents in Texas were amplified by a res- purview of Bexar County Commissioners and individuals committed to protecting all olution opposing shipments of radioactive (and is still being considered by the U.S. Central New Yorkers from the dangers of waste through the community. Waste Control Nuclear Regulatory Commission), the resolu- the Trump administration’s policies, ap- Specialists (WCS), a private company, has tion passed by Bexar County sends a signal pointees and rhetoric. proposed shipping radioactive waste (spent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that fuel rods from nuclear power plants) from there is serious concern in Texas about WCS’ Public Citizen is one of the organizations more than 60 sites across the country and plan to transport 5,000 tons of radioactive helping to lead the coalition. Speakers at dumping them in its waste storage site in waste to the West Texas storage site. the event included: Jonah Minkoff-Zern, Andrews County, West Texas, which now co-director of Public Citizen’s Democracy accepts low-level radioactive waste. In the Rally in New York to Stop Is For People Campaign; Anne Marie Ta- days leading up to the Bexar County Com- lercio, president of Central New York Area mission vote, Public Citizen’s Texas office Trump’s #SwampCabinet Labor Federation, AFL-CIO; Yusuf Abdul urged Bexar County residents to email their On a snowy date in late January, more than Qadir, director of New York Civil Liberties, commissioners and call on them to oppose 100 local constituents congregated outside Syracuse; and Frank Cetera, president of the high-level radioactive waste shipments. the office of U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand the Cooperative Federal Credit Union. A train derailment, traffic accident or terror- and Charles Schumer in Syracuse, N.Y., for — Rhoda Feng

To highlight the conflicts of interest and cronyism riddling the Trump administration, Public Citizen made a day-by-day video review of the administration’s first month. It shows that virtually every day has been marked by a new, extraordinary grant of power to corporate interests and/or another development in Donald Trump’s get-rich-quick-scheme known as the American presidency. View the video at: https://www.youtube.com/user/PublicCitizen.

12 MARCH/APRIL 2017 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS Lawsuit, from page 1 cies cannot legally comply with the president’s order because doing so would violate the statutes under which the agencies operate and the Administrative Procedure Act. No Public Citizen Goes to Court federal statute authorizes an agency to Support Stronger Overtime to condition issuance of a new rule to address harms to public safety, health Protections or other statutory objectives on the relative costs of existing rules unre- lated to the new rule. Lawyers at the Public Citizen Litigation Group are serving as lead In December 2016, 26 members of Congress, represented by counsel for the plaintiffs, who are ask- ing the court to declare that the exec- the Public Citizen Litigation Group, filed an amicus brief urg- utive order violates the Constitution. ing the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to reverse an They also seek an injunction barring order blocking overtime protections for millions of American agencies from implementing the order. workers. “The executive order policy is The members who submitted the brief include U.S. Rep. fundamentally irrational,” Weissman Bobby Scott (D-Va.), ranking member of the U.S. House of said. For instance, Trump and his top Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, regulatory adviser, the financial and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), ranking member of mogul Carl Icahn, have untruthfully the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and claimed that regulations are chok- ing the American economy, citing Pensions. debunked research concluding that The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exempts from its mini- regulations cost $2 trillion a year. mum wage and overtime protections workers “employed in a But a 2016 report from the OMB esti- mates that the annual benefits from bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity.” all major regulations over the past 10 Since the Department of Labor first issued regulations on years for which agencies monetized both benefits and costs were between this exemption in 1938, it has used a salary level test to help $269 billion and $872 billion, while define the scope of the exemption. Employees who earn less the costs were between $74 billion than the salary set by the Department are not exempt and are and $110 billion, in 2014 dollars. “Regulatory protections are crucial entitled to overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours for protecting the public and stopping in a week. corporate abuse,” said Weissman. “The use of a salary level test is well supported, long-estab- “Without strong regulations, dirty energy companies would be able lished, and helps ensure that workers receive fair wages,” said to pollute more, Wall Street banks Adina Rosenbaum, the lead Public Citizen attorney represent- would be better positioned to rip off ing the lawmakers. “The district court erred in finding that the consumers, chemical corporations would expose their workers to more test violates the FLSA.” poisons, drug companies would be empowered to continue price goug- ing and auto makers would sell unsafe vehicles.” The Trump administration has until April 10 to reply to the com- plaint. Andrea Strong Receives 14th Annual Phyllis McCarthy Public Interest Service Award BY RHODA FENG courthouses, Strong has played a minimum sentences. FAMM pro- government agencies. ndrea Strong, director of vital role in the success and mis- motes programs that minimize The award recognizes individ- Amember services of Families sion of FAMM. Strong exempli- crime and diminish overcrowded uals who have worked long and Against Mandatory Minimums fies the heart and soul of FAMM, prisons and the impact of over- hard for a public interest group, (FAMM), received the 14th said Julie Stewart, president and crowded prisons on taxpayers. performing critical functions as annual Phyllis McCarthy Public founder of FAMM. Public Citizen created the did McCarthy, but who have not Interest Award at a reception on “She has a huge heart and eponymous award after Phyllis received public credit commensu- Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Public incredible compassion for those McCarthy, an employee of its rate with their contributions. Citizen’s Washington, D.C. who reach her. She never lets us Health Research Group, passed Of the latest recipient, Dr. headquarters. forget whose lives we are trying to away in November 2002. She Sidney Wolfe, Public Citizen’s Strong began her career at change and how much it matters,” worked for 24 years as a manag- Health Research Group founder FAMM more than 20 years ago, Stewart said. ing editor and office manager, and senior adviser, said, “Andrea starting out as the Midwest FAMM is a Washington, D.C.- playing an integral part in the is a perfect example of an invalu- regional director in 1992. From based nonprofit, nonpartisan development and preparation able, unsung heroine, without organizing local and national organization that fights to elimi- of publications, reports, medical whom no organization can realize chapters to holding rallies outside nate unduly harsh mandatory journal articles and petitions to its potential.” PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS MARCH/APRIL 2017 13 Are your medicines IN THE SPOTLIGHT SAFE? The following are highlights from our recent media coverage.

Robert Weissman, Public Public Citizen’s ethics complaint against Many drugs that come to market have risks Citizen president Kellyanne Conway: Chicago Sun-Times, BBC, Associated Press. On Trump’s con- that outweigh their benefits. Others, found On President Donald Trump’s Cabinet flicts of interest: The Hill. On Trump’s to have risks only after they are approved, nominees: The Washington Post, executive orders: The Washington Post, are left on the market for dangerously long Democracy Now!. On conflicts of inter- McClatchy DC. periods of time. Find out which drugs are est in the Trump administration: The safe—and which you should avoid—with New York Times, USA Today, Bloomberg, Public Citizen’s WorstPills.org and Worst CNBC, The Washington Post, The Hill, Dr. Michael Carome, director of Pills, Best Pills News. Politico, Reuters, Forbes, Vanity Fair. Public Citizen’s Health Research To subscribe to WorstPills.org, our On regulations: The Washington Post, Group website, for only $15 a year, visit www. Bloomberg BNA, The Huffington Post, On Trump’s nomination for Health and WorstPills.org, and type in promotional International Business Times. On ethics Human Services secretary: The Atlanta- code MP4C5PC when prompted. in the Trump White House: NPR, The Journal Constitution. On eased medical Washington Post, The New York Times, To subscribe to the monthly print edition research regulations: NPR, Stat News, Bloomberg Politics, Associated Press. of Worst Pills, Best Pills News for a Bloomberg BNA. On the U.S. Food and discount—$10 a year—mail in the On Public Citizen’s ethics complaint Drug Administration (FDA) under form below. (Phone orders without this against Kellyanne Conway: USA Today, Trump: The New York Times, U.S. News coupon are $20.) Politico. On the Johnson Amendment: & World Report, NBC News, Bloomberg NPR, USA Today. BNA. On medical resident work hours: Yes! I will subscribe to the print Safety + Health. edition of Worst Pills, Best Pills Lisa Gilbert, vice president of News for only $10 for 12 monthly legislative affairs Peter Maybarduk, director issues. On gutting the congressional ethics of Public Citizen's Access to All orders must be prepaid office: The Washington Post, NPR, Real Medicines Program Check (payable to Public Citizen) News Network, USA Today. On Trump’s On drug monopolies: Buzzfeed, Radio conflicts of interest: The Atlantic, Credit card: Visa Mastercard New Zealand. On Trump’s plan to dereg- Amex Discover Politico, The Guardian, The Wall Street ulate the FDA: New Now Next. On Epi-Pen Journal. On Trump’s Cabinet nominees: availability: The Huffington Post, NBC CNN, The Wall Street Journal. On trans- News. On drug importation: Associated parency in the Trump White House: The CREDIT CARD NUMBER Press, Seattle Times, KAOS. On withdraw- Boston Globe, Politico. On regulations: ing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership: The Hill. EXP. DATE MedPage Today, Modern Healthcare. Lori Wallach, director of Global SIGNATURE (AS IT APPEARS ON CARD) Trade Watch Tom “Smitty” Smith, director of On Trump’s Cabinet nominees: On Public Citizen’s Texas office NAME NPR. changes to trade in the Trump adminis- On Rick Perry’s energy hearing: NPR. tration: The New York Times, Slate, The On nuclear waste storage: Midland 8-DIGIT ID NUMBER (FROM MAILING LABEL) Hill, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, Reporter-Telegram, San Antonio Express- Al Jazeera. News, NBC. On Rick Perry: CBS Austin. STREET ADDRESS On coal plants: Houston Public Media, Tyson Slocum, director WOAI. CITY of Public Citizen’s Kristen Strader, campaign STATE/ZIP Energy Program On Fiat-Chrysler: CNBC, ARD German coordinator, Public Citizen's TV. On Trump’s Cabinet nominees: Commercial Alert Program EMAIL ADDRESS Bloomberg, Greentech Media. On the On hidden ads: NBC4 (Los Angeles), future of renewable energy: CGTN TV. Consumer Affairs. PHONE NUMBER Craig Holman, government Allison Zieve, director of the Send order to: affairs lobbyist with Public Citizen Litigation Group Public Citizen Public Citizen’s Congress On Public Citizen v. Trump: Newsweek, P.O. Box 96978 Watch division The Leslie Marshall Show. Washington, DC 20090-6978 On ethics in the Trump White House: MP4C5PC The New York Times, Democracy Now!, Public Citizen v. Trump The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, USA Associated Press, Reuters, Washington Today, International Business Times, The Times, National Law Journal, Politico, Washington Post, Associated Press. On The Hill, International Business Times, www.WorstPills.org Trump’s Cabinet nominees: KPCC-SCPR, Bloomberg, NPR, The Washington Post, The New York Times, WCNY. On money in Newsweek, Modern Healthcare, Cox politics: Business Insider, Politico, Vox. On Radio, The Washington Post Business.

14 MARCH/APRIL 2017 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT Answers, page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Public Citizen Crossword 14 15 16 17 18 19 BY SAM BELLOTTO JR. 20 21 22 Across 51 Italian pronoun 1 Fit for farming 52 Caesar's olive 23 24 25 26 27 28 53 Trump Cabinet HUD Secretary 7 Rise up 29 30 31 32 33 11 Restyles nominee 14 Microsoft directive 56 Arms limitation treaty signed 34 35 in 1991 15 Dust Bowl refugee 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 16 German article 59 Prince Valiant's heir 17 Properties that are foreign 60 Major lender of $364 million to 43 44 45 Donald Trump emoluments in Istanbul and China 46 47 48 49 19 Mar-a-Lago loc. 65 Year in Leo IX's papacy 20 Music-festival street of 66 "It's crystal clear" 50 51 52 67 Site of Taoyuan Aerotropolis Memphis 53 54 55 56 57 58 21 Press Secretary skewered often conflict of interest on SNL 68 Myanmar money unit 59 60 61 62 63 64 69 Jazz trumpeter Jones 23 Rogers in "Ginger Snaps" 65 66 67 26 "O.K." singer DiFranco 70 Group 28 Fishing float 68 69 70 29 Brand promoted by Trump Down from his elected office 1 Monet's forte 22 Windows symbol 45 Popular rap song by Abstract 34 Response to many of Trump's 2 Defer add-on? 23 Country or miracle follower 46 Teen sitcom on Nickelodeon claims? 3 ___ Ghraib prison 24 Insider Boesky 47 Land chronicled by C.S. Lewis 35 Spacek biopic role 4 Vietnam War strategy 25 Emperor Henry V's wife 48 Took a chance 36 Brad Johnson target 5 Run like a gazelle 27 Cuba, to a Cuban 49 Yellow Brick Road traveler 37 What NBA star Steph Curry 6 "At Last" singer James 30 Soldier material? 50 Urchin called Trump 7 Ivanhoe's beloved 31 Syrian statesman 54 Newspaper section 39 On the dot 8 Live from hand to mouth 32 Prefix for active 55 "More About People" poet 40 Manning or Wallach 9 Puts on the line 33 Start of a mural? 57 Aqua Velva competitor 43 Germany's "national card 10 Shortness of breath? 38 Goblet part 58 Some MP3 players game" 11 Alert state used by the armed 40 Doctor played by Mike Myers 61 PBS funder 44 Capital of Armenia forces 41 Passageway 62 WW2 battle site, briefly 46 Trump Cabinet conflicts of 12 Petrol tankers 42 Teri's "Young Frankenstein" interest 13 Lewis Carroll creature role 63 Former New York gov. 50 Check for blips 18 Palme of Sweden 43 Form-1040 IDs 64 Bother at a barbecue Sam Bellotto Jr., a former magazine editor, constructs the crossword gratis. Public Citizen appreciates his generous contribution.

geted “fake news” on social media come from right, left and center. Public Citizen and its possible political influence He also doesn’t romanticize; some is foreshadowed.) In the end, it is are racists. At the core, he notes, Recommends ... up to advocates for fairness and populists are anti-elitist. “Every accountability to resist mathemati- man a king, but no man wears a cal models that harm the public. crown,” as Louisiana’s Huey Long ‘Weapons of Math The worst of the worst are —Rick Claypool crystalized. Destruction: How Big Data dubbed “weapons of math The unexpected ascendance of Increases Inequality and destruction,” or WMDs, which ‘The Populist Explosion: Trump and Bernie Sanders, Judis Threatens Democracy’ are self-reinforcing algorithms How the Great Recession argues, is symptomatic of the that generate damaging feedback By Cathy O'Neil; Crown; $26 Transformed American and current force of populism. (That loops and wreak havoc through European Politics’ may be some ulcer relief hoping Cathy O’Neil’s book is an essential their inability to adapt to chang- for buyer’s remorse.) read for anyone who is concerned ing circumstances. One particu- By John Judis; Columbia Global Alas, his otherwise fascinat- about how corporations and gov- larly nefarious example O’Neil Reports; $12 ing primer doesn’t venture a cal- ernment use and misuse informa- provides is predatory for-profit culus. It’s intuitive that the Great tion about people’s personal data. colleges’ aggressive marketing President Donald Trump has Recession would lead to lasting O’Neil, a professional mathema- methods targeting low-income proven to be the stomach-twisting frustration. But is there a measur- tician with both Wall Street and people. Instead of helping people con artist his critics expected. He’s able correlation between unem- Occupy Wall Street experience, escape poverty, these corporate stuffed his Cabinet with oligarchs ployment, factory closures or tackles a wide range of topics, predators perpetuate it while he railed against in his campaign. income disparity and populism? from the algorithms that helped leeching funds from struggling In “The Populist Explosion: How CEO pay swelled from 50 times fuel the financial crisis of 2008 to students and public coffers. the Great Recession Transformed the pay of average workers in the flawed models that perpetu- O’Neil’s book calls on readers American and European Politics,” 1980 to 250 times in 2010. Why no ate the criminalization of poverty to recognize that unspoken moral journalist John Judis suggests he populist rebellion toppling a presi- to social media’s manipulation of choices are built into the data mod- might understand why the “mark” dency when it hit 100 times? Judis our civic life. els that corporations and govern- for this faux outsider was so large as doesn’t offer measurements. This O’Neil maintains a conver- ments use. These choices tend to to win Trump the Electoral College. authoritative student of populism sational, wryly humorous tone prioritize efficiency and profits Published before the election, expected a Hillary Clinton victory. throughout. The analogies she pro- over other values; ultimately, they “The Populist Explosion” explores —Bartlett Naylor vides deliver a basic understanding all too often serve to reproduce populism on both sides of the of how Big Data’s built-in assump- inequality and damage democracy. Atlantic, and over the course of tions and oversimplifications can (Though the book was published more than a century. Judis resists a To order books, contact the harm the public while obscuring in mid-2016, the proliferation of monolithic definition of the popu- publisher or visit your local and perpetuating societal problems. demonstrably false, micro-tar- list ideology, noting that populists bookstore or library.

PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS MARCH/APRIL 2017 15 After 15 Years, Public Citizen Wins Rule to Prevent Beryllium Deaths to cause cancer and other fatal dis- In 2001, Public Citizen along tional workers in the final rule Beryllium, from page 1 eases. Beryllium exposure occurs with the Paper, Allied-Industrial, but did not lower the exposure when, in the process of producing Chemical & Energy Workers limit further. OSHA cited Public beryllium exposure in the work- these items, the metal is ground, International Union − which has Citizen’s analysis in the preamble place. According to OSHA, the rule sanded or cut, producing a dust or since merged with the United to the final rule in support of its will save 94 lives each year and fume that can be inhaled. Steelworkers − petitioned OSHA decision to cover these workers. prevent 46 new cases of chronic When even very low levels to lower the PEL for beryllium to Although the final beryllium beryllium disease among workers are inhaled, workers can gradu- 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter rule lowers the PEL to just 0.2 in general industry as well as the ally develop cough, chest pain, of air, one-tenth of the 2.0 micro- (and not 0.1) micrograms per cubic construction and shipyard trades. shortness of breath, weakness grams per cubic meter of air limit meter of air, it is a vast improve- In addition, OSHA projects the and fatigue. Loss of appetite, in place at the time. ment over the previous limit of 2.0 final rule will save the U.S. econ- weight loss, and lung and heart Finally, in 2015, OSHA released micrograms per cubic meter of air, omy about $561 million each year. failure may occur in people with a proposed beryllium rule with a especially because thousands of “While we are frustrated that advanced chronic beryllium limit of 0.2 micrograms per cubic construction and shipyard work- the rule has taken so long to disease, which is incurable and meter of air, but the proposal ers are covered by the rule. complete, we commend OSHA ultimately kills many of those excluded construction and ship- “Construction and shipyard for issuing this lifesaving safe- afflicted. Others are permanently yard workers. workers exposed to beryllium on guard,” said Dr. Sammy Almashat, a daily basis deserve the same a researcher with Public Citizen’s safeguards as other workers at Health Research Group. “Once the “While we are frustrated that the rule has taken so risk from the deadly effects of this rule is implemented, tens of thou- toxic metal,” said Emily Gardner, sands of workers will finally have long to complete, we commend OSHA for issuing worker health and safety advo- the protections that they have this lifesaving safeguard. Tens of thousands of cate for Public Citizen’s Congress lacked for far too long.” workers will finally have the protections that they Watch division. “We are relieved President Donald Trump’s have lacked for far too long.” that the final rule was changed administration, however, has — Dr. Sammy Almashat, to protect these workers. It now introduced a new speed bump — or researcher with Public Citizen’s Health Research Group must be implemented without maybe worse — for the rule. After delay.” Trump was sworn in, his chief of staff, Reince Priebus, announced Crossword Answers that agencies should halt all disabled by the disease, bound to However, during the years the

regulatory action. As part of the (from page 15) T R O S S A D A H T A Y oxygen tanks while enduring crip- agency had been mulling over the P

N A W I A T E E S I I L regulatory freeze, rules that had pling respiratory distress. issue, additional research became M

A N I H C F O K N A B N R

been finalized under the Obama Public Citizen has long argued available showing evidence of A

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administration but had not yet that lowering the legal limit for beryllium’s harms at lower lev- C A E L O O I M N A C

taken effect were to be delayed for S G N I D A R T R E D I S N workplace beryllium exposure – els. That data showed that OSHA’s I

N A V I R E T A K at least 60 days. Under this new known technically as the permis- proposed exposure limit − which S

I L E T P A S S A D N

directive, the Labor Department sible exposure limit (PEL) – was matched what Public Citizen E

N N Y L S H G U A

announced on March 1 that it has necessary to save lives and spare sought in 2001 − no longer was L S N O I H S A F A K N A V I

K R O C I N A I M I pushed back the date the rule workers these harmful effects. low enough. M

R E C I P S E L A E

is set to take effect; originally According to OSHA, 62,000 peo- In its comments on the pro- B

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scheduled for March 21, the Labor ple are exposed to beryllium in posed rule, Public Citizen urged T

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Department has proposed that the R S O D R A E R E L B A R the workplace annually. The esti- OSHA to further lower the pro- A rule’s effective date be postponed mated 11,500 construction and posed PEL to 0.1 micrograms per to May 20. shipyard workers who come in cubic meter of air and to extend Beryllium, which is a metal contact with beryllium every day the protections of the new rule IN THE NEXT ISSUE commonly used in ceramics, air- while performing open-air abra- to construction and shipyard craft parts, dental prostheses, sive blasting are at especially high workers who were unjustifiably Dangerous intravenous solu- golf clubs, springs, wheels and risk for contracting beryllium- excluded under the proposed tions are causing life-threaten- precision instruments, is known related diseases. rule. OSHA included the addi- ing side effects. Charitable Gift Annuity A gift that gives back to you!

A charitable gift annuity is a simple contract between you and Public Citizen Foundation that supports us while providing you (and/or another individual) with a charitable deduction and payments on a quarterly basis for the rest of your life. The minimum gift to establish this annuity is $10,000 using cash or securities, and the minimum age is 65. The following are some of the payments we offer for one individual. Payments for two people are available upon request.

AGE WHEN ANNUITY ANNUAL PAYMENT ESTABLISHED FACTOR BASED ON $10,000 65 years 4.7% $470 70 5.1 $510 75 5.8 $580 80 6.8 $680 85 7.8 $780 90 and over 9 $900 To receive your free illustration of the payments you and/or another will receive from this gift, contact Cathleen Gallagher, at 202-588-7737 or [email protected].

16 MARCH/APRIL 2017 PUBLIC CITIZEN NEWS