Keeping Families Safe From Dangerous Products

Corporations that violate product safety laws will face stiff fines and penalties, and hazardous products will be removed from store shelves more quickly, under a landmark law championed by NMPIRG in 2008. Our members­—and staff in D.C.—helped overcome the last-minute opposition from the chemical industry.

Standing Up For Students, Not Lenders

Twenty billion dollars will be added to the federal aid that goes to students. The money will come from cutting subsidies to lenders. The funding increase is part of the NMPIRG-backed College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, the most meaningful higher education reform in more than 15 years.

Holding Elected Officials To Higher Ethical Standards

An independent office will police ethical scandals in Congress, under a NMPIRG-backed plan. Our staff in D.C. helped make the case for the Office of Congressional Ethics through a report showing that 23 states already have independent panels to enforce ethics.

Stopping Identity Theft

In the wake of nationwide failures in data security on the part of data dealers and credit card companies, our federal consumer advocates crafted model legislation that was enacted in two dozen states. Our work continues to expand protections and stop federal laws from undercutting state laws.

Standing Up To Prescription Drug Companies

Prescription drug companies are making it harder and harder for families to afford the medication they need. To help New Mexicans get a better deal, NMPIRG worked in 2005 to expand the state’s SenioRX and bulk purchasing programs to all New Mexicans. 

Revitalizing Voter Participation

In the 2008 presidential election, 3.4 million more 18-to 29-year-olds voted than in 2004, resulting in the largest number of young voters on record. NMPIRG teamed up with the PIRG-led New Voters Project to deploy 80 organizers to more than 100 campuses in 22 states. 

Challenging Predatory Lending

To protect vulnerable consumers, NMPIRG has joined with AARP, the Department of Defense and Navajo chapters to fight predatory lending. There are four payday lenders for every one McDonald’s in New Mexico.  

Holding Drugmakers Accountable For Safety

As drug companies aggressively market their products, they also cover up the side effects, as we saw with the scandals surrounding Vioxx, Paxil and Avandia. In 2007, the president signed a NMPIRG-backed law that makes drugs safer, and prevents pharmaceutical companies from keeping important clinical information from doctors.