Featured Story:
Dr. Sidney Wolfe on "Bill Moyers Journal"

June 9, 2009

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Climate change measure is a disappointment: The climate change legislation currently being debated in Congress will help coal and oil industries instead of protecting consumers and the environment. Lawmakers have conducted closed-door negotiations with polluters, resulting in a bill that accommodates the financial interests of big energy corporations while squandering an opportunity to curb global warming and doing little to help working families.

>>Take action today and demand better climate legislation.

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Featured Videos

Dr. Sidney Wolfe on PBS' "Bill Moyers Journal:" Public Citizen's Acting President Dr. Wolfe spoke recently with Bill Moyers about health care reform, explaining how the single-payer solution is the only way to achieve true universal health care. Watch now and learn more about our campaign for single-payer health care.

Chrysler crash victim speaks: Jeremy Warriner of Indianapolis, Ind., talks about the fiery crash in his Chrysler Jeep Wrangler that resulted in the amputation of both his legs. The Chrysler bankruptcy means that Warriner and others with defective Chrysler vehicles will not be able to hold the automaker responsible for injuries caused by design flaws. Watch the video and learn more about our involvement in the proceedings, including our recent appeal of the bankruptcy court's decision.

Public Citizen Health Clinic

Constipation drug poses risks to pregnant women: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should immediately increase its warnings about the use of lubiprostone - sold as Amitiza - because of serious side effects, including the risk of abortion or premature labor if given to pregnant women. Learn more. 

Weight-loss products illegally spiked with prescription drugs: At least 72 weight-loss products have been found by the FDA to contain prescription drugs, including four drugs not approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S. These added drugs can be dangerous. Learn more. 

Spotlight on Forced Arbitration

Home court advantage: Using forced arbitration to evade accountability: Millions of new home purchasers each year are forced into binding mandatory arbitration by deceptive "warranties," which homeowners often don't become aware of until after moving into their new houses. Although builders often portray the warranties as gifts, the warranties actually exempt the builder from liability for all sorts of problems. Learn more, and read about our efforts to end forced arbitration at FairArbitrationNow.org.

Public Citizen Blogs

Federal Maritime Commission's fuzzy logic to be challenged in court

Public Citizen is representing the Natural Resources Defense Council in a lawsuit filed under the Freedom of Information Act against the Federal Maritime Commission. The suit stems from the Commission's unusual decision to investigate and seek termination of programs at two California ports that aimed to reduce truck emissions. Learn more at Citizen Vox. 

It's so easy to set up a tax haven in Panama; even an intern could do it!

We asked an intern in our Global Trade Watch division to see how easy it is to set up a corporation in Panama to dodge taxes. Check out our hilarious video to see how our intern does. Learn more at Eyes on Trade.

Testifying on behalf of more accountability, transparency

The advocacy director of our Congress Watch division testified in May in support of authentic whistleblower protections for all federal employees. Such protections could save billions of taxpayer dollars and ensure more transparency and accountability in government. Learn more at the Watchdog Blog.

The influence of energy industry contributions

How much do energy companies contribute to candidates and how much do their votes reflect the contributions they receive? Find out at Texas Vox.

From the Press Room

Hospitals fail to discipline doctors: A new Public Citizen report reveals that in addition to inadequate discipline of physicians, hospitals routinely exploit loopholes to avoid government reporting requirements. Nearly half of all hospitals in the U.S. have not submitted a single doctor's name to the National Practitioner Data Bank in the more than 17 years it has existed. Learn more.

We urge strong regulations over energy, carbon emissions: Energy Program Director Tyson Slocum begins his service to the U.S. Commodity Future Trading Commission's Energy and Environmental Markets Advisory Committee. In this capacity, he will be advising federal regulators on how best to regulate energy commodity markets and emerging carbon emission markets as part of proposed cap and trade climate legislation. Learn more.