Winning Concrete Results

Making Government Subsidies More Transparent 
In 2008 WISPIRG advocacy helped to pass a bill that discloses information regarding economic development subsidies and makes this information publicly available online. The bill means taxpayers will have a way of knowing exactly who's getting support from the state coffers.

Pioneering Prescription Drug Reform
In 2007, the President signed a WISPIRG-backed law to rein in the makers of drugs like Vioxx, Paxil, and Avandia, all of which had dangerous and deadly side effects.  The bill reforms the Food and Drug Administration's drug safety review process, makes drugs safer, and holds drug makers more accountable for the safety of consumers. 

Standing Up for Students, Not Lenders
We helped to pass the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of of 2007, the most meaningful higher education reform in more than 15 years.  The legislation gives billions of dollars in additional aid to students through the Pell Grant program.  The bill is funded by reducing wasteful lender subsidies.   

Enforcing Our Ethics laws
In 2007 a WISPIRG-backed bill enforcing our state ethics laws was passed and signed into law.  The law promotes more vigorous enforcement of Wisconsin's state ethics code and campaign finance laws.  

Alerting Parents To Dangerous Toys
In November 2007, WISPIRG released the 22nd annual toy safety report. The report has resulted in more than 100 recalls and other enforcement actions, spurred passage of a federal toy labeling law, and alerted the Federal Trade Commission to deceptively labeled toys containing toxic chemicals.

Fighting Corruption In Congress
In March, our advocacy won a new independent office that will end an era of congressional self-policing that allowed the Jack Abramoffs of the world to play fast and loose with money in politics.

Also, the 110th Congress took the first real steps in years toward curbing political corruption by passing WISPIRG-backed restrictions that ban gifts and junkets from lobbyists—tactics that give powerful interests access and influence in Congress.

Stopping Identity Theft
A WISPIRG-backed bill to give consumers the ability to freeze their credit reports was signed into law in 2006. The law will allow consumers to lock out identity thieves, and further protect themselves from fraud. 

Protecting Wisconsin Consumers
WISPIRG’s research and advocacy blocked a 2006 attempt by the rent-to-own industry to exempt itself from the Wisconsin Consumer Act. The rent-to-own industry, along with other industries, must continue to disclose the annual percentage rate they are charging consumers.

Protecting Internet Freedom
WISPIRG blocked legislation on the U.S. Senate floor that would permit big cable and phone companies to limit consumers’ access to news, information, arts and cultural content on the Internet.

Registering Young Voters
During the past two election cycles, WISPIRG’s New Voters Project registered over 150,000 18- to 24-year-olds and increased voter participation among young voters.