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Report | MoPIRG Foundation | Tax

The Hidden Cost of Offshore Tax Havens

In 2011, states lost approximately $39.8 billion in tax revenues from corporations and wealthy individuals who sheltered money in foreign tax havens. Multinational corporations account for more than $26 billion of the lost tax revenue, and wealthy individuals account for the rest.

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Media Hit | Budget

Kansas City's Report Card Is In

Ever wonder what goes on during a city council meeting? Or how much money was made from parking meters last year? The answers to some questions like these are available to the public online, but every city in the United States differs on how much information they share.

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News Release | MoPIRG Foundation | Budget

Kansas City Receives a “C” Grade for Spending Transparency

Kansas City received a “C” grade for spending transparency, according to a new report released today by MoPIRG. The report reviews Kansas City’s progress toward comprehensive, one-stop, one-click budget accountability and accessibility.

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News Release | MoPIRG Foundation | Budget

Saint Louis Receives Failing Grade for Spending Transparency

The city of St. Louis received a failing grade for spending transparency, according to a new report released today by the MoPIRG Foundation. The report reviews Saint Louis’ progress toward comprehensive, one-stop, one-click budget accountability and accessibility.

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Report | MoPIRG Foundation | Budget

Transparency in City Spending

The ability to see how government uses the public purse is fundamental to democracy. Transparency in government spending checks corruption, bolsters public confidence, improves responsiveness, and promotes greater effectiveness and fiscal responsibility.

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News Release | MoPIRG Foundation | Budget

Saint Louis Receives Failing Grade for Spending Transparency

The city of St. Louis received a failing grade for spending transparency, according to a new report released today by the MoPIRG Foundation. The report reviews Saint Louis’ progress toward comprehensive, one-stop, one-click budget accountability and accessibility.

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News Release | MoPIRG Foundation | Food

Ag Subsidies Pay for 21 Twinkies per Taxpayer, But Only Half of an Apple Apiece

Federal subsidies for commodity crops are subsidizing junk food additives like high fructose corn syrup, enough to pay for 21 Twinkies per taxpayer every year, according to MoPIRG’s new report, Apples to Twinkies 2012. Meanwhile, limited subsidies for fresh fruits and vegetables would buy one half of an apple per taxpayer.

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News Release | MoPIRG Foundation | Democracy

New Report Released: Auctioning Democracy

Today MoPIRG Foundation and Demos released a new analysis of the funding sources for the campaign finance behemoths, Super PACs. The findings confirmed what many have predicted in the wake of the Supreme Court’s damaging Citizens United decision: since their inception in 2010, Super PACs have been primarily funded by a small segment of very wealthy individuals and business interests, with a small but significant amount of funds coming from secret sources.

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News Release | MoPIRG Foundation | Health Care

Health Care Repeal Would Have Costly Consequences for Missouri Consumers and Small Businesses

Consumers and small businesses in Missouri will face significantly higher insurance premiums and could see costly coverage denials and price discrimination if efforts to repeal the federal health care law prevail in Congress or in the courts, according to The Cost of Repeal: Examining the Impact on Missouri of Repealing the New Federal Health Care Law, a new report released today by MoPIRG. 

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News Release | MoPIRG Foundation | Transportation

New Report: High Speed Rail Part of Solution

A new report puts clear numbers and a clear vision on how high-speed rail will boost the Midwest economy, reduce highway and airport congestion, reduce dependence on oil, and protect the environment.  The report was released by MoPIRG today with Frank Steeves from Emerson Electric Co., Susan Stauder from the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, and representatives for Congressman Clay and congressman Carnahan.

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Report | MoPIRG Foundation and the Center for Media and Democracy | Democracy

Elections Confidential

Elections Confidential describes how secret donors poured hundreds of millions into the 2012 election through “social welfare” non-profits that are really political vehicles and via shell corporations formed as conduits to hide a funder’s identity.

The first post-Citizens United presidential election cycle was bought and paid for by a handful of wealthy donors, but the corrosive influence of money in politics was amplified by the fact that we don’t know who—or what—actually provided much of the funding.

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Report | U.S. PIRG, DEMOS | Democracy

DISTORTED DEMOCRACY: POST-ELECTION SPENDING ANALYSIS

A new analysis of data through Election Day from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and other sources by U.S. PIRG and Demos shows how big outside spenders drowned out small contributions in 2012: just 61 large donors to Super PACs giving an average of $4.7 million each matched the $285.2 million in grassroots contributions from more than 1,425,500 small donors to the major party presidential candidates. 

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Report | MoPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Trouble in Toyland 2012

The 2012 Trouble in Toyland report is the 27th annual MoPIRG Foundation survey of toy safety. In this report, MoPIRG Foundation provides safety guidelines for consumers when purchasing toys for small children and provides examples of toys currently on store shelves that may pose potential safety hazards.

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Report | MoPIRG Foundation | Food

Apples to Twinkies 2012

In this report, we find that in 2011, over $1.28 billion in taxpayer subsidies went to junk food ingredients, bringing the total to a staggering $18.2 billion since 1995. To put that figure in perspective, $18.2 billion is enough to buy 2.9 billion Twinkies every year - 21 for every single American taxpayer. 

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Report | Tax

Picking Up the Tab

Some U.S.-based multinational firms or individuals avoid paying U.S. taxes by transferring their earnings to tax haven countries with minimal or no taxes. These tax haven users benefit from their access to America’s markets, workforce, infrastructure and security; but they pay little or nothing for it—violating the basic fairness of the tax system and forcing other taxpayers to pick up the tab.

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  • YOUR TAX DOLLARS BECOME CORN SYRUP
    At a time when one-in-three kids is overweight or obese, over a billion taxpayer dollars go to high-fructose corn syrup and junk food ingredients.
    Take Action
  • FIGHT HIGH Rx Costs
    Prescription drugs cost too much. Brand-name drug companies have been paying off generic drug makers to delay competition and keep prices high, and it's costing us billions. Together, we can stop them.
    Take Action
  • STOP TAX DODGERS
    Corporate tax avoidance cost taxpayers $100 billion last year. We're working to close the loopholes that allow companies to avoid paying the taxes they owe.
    Take Action
  • PROTECT YOURSELF
    We've created consumer tips to help protect you from unfair bank fees, identity theft, loan rip-offs and more.
    Get The Tips

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