October Edition
A summary of upcoming public interest news and events from U.S. PIRG, the state PIRGs & affiliated organizations
For Immediate Release: 10/16/06
For trends in the states and other state issues:
Cloe Axelson, 617-747-4449, Kimberly Larson, 206-357-1788,
statenews@pirg.org
For federal issues:
Liz Hitchcock, (202) 546-9707, federalnews@pirg.org
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YOUTH VOTING
Will Young Voters Be the Winning Difference in November?
With less than a month to go until the 2006 mid-term elections, 18-24 year old voters are a coveted constituency—and with good reason. From the closely watched Senate races in Ohio and Connecticut to competitive gubernatorial and congressional races in several states, a strong youth turnout could be the deciding factor in tight races across the country. Recent research suggests that this new generation of young voters, Generation Y, is more active and engaged than their older brothers and sisters of Generation X. In 2004, the Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project was the nation’s largest non-partisan grassroots youth voter mobilization effort in the nation, registering 524,000 young people and making more than 500,000 personalized Get-Out-the-Vote contacts. In 2004, youth turnout increased 11 percentage points over the 2000 Presidential election. In 2005, young voter turnout was up again by 15-19 percentage points in targeted youth districts in New Jersey and Virginia (the two states to hold gubernatorial elections in 2005), where the New Voters Project registered 6,300 and 7,000 students respectively. This year, the Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project is working on 70 college campuses in more than 20 states this fall to register 70,000 new young voters. The project has already registered more than 25,000 students.
For more information about the PIRG New Voters Project, or the youth civic engagement in general, contact: Dave Rosenfeld, Program Director, New Voters Project, (503) 231-4181 x311, daver@pirg.org or www.newvotersproject.org
AFFORDABLE TEXTBOOKS
New Study Uncovers Publisher Tactics to Artificially Inflate Textbook Prices
A new study by the Student PIRGs’ Affordable Textbooks Campaign uncovers 10 tactics publishers use to artificially inflate textbook prices. The PIRGs will release the report, titled “Required Reading,” on Tuesday, October 31. The report profiles 14 textbooks that include at least one of the tactics book publishers use to artificially inflate prices, and undermine the used book market. Publishers claim that they are developing low-cost alternatives to traditional textbooks, like digital and custom books – “Required Reading” challenges publishers’ solutions by suggesting that these options are simply new ways to exploit a captive student market. This report comes when students are feeling the first financial pinch of the new school year, having just purchased books for fall semester classes. The Congressional Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance is currently conducting a one-year study on the rising costs of textbooks. The Committee will release its recommendations in late spring of 2007.
For more information on the Student PIRGs’ Affordable Textbook Campaign, or an embargoed copy of the report, contact: Sabrina Case, Campaign Coordinator, Student PIRGs’ Affordable Textbook’s Campaign (503) 231-4181 x314, sabrina@maketextbooksaffordable.com or www.maketextbooksaffordable.com.
HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS
400 Students to Convene for Largest Gathering in Country on Hunger & Homelessness Issues
More than 400 students from 100 schools and 30 states will meet for the largest gathering of students working on hunger, homelessness and poverty issues in the nation. The 19 th annual National Student Conference Against Hunger & Homelessness will be held at University of Southern California (USC) from October 27-29. Dolores Huerta, a former colleague of Cesar Chavez and long-time advocate for immigrant workers’ rights, will be the keynote speaker. Plenary and breakout sessions center around five issue tracks, including: Hunger, Humanitarian Crises, Homelessness/Affordable Housing, Spirituality, Leadership & Justice and Globalization, Development & Trade. The National Student Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness, a project of the Student PIRGs, is organizing the conference, with assistance from more than 25 sponsoring groups including Oxfam America, Americorps VISTA program and Idealist.org.
For more information about the conference, or to arrange an interview with a student coordinator, contact: Stacey Hafner, Conference Coordinator, National Student Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness, 213-740-0699 , Stacey@studentsagainsthunger.org or www.studentsagainsthunger.org
U.S. PIRG is the Federation of State PIRGs (Public Interest Research Groups). The state PIRGs are state-based, non-partisan public interest advocacy organizations. We also have a federal advocacy office in Washington, D.C. We uncover threats to public health and well-being and fight to end them, using the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposes, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation. U.S. PIRG's mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented activism that protects public health and the environment, encourages a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic government. www.uspirg.org.
In some states, the PIRG's environmental work is housed in partner organizations: Environment California, Environment Colorado, Environment Georgia, Environment Illinois, Environment Maine, Environment Maryland, Environment Michigan, Environment North Carolina, Environment Texas and PennEnvironment.