Laura Etherton, Advocate

Standing Together To Protect The Public Interest

Over the years, you’ve probably become accustomed to OSPIRG working on a wide array of public interest issues.

We’ve won victories to protect consumers from predatory lending and skyrocketing prescription drug costs; we’ve stood up to powerful special interests and we’ve advocated new policies to reduce global warming pollution, such as Oregon’s new Clean Cars Program.

Yet the challenges we face from special interests are mounting. That’s why we’ve decided that the best way to advance our work is to separate into two organizations that will together address the threats to the public interest.

Environment Oregon is the new home of our environmental work, while OSPIRG will focus on consumer protection, health care and good government issues. Both groups will keep standing up to powerful interests that stand in the way of progress.

OSPIRG’s renewed focus will allow us to be more effective consumer advocates and government watchdogs. By zeroing in on problems such as health care costs, public health threats, consumer rip-offs, and undue special interest influence in politics, we can prompt greater public debate on these issues, giving Oregonians and legislators more reasons to support our work.

We have enormous opportunities in Oregon to make meaningful change on these issues.

On health care, we will advocate common sense reforms to improve quality and make care more affordable everyone, and watchdog the prescription drug manufacturers and the insurance companies. On lobby reform, we must stay vigilant to make sure the stronger standards passed this year are implemented and enforced. On public health, we have a chance to win meaningful protections for communities regarding toxic releases and chemical accidents.

From democracy and consumer protection, to safety standards and affordable health care, OSPIRG will advocate public interest solutions to restore accountability and fairness.

This is also a good opportunity to re-introduce myself. I joined OSPIRG’s staff about 12 years ago, and over the years have served as an organizer, administrator and point person on consumer policy.

As the OSPIRG advocate, I’ll be spending some time in Salem lobbying legislators, but you’ll also see me on TV and in the newspaper speaking out to protect the public interest and expose corruption.

So, what can you expect from me and from OSPIRG? You can expect expanded and invigorated consumer, health care, and government watchdog programs.

You can expect rigorous research. You can expect practical solutions. As always, you can expect effective action on behalf of the public interest.

Thanks to the support of members like you, OSPIRG has developed a 35-year track record as one of the most effective public interest advocates in Oregon. As we move into an exciting new era of standing up to powerful interests, I look forward to your continued support of our work.

Sincerely,

Laura Etherton
Advocate