News Releases

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

Oberlin – A new report by Demos and Ohio PIRG Students finds that Ohioans’ lives, health and livelihoods would be at risk if so-called “regulatory reform” proposals were to become law, slowing or stopping the regulatory process.  The new report details the number of Ohioans harmed by just a one-year delay in the creation of three popular upcoming rulemakings.

Key findings from “Ohioans Lives at Risk:”

• As many as 3,194 preventable deaths and 76,314 preventable asthma attacks among Ohioans children for each year the government fails to update the restriction on levels of toxic soot in our air. 
• As many as 380,000 preventable illnesses from contaminated food for each year the government fails to enact new rules to avoid produce contamination.
• 65,060 cancer patients at risk of being denied health insurance for each year of delay in creating rules prohibiting health insurance companies from refusing to issue insurance to people with pre-existing conditions. 
• “This report demonstrates that the ‘regulatory reform’ proposals being considered by Congress are a serious threat to Ohioans,” explained Ilyssa Meyer, Chair of Ohio PIRG Student Chapters. “Policymakers should resist efforts by powerful special interests to weaken public health and consumer safety rules. The need for consumer safety should not be a political question or a partisan issue.”

Washington, D.C. – Today, President Obama is taking a bold step to protect student consumers from financial tricks and traps by announcing a recess appointment of his well-qualified nominee, Richard Cordray, to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB can improve private student loans as well as credit cards and debit cards issued on campus.