Missouri Public Interest Research Group

Last updated

Missouri Public Interest Research Group (MoPIRG) is a non-profit organization that is part of the state PIRG organizations.

Contents

MoPIRG began in March, 1971, after students at Saint Louis University heard a speech by Ralph Nader. Nader inspired the students to organize citizen action groups modeled after similar groups in Oregon and Minnesota. The Center for Student Action at Saint Louis University and the Missouri Public Action Council at Washington University in St. Louis lobbied to establish a public interest research organization funded by a small assessment added to student activities fees. Student referendums on both campuses supported the fee assessment. The two student groups combined their operations and formed MoPIRG. [1]

History

The PIRGs emerged in the early 1970s on U.S. college campuses. The PIRG model was proposed in the book Action for a Change by Ralph Nader and Donald Ross. [2] Among other early accomplishments, the PIRGs were responsible for much of the Container Deposit Legislation in the United States, also known as "bottle bills." [3] [4]

MoPIRG began in March, 1971, after students at Saint Louis University heard a speech by Ralph Nader. Nader inspired the students to organize citizen action groups modeled after similar groups in Oregon and Minnesota. The Center for Student Action at Saint Louis University and the Missouri Public Action Council at Washington University in St. Louis lobbied to establish a public interest research organization funded by a small assessment added to student activities fees. Student referendums on both campuses supported the fee assessment. The two student groups combined their operations and formed MoPIRG. [1]

MoPIRG's earliest campaigns included a successful appeal to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate deceptive advertising and sales practices by some St. Louis used car dealers in 1972. The group was also represented on the St. Louis Advertising Review Board, a self-regulatory board of the Advertising Club and the Better Business Bureau. MoPIRG gained national attention for its criticism of self-regulation by the advertising industry. MoPIRG also championed the right to representation for St. Louis City Jail prisoners. Their proposal led to the establishment of an ombudsman position by the St. Louis Department of Welfare in August, 1973. [1]

MOPIRG was active in campaigns to stop legislation that would raise the legal ceiling of small loan interest rates in Missouri, drafted a consumer protection ordinance presented to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in September, 1973, and published research on a variety of consumer and citizen related issues. It researched and developed legislation that helped improve workers' compensation laws in Missouri and was also successful in stopping an effort to eliminate the public display rating system for area restaurants. From 1975 to 1981, MOPIRG developed a comprehensive revision of the state landlord-tenant law and successfully worked for its passage twice in the Missouri House of Representatives, although the bill was defeated both times in the Senate. [1]

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter attempted to reform the patronage system of judicial selection for the Circuit Court of Appeals. MOPIRG responded by forming a coalition of eleven political organizations, including the League of Women Voters and the NAACP, to urge Senator Thomas Eagleton to establish a merit nominating process on the state level. Senator Eagleton's resistance to this idea led MoPIRG to work successfully for legislation requiring the President to develop merit selection guidelines. [1]

Other issues MoPIRG has been involved with include requiring school testing services to make test results available to students, curbing utility rate increases, reforming media practices, and passing a national advisory referendum that would allow a non-binding public vote on government policy questions. [1]

Affiliate organizations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Citizen</span> Think tank and progressive advocacy group

Public Citizen is an American non-profit, progressive consumer rights advocacy group, and think tank based in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1971 by the American activist and lawyer Ralph Nader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Eagleton</span> American politician (1929–2007)

Thomas Francis Eagleton was an American lawyer who served as a United States senator from Missouri from 1968 to 1987. He was briefly the Democratic vice presidential nominee under George McGovern in 1972. He suffered from bouts of depression throughout his life, resulting in several hospitalizations, which were kept secret from the public. When they were revealed, it humiliated the McGovern campaign, and Eagleton was forced to quit the race. He later became adjunct professor of public affairs at Washington University in St. Louis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Interest Research Group</span> Organization

Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) are a federation of U.S. and Canadian non-profit organizations that employ grassroots organizing and direct advocacy on issues such as consumer protection, public health and transportation. The PIRGs are closely affiliated with the Fund for the Public Interest, which conducts fundraising and canvassing on their behalf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Public Interest Research Group</span> American political organization

The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) is a New York statewide student-directed, non-partisan, not for profit political organization. It has existed since 1973. Its current executive director is Blair Horner and its founding director was Donald K. Ross.

Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG) is a non-profit organization that is one of the largest of the state PIRG organizations. It works on a variety of political activities, including textbook trading on college campuses. They also provide internships and work study jobs for students on Massachusetts college campuses. Along with the Massachusetts Service Alliance, MASSPIRG helped to create Massachusetts Community Water Watch, an organization that works specifically on environmental politics. Student funding of MASSPIRG has been criticized at several schools where students wish to see MASSPIRG funding cut, citing that the mandatory fees do not effectively contribute directly to any cause on campus, and are a complication to students forced to pay "already tedious" tuition fees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consumer Federation of America</span> US non-profit organization

The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1968 to advance consumer interests through research, education and advocacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maryland Public Interest Research Group</span> Organization

Maryland Public Interest Research Group (MaryPIRG) is a student activist non-profit organization and one of many State PIRGs. The organization works on a variety of local activist activities, including environmental activism, textbook trading on college campuses, democratic reforms, control of antibiotics in food products, and help for the homeless. They also provide internships and work study jobs for students at the University of Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Louis University School of Law</span> Law school in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

Saint Louis University School of Law, also known as SLU Law, is the law school affiliated with Saint Louis University, a private Jesuit research university in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has been American Bar Association approved since 1924 and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

The Fund for the Public Interest is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization that runs the public fundraising and canvassing operations for politically liberal nonprofit organizations that advocate for issues such as environmental protection, consumer safeguards and public health in the United States. FFPI was set up in 1982 as the fundraising arm of the Public Interest Research Group (PIRGs). The Fund has faced lawsuits and complaints over its labor practices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Hatch</span> American politician (born 1950)

Jack G. Hatch is a former Iowa State Senator and American business owner. He was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Iowa in the 2014 election. A Democrat, Hatch served in the Iowa Senate from 2003 to 2015, and was an assistant majority leader. Prior to his election to the Iowa Senate, Hatch served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1985 to 1993 and 2001 to 2003.

<i>Action for a Change</i> 1971 book by Ralph Nader and Donald Ross

Action for a Change. A Student's Manual for Public Interest Organizing is a 1971 book written by consumer advocate Ralph Nader with Donald K. Ross, Brett English, and Joseph Highland. The book serves as a manual for college students establishing Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs), and chronicles the formation of PIRGs in Oregon and Minnesota.

The Minnesota Public Interest Research Group describes itself as "a grassroots, non-partisan, nonprofit, student-directed organization that empowers and trains students and engages the community to take collective action in the public interest throughout the state of Minnesota."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Missouri–St. Louis</span> Public university in St. Louis, Missouri, US

The University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) is a public research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Established in 1963, it is the newest of the four universities in the University of Missouri System. Located on the former grounds of Bellerive Country Club, the university's campus stretches into the municipalities of Bellerive, Bel-Nor and Normandy. Additional facilities are located at the former site of Marillac College and at Grand Center, both in St. Louis city.

Andrew P. Koenig is an American politician who has served in the Missouri Senate since 2017. Koenig, a Republican, is a former member of the Missouri House of Representatives and a small business owner. From 2009 to 2012, he represented the 88th district of Missouri. From 2013 to 2017, he represented the 99th district, which includes Manchester, Twin Oaks, Valley Park, and parts of Fenton. Koenig was elected to serve as the State Senator from the 15th district in 2016 and re-elected in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Kemp Ross</span> American attorney and political activist (1943–2022)

Donald Kemp Ross was an American public interest lawyer. Ross proposed the model of Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGS) with Ralph Nader. Ross became the first director of the NYPIRG. He helped to found the Albany law firm of Malkin & Ross, and its associated advocacy organization M+R Strategic Services. He has served on the board of directors of environmental organizations.

The consumer movement is an effort to promote consumer protection through an organized social movement, which is in many places led by consumer organizations. It advocates for the rights of consumers, especially when those rights are actively breached by the actions of corporations, governments, and other organizations that provide products and services to consumers. Consumer movements also commonly advocate for increased health and safety standards, honest information about products in advertising, and consumer representation in political bodies.

Illinois Public Interest Research Group is a non-profit organization that is part of the state PIRG organizations. It works on a variety of political activities, including childhood obesity, reducing the interest on student loans, and closing tax loopholes.

Ohio Public Interest Research Group is a non-profit organization that is part of the state PIRG organizations. It works on a variety of political activities.

Public Interest Research Group in Michigan (PIRGIM) is a non-profit organization that is part of the state PIRG organizations.

Ontario Public Interest Research Group is a decentralized network of local Public Interest Research Groups located in the province of Ontario, Canada.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "S0436 Missouri Public Interest Research Group (Moprig), Records, 1971-1981" (PDF). Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  2. ↑ Nader, Ralph; Donald Ross (1972). Action for a Change: A Student's Manual for Public Interest Organizing . New York: Grossman Publishers.
  3. ↑ "PIRG Backs "Bottle Bill"". Boston College . Retrieved 2013-08-23.
  4. ↑ "Bottle Bill Beverage Containers Recycling Program". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-23.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.