CoPIRG ANNUAL REPORT - The Public Interest Network

COLORADO PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP & THE COPIRG FOUNDATION
Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2005
From The Director
On the cover: CoPIRG works in the
Statehouse (left) to uncover threats
to consumers and democracy. Rex
Wilmouth, state director, works with
the media (right) to educate the
public. Also pictured, a New Voters
Project team.
In 2005, we faced a tough political climate in Colorado. But Iʼm
proud to report that CoPIRGʼs staff, members and volunteers
stayed the course. Better yet, we succeeded. We engaged young
voters in the November election, passed laws to help with the cost
of health care, and helped prevent identity theft.
CoPIRGʼs New Voters Project built a wide-ranging, bipartisan
coalition of businesses, nonprofits and elected officials in support
of our work to register 18- to 24 year-old voters. By the projectʼs
end, CoPIRG had registered 72,000 young voters.
Last November, CoPIRGʼs Ben Davis worked with Citizens for a
Healthier Colorado to build support for Amendment 35. Amendment 35 passed with more than 60 percent voter support, raising
the price of tobacco products by 64 cents per pack.
In early June, Gov. Owens signed CoPIRG-backed legislation
that allows Coloradans to freeze their credit reports. Once frozen,
accounts cannot be opened in the consumerʼs name, preventing
identity theft.
Weʼre proud of these accomplishments, and the other efforts
youʼve supported. But as youʼll see, we have a lot of work to do
in 2006 and beyond. With your continued support, CoPIRG staff
will continue to defend our hard-won health care and consumer
protections, and look for opportunities to win new public interest
reforms in the future.
CoPIRG ANNUAL REPORT
New Voters Project
Youth voting in this country has declined over the past two decades—which is bad news for a democracy. In 2000, only 36 percent
of the eligible population between the ages of 18 and 24 voted in
national elections.
Thatʼs why the state PIRGs, with support from the Pew Charitable
Trusts, sponsored the largest youth-voter mobilization campaign in
history—the New Voters Project.
New Coalitions For Young People
Over the past year, CoPIRGʼs New Voters Project built a wideranging, bipartisan coalition of businesses, nonprofits and elected
officials in support of our work to register 18- to 24 year-old voters.
By the projectʼs end, CoPIRG had registered 72,000 young voters.
Supporters included Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Secretary
of State Donetta Davidson, former Colorado House Speaker Lola
Spradley and State Senator Joan Fitz-Gerald.
Nearly 100 local businesses participated in voter registration events,
including Wells Fargo, which ran a registration program in all 140
of their branch offices.
CoPIRG’s Strategy For Youth Voting
By demonstrating that, with the right approach, new young voters
will become involved in democracy, the New Voters Project encourages politicians to address the issues that affect young people in
elections. More importantly, these new voters are likely to continue
to vote, in election after election, strengthening Americaʼs democracy. Research shows that people who start voting at a young age
will continue to vote throughout their lives.
“The strength of a democracy is measured by the participation of
its citizens, especially its younger citizens,” said the New Voters
Projectʼs Ivan Frishberg. “Our country will be better off when young
people develop the habits of voting and engaged citizenship.”
New Voters Project
CoPIRG and state PIRG staff
across the country registered
to vote and turned out young
people to the 2004 elections.
“CoPIRG’s nonpartisan New
Voters Project goes a step beyond just getting young people
registered—they encourage new
voters to learn about the issues
facing their communities. Most
importantly, it’s a program that
has been successful in getting
young adults to vote! I look forward to working with new voters
to train and educate them about
the voting process.”
—Donetta Davidson
former Colorado
secretary of state
Donetta Davidson, the former
Colorado secretary of state (left)
and CoPIRGʼs Ben Prochazka at a
New Voters Project event.
Tobacco Tax Increases Revenue
In November, CoPIRG worked with Citizens for a Healthier Colorado, a group of public health and consumer advocates including
Colorado Childrenʼs Campaign, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association
and the American Heart Association. The coalition built support for
Amendment 35, a tobacco tax increase to fund health care.
TOUGH ON TOBACCO—CoPIRGʼs
Benjamin Davis appeared on Denver
Channel 8 this past fall to discuss
the Amendment 35 tobacco tax
revenues and how they should best be
appropriated in the public interest.
Resounding Victory For Public Health
Amendment 35 passed with more than 60 percent of the vote. The
amendment increased the price of tobacco by 64 cents per pack.
Previously Colorado had the lowest tobacco tax of any state. Despite costing Coloradans $1.02 billion in health care costs annually,
tobacco products were exempt from state sales tax.
The additional revenue generated will be dedicated to tobacco cessation and education programs, community health clinics, cancer
prevention programs and the expansion of state-funded programs
like Medicaid and the Child Health Plan.
“Amendment 35 is a step forward on a number of fronts,” said
CoPIRGʼs Benjamin Davis. “Finally, weʼre appropriately taxing
tobacco products, which cost our state over a billion dollars in
health care costs each year.”
CoPIRG’s Advocacy Makes A Healthier Colorado
In addition to funding health care programs, Amendment 35 should
discourage youth tobacco use. In a national survey, 90 percent of
smokers admitted to starting before turning 18. In Colorado, one
out of every four teenagers smokes cigarettes.
During the last three years, the 30 states that increased their tobacco
tax saw a dramatic decline in the number of children that started
smoking. When Louisiana increased its tax, youth smoking rates
decreased by 8.3 percent the following year, which means that
35,000 fewer kids picked up a lifelong habit. Here in Colorado,
Amendment 35ʼs passage should result in a 14 percent decline in
youth smoking next year.
CoPIRG ANNUAL REPORT
Guarding Against Identity Theft
In early June, Gov. Owens signed CoPIRG-backed legislation that
will allow Coloradans to freeze their credit reports. Putting a freeze
on your credit report means that nobody but you can open new accounts or access financial information. Credit freeze legislation is
the best way to leave identity thieves out in the cold, and protect
your personal information.
Identity Theft A Growing Problem In Colorado
According to the attorney generalʼs office, identity theft was the
number one consumer crime in Colorado in 2004. The Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) has called it the fastest-growing crime
in the country. During the past three years, the number of Colorado
consumers who filed identity theft complaints increased by more
than 65 percent.
Personal information is a valuable commodity. Social Security
numbers, medical records and consumer buying patterns are often
bought, sold or traded among banks, credit card companies, supermarkets, biotech companies and insurance companies.
Freeze Laws Stop Identity Theft Before It’s Too Late
Victims often are unaware of the crime until months after it has
occurred, making it difficult for law enforcement to find the perpetrator. When a thief bought a houseboat in Zach Freisenʼs name,
his financial record was ruined. Zach was only 14 years old when
his identity was stolen and he did not find out until he went to apply for a part-time job at the local Radio Shack when he was 16. It
took Zach more than 200 hours with the help of an attorney over
the course of two years to clear his credit report. He continues to
see false data on his credit report.
“Consumers should have the right to control, access, correct and
consent to the use of their personal information,” said Rex Wilmouth, CoPIRG state director. “Allowing Coloradans to freeze access
to their credit reports is the single greatest protection against identity
theft and loss of privacy.”
Identity Theft
In 2005, CoPIRG passed a law
that will help prevent identity
theft for Colorado consumers.
The fastest growing crime in the
nation, identiy theft is one of
CoPIRG’s priorities.
“It is always a pleasure to work
with CoPIRG representatives.
They are on top of the issues, I
can trust their opinions and the
facts they cite, and they are always well prepared to represent
the people of Colorado.”
—Dan Grossman
Colorado State Senator
Colorado State Senator Dan
Grossman (above) worked closely
with CoPIRG on strong laws to
protect Colorado consumers from
identity theft.
CoPIRG Supporters
CoPIRG Staff (partial list)
CoPIRG and the CoPIRG Foundation
Rex Wilmouth
State Director
PIRG staff since
1996
Elena Nuñez
Administrative
Director
PIRG staff since
2000
Rachel Liston
Campus Organizer
PIRG staff since
2005
Ed Mierzwinski
National Consumer
Program Director
PIRG staff since
1977
Citizen support is the cornerstone of CoPIRG and the CoPIRG
Foundation. Thousands of Coloradans supported CoPIRG by making
membership contributions during fiscal year 2005. The members
listed below were particularly generous in backing the organization’s
research and advocacy. Names that appear in italics denote CoPIRG
Public Interest Partners. These members provide stability to the
organization’s resources through our monthly giving program.
Development Committee
members supported CoPIRG with
contributions of $500 or more in
fiscal year 2005, or are Public
Interest Partners giving $40 or
more each month.
Sarah Brooks
Tillman Farley
Dennis OʼHearn
Douglas H. Phelps
Karen Raucher
Sheree Seabury
Jessica Sullivan
Financial
Information
CoPIRG and the CoPIRG
Foundation used their
resources in the following
way during fiscal year
2005.
Sponsors supported CoPIRG
with contributions of $250 to
$350, or are Public Interest
Partners giving $20 or more
each month.
Patrons supported CoPIRG with
contributions of $350 to $500
or are Public Interest Partners
giving $30 or more each month.
Peggy Choate
Bill Crabtree
S. Brooks Crosby
Yvonne Dodd-Bensen
FY05 Expenses
Program 75%
Fundraising 15%
Administrative 10%
CoPIRG ANNUAL REPORT
Peter Gilman
Suzy Hein
Patrick Hosokawa
Kelly Kanizay
Elizabeth Klemme
Jeffery Smith
Joyce & Chris Smith
Kathryn Symmes
Donna Almon
Elsie Armstrong
Joan Bancroft
Bill Bangs III
Peter Batty
Sue Bell
Joyce Benedict
Rick Bradeen
Laura Brown
FY05 Income
Citizen Contributions 71%
Student Chapter 14%
Other 10%
Foundation Grants 5%
Foundations
Chris Bryson
Alison Buckett
Eliza Carney
Mollie Carson
Kelly Cherry
Jane Cohen
Carroll Collins
Steve Cornwell
Donald Daine
Brian Daniell
David Devitt
Mallory Dimmitti
Heather Dixon
Chris Doran
Doug Douglass
John Evans
Kevin Farwell
Phyllis Ferguson
Pam Flowers
Walt & Paige
Garnett
Harvey Gaylord
Patty Gilbert
Sarah Gilbert
Herman Goellnitz
Rhondda Grant
E. M. Griffin
Ginny Haberman
Rene Hamer
Timothy Hart
Sandra Horner
James Howald
Stephanie Huss
Shelley Hyde
Paula Ison
Heather Jensen
Derek D. Johnson
Dianne Johnson
Dan Joseph
Ross Kahn
Nancy Kearney
Kathy Rinehart &
Kenneth Rutsch
Terri Kinnard
Alison Kinney
Robert Lenk
Rhoda Levy
Steven Lovaas
Donna Lovett
Mike Macki
Cheri Mallory
Scott Mc Nall
George Messina
Larilyn Meyer
Andrig Miller
Jim Miller
Michelle Miller
Bruce Morgan
Laura Muller
Marjory Musgrave
David Nellis
Maureen Neuroth
Mr. & Mrs. Niemand
Sean Norton
Curt Palin
Alita Pirkopf
Bernie Pruss
Mary Ramke
Wynne Reynolds
Alfred Roberts
Zelda Rouillard
Barbara Sanford
Kathleen Schuster
Kim Shankle
Peter Shoebridge
Marcia Siebring
Addie Mae Smith
Cathy Sorensen
Dorothy Sourwine
David F. Stark
Carol Tarr
Lisa Turner
Ron Vigil
Karen Volkert
Pam Warrem
Gary West
Gerald White
Marianne Winkler
FY05 Program Expenses Breakdown
Prescription drugs 34%
Tobacco 30%
Identify theft 25%
Corporate accountability and other 11%
Colorado Public Interest Research Foundation (CoPIRG
Foundation), a 501(c)(3) organization, conducts research and
public education on emerging
public interest issues. Contributions to CoPIRG Foundation are
tax-deductible. The following
foundations and organizations
have given their support to the
CoPIRG Foundation:
• The Denver Foundation
• Consumer Federation of
America Foundation
• Gay & Lesbian Fund of
Colorado
• Bunny & John Steel
Planned Giving
Members who include CoPIRG
in their wills leave a legacy of
activism that will protect public
health and defend the rights
of consumers for decades to
come. For more information
about including CoPIRG in your
estate and major giving plans,
call (800) 841-7299 or e-mail
[email protected].
Staff photos: Jan Pelton. All other photos taken by PIRG
staff except as noted: Cover (top), Scott Heinley; p.3
Denver Channel 8; p.4 Colorado General Assembly.
Design by Public Interest GRFX (215) 985-1113; Printed
on recycled paper.
www.copirg.org
[email protected]
CoPIRG
1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 100
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 573-7474 (ph)
Student Chapters
University of Colorado
• Boulder
• Denver
CoPIRG
1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 100
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 573-7474 (ph)
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