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Our team of researchers uncover the facts; our staff bring our findings to the public, through the media as well as one-on-one interactions; and our advocates are bringing the voice of the public to the halls of power on behalf of consumers.

An Independent Voice for Consumers

CoPIRG, Colorado Public Interest Research Group, is a consumer group that stands up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security or our right to fully participate in our democratic society.

For decades, we’ve stood up for consumers, countering the influence of big banks, insurers, chemical manufacturers and other powerful special interests.

OUR TOP PRIORITIES

Using the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposés, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation, CoPIRG stands up to powerful interests and delivers concrete results. 


 

STOP SUBSIDIZING OBESITY

For years, Colorado's schoolchildren ate foods that would have been rejected by fast food chains. Thanks in part to our advocacy, the USDA has set stronger standards for school lunches. >LEARN MORE


 

ENERGY EFFICIENT COLORADO

By championing and winning a landmark energy efficiency law, we have helped Coloradans save more than $600 million on their energy bills. >LEARN MORE
 

RECLAIMING OUR DEMOCRACY

CoPIRG's statewide coalition collected 177,000 signatures for Amendment 65, to put Colorado on record against unlimited campaign spending by Super PACs and mega-donors. >LEARN MORE
 

 

MAKING HEALTH CARE WORK BETTER

We won a bill that created the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange, which will increase competition and give consumers and small businesses more choices for affordable health insurance. >LEARN MORE
 


 

When consumers are cheated or the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out by special interest lobbyists, CoPIRG, the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, speaks up and takes action. We uncover threats to public health and wellbeing and fight to end them, using the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposés, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation. CoPIRG’s mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented public interest activism that protects consumers, encourages a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic government.

CoPIRG And The Federation Of State Public Interest Research Groups


CoPIRG is an independent, state-based, citizen-funded organization that advocates for the public interest and is a member of U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups.

 

Since 1970, state PIRGs have delivered results-oriented citizen activism, stood up to powerful special interests, and used the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposés, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation to win real results on issues that matter.

 

Across the country, state PIRGs employ close to 400 organizers, policy analysts, scientists and attorneys, and are active in 47 states, with a federal lobby office in Washington, D.C. On national issues that impact Coloradans, we also coordinate our efforts, pool resources, and share expertise so that we can have the biggest impact — here in Colorado and for the country at large.

CoPIRG Staff — A Partial List

CoPIRG is an advocate for the public interest. When consumers are cheated, or the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out by special interest lobbyists, CoPIRG speaks up and takes action. We uncover threats to public health and well-being and fight for the public interest.

 

 

DANNY KATZ

State Director

(303) 573-7474

>CONTACT
>BIO

 

 

KEELIN KELLY

Health and Energy Associate

(303) 573-7474

>CONTACT
>BIO

 

 

KIM STEVENS

Energy Service Corps Director

(303) 573-7474

>CONTACT
>BIO
 

 

 

What's New

Media Hit | Health Care

Colorado health insurance exchange seeks another $125 million to implement Obamacare

Of the $125 million more wanted by staff of the exchange, which is called Connect for Health Colorado, $14 million would be earmarked for outreach. The organization estimates that 90 percent of Coloradans don’t know about the exchange, what it does or how to use it.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Transportation

Group pushes for details on high speed rail from Colorado Springs to Denver

Imagine a 35-minute trip to downtown Denver from downtown Colorado Springs on a train that hits a top speed of 250 mph. The landscape blurs by. The coffee is piping. And gas prices are not a bother. It's an image that - at least conceptually - Colorado Springs residents like.

Colorado Public Interest Research Group wants to take that message to the Colorado Department of Transportation and Gov. John Hickenlooper.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Transportation

CoPIRG Study Shows Coloradans Driving Less

According to a new study released by the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, the number of miles being driven by Americans is on the decline for the eighth year in a row.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Transportation

Younger generation shifts away from automobile transportation

The youngest generation of drivers is pulling Americans away from cars and into a different future of transportation, according to a recent nationwide study.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Transportation

Young Americans Lead Trend to Less Driving

For six decades, Americans have tended to drive more every year. But in the middle of the last decade, the number of miles driven — both over all and per capita — began to drop, notes a report to be published on Tuesday by U.S. Pirg, a nonprofit advocacy organization.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Media Hit | Health Care

Colorado health insurance exchange seeks another $125 million to implement Obamacare

Of the $125 million more wanted by staff of the exchange, which is called Connect for Health Colorado, $14 million would be earmarked for outreach. The organization estimates that 90 percent of Coloradans don’t know about the exchange, what it does or how to use it.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Transportation

Group pushes for details on high speed rail from Colorado Springs to Denver

Imagine a 35-minute trip to downtown Denver from downtown Colorado Springs on a train that hits a top speed of 250 mph. The landscape blurs by. The coffee is piping. And gas prices are not a bother. It's an image that - at least conceptually - Colorado Springs residents like.

Colorado Public Interest Research Group wants to take that message to the Colorado Department of Transportation and Gov. John Hickenlooper.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Transportation

CoPIRG Study Shows Coloradans Driving Less

According to a new study released by the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, the number of miles being driven by Americans is on the decline for the eighth year in a row.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Transportation

Younger generation shifts away from automobile transportation

The youngest generation of drivers is pulling Americans away from cars and into a different future of transportation, according to a recent nationwide study.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Transportation

Young Americans Lead Trend to Less Driving

For six decades, Americans have tended to drive more every year. But in the middle of the last decade, the number of miles driven — both over all and per capita — began to drop, notes a report to be published on Tuesday by U.S. Pirg, a nonprofit advocacy organization.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Result

Energy Savings: 5 Years Later, Efficiency Policy Saves 800 Million Kwh

5 years after the landmark CoPIRG-backed energy efficiency bill passed the General Assembly, Coloradans have seen 800 million kwh of energy saved per year.

> Keep Reading
Result | Financial Reform

President Appoints "America's Consumer Watchdog"

CoPIRG applauds President Obama for standing up for consumers by making a recess appointment of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

> Keep Reading
Result | Health Care

656 Participate in Forums about CO Health Benefit Exchange

656 Coloradans participated in CoPIRG-oragnized forums designed to raise the voice of Coloradans around the design and implementation of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange. 

> Keep Reading
Result | Public Health

KIDS’ SCHOOL LUNCHES NOW SAFER

For years, America’s schoolchildren have been eating beef, chicken and other foods that would have been rejected as substandard even by fast food chains. Thanks in part to our advocacy, the U.S.D.A. has stopped buying such low-quality meat for school lunches.

> Keep Reading
Result | Consumer Protection

Keeping Families Safe From Dangerous Products

Companies that  violate product safety laws will face stiff fines and penalties,

> Keep Reading

Pages

Report | CoPIRG | Transportation

New Direction

The Driving Boom—a six decade-long period of steady increases in per-capita driving in the United States—is over. This report reveals why and what the implications are.

> Keep Reading
Report | CoPIRG | Tax

Picking up the Tab

A new study which reveals that the average Colorado taxpayer in 2012 would have to shoulder an extra $1,183 in taxes to make up for the revenue lost due to the use of offshore tax havens by corporations and wealthy individuals and the average Colorado small business would need to shoulder $2,957

> Keep Reading
Report | CoPIRG Foundation | Budget

Following the Money 2013

Every year, state governments spend tens of billions of dollars through contracts with private entities for goods and services, subsidies to encourage economic development, grants, and other forms of spending. Accountability and public scrutiny are necessary to ensure that state funds are well spent.

> Keep Reading
Report | CoPIRG Foundation | Budget, Tax

The Hidden Cost of Offshore Tax Havens

In 2011, Colorado lost approximately $504 million in tax revenues from corporations and wealthy individuals who sheltered money in foreign tax havens. Multinational corporations account for more than $310 million of the lost tax revenue, and wealthy individuals account for the rest.

> Keep Reading
Report | CoPIRG Foundation | Budget, Tax

The Hidden Cost of Offshore Tax Havens

In 2011, Colorado lost approximately $504 million in tax revenues from corporations and wealthy individuals who sheltered money in foreign tax havens. Multinational corporations account for more than $310 million of the lost tax revenue, and wealthy individuals account for the rest.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Blog Post | Health Care

Here’s that Rx refill you didn’t order | Danny Katz

 

Is your pharmacy refilling your prescription without your knowledge or approval, and billing your insurance company for the cost?

> Keep Reading

Tools & Resources

Take Action

In 20 years, Colorado highways will be packed with a million more cars. Tell Governor Hickenlooper: Bring high-speed rail to Colorado.

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