CALPIRG’s $5 fee empowers students in capitol politics

In the Nov. 12 Daily Bruin, Garin Hovannisian expressed a
distorted view of the Public Interest Research Group (the PIRGs) as
a “radical movement toward totalitarianism.”

Although we like to think that we get a lot accomplished, we
still believe Hovannisian, in his enthusiasm, has slightly
overstated the California Public Interest Research Group’s
goals.

For a little background, the PIRGs, including CALPIRG, are
state-based organizations that work for the public interest. For
example, most people want clean air, safe drinking water and an
affordable college education. Unfortunately, the interests and
profits of special interests tend to directly conflict with what
the public wants.

This happened on Nov. 13, when engine manufactures’
lobbying efforts paid off with an amendment to the Clean Air Act,
which forbids California from setting tougher pollution regulations
on small engines. Although a recent survey cited by The Los Angeles
Times shows Californians overwhelmingly support clean air efforts,
special interests were able to push their agenda through. When
conflicts of interest such as this occur, the PIRGs come into
play.

To return to Hovannisian’s article, he made several
inaccurate statements about the PIRGs that need correction. First,
he quotes Fox News as saying the PIRGs are “sponsored,
endorsed and overseen by Ralph Nader.”

Although we know Fox News is a “fair and balanced”
news source, unfortunately they got this one wrong. The PIRGs have
had no affiliation with Ralph Nader since 1980. Instead, students
sponsor, endorse and oversee the PIRG campus chapters.

Second, the CALPIRG is not “one of many state offices of
U.S. PIRG.” In fact, it is exactly the opposite. CALPIRG
students tell U.S. PIRG what to do, not the ¬other way
around.

Students from UCLA and other UC schools decide how our money is
spent and what issues we address. U.S. PIRG is an organization
designed to give students power at the federal level, even while
they are thousands of miles away from Washington, D.C.

Hovannisian didn’t get everything wrong, though. We do
hire advocates to pass legislation that protects the environment,
defends consumers, fights against homelessness, and promotes a
better democracy. However, we are a little confused about his
problem with students hiring advocates. Students need a voice in
government.

There are big problems out there. Our air is dirty, our water is
polluted and students can’t afford to go to college. Students
can and should speak out about these problems. That’s why we
collect thousands of public comments from students, raise tens of
thousands of dollars for the homeless and pull out several tons of
garbage from our waterways.

Unfortunately, the decisions that address these problems are
generally made in places like Sacramento, Washington, D.C., and the
courts. So, only doing a letter-writing drive on campus, or doing a
beach cleanup, or getting the local paper to do a story on an issue
won’t really change the minds of decision makers. The bottom
line is that public policy is made through both grassroots support
and direct advocacy.

CALPIRG bridges this obstacle. Through CALPIRG, students on
different campuses pool their resources and hire a staff of
professionals ““ lawyers, scientists, issue experts ““ to
work directly in places like Sacramento and D.C. The agenda of
these experts is directly controlled by a board of UC students.

This combination of grassroots and direct advocacy works. For
example, in the past five years CALPIRG has worked to:

“¢bull; Lead the effort to win 20 percent renewable energy for
California.

“¢bull; Push for a ban on ATM surcharges in San Francisco and
Santa Monica.

“¢bull; Establish the California Clean Water Enforcement Act,
making our tap water safe to drink.

“¢bull; Help to secure $1.7 billion in federal financial aid,
saving the typical student borrower $700.

“¢bull; Help preserve our Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from
oil drilling.

CALPIRG went up against PG&E, SoCal Edison, Wells Fargo and
other multi-billion dollar corporations that spend millions to
affect public policy. It’s amazing we were able to do this
with your five-dollar-per-quarter pledge. It’s also amazing
that this effort is directed, organized and funded by students.

So, to the 2,038 students that pledged CALPIRG in week 6 and to
the 6,700 that have already pledged at UCLA, I would like to say
thanks for the support. For the price of a smoothie, you are having
your voice heard in California. Thanks.

Thornton is the CALPIRG State Board Chair and a third-year
history student at UCLA.