About NCPIRG
North Carolina Public Interest Research Group (NCPIRG) is
a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and advocacy group dedicated to
consumer rights, public health, and good government.
Chemical Safety
The Apex explosion was a powerful reminder that, even 5 years
after 9/11, we’ve done too little to make our chemical facilities
safer. North Carolina must take steps to prevent future accidents and
to provide necessary information to first responders and local
residents. NCPIRG:
- Supports H36, S190, Hazardous Waste Task Force Recommendations. This legislation provides firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and local residents with information about what chemicals are stored in hazardous waste plants and what the potential dangers are.
Preventing Secondhand Smoke
The science is clear: secondhand smoke kills over 50,000
American non-smokers each year. No one in North Carolina should be
forced to inhale dangerous tobacco smoke as a condition of employment.
NCPIRG:
- Supports H24, Smoking in State Government Buildings / Prohibition, legislation that bans smoking in all government buildings.
- Supports H347, S124, Local Government Regulation of Smoking, which would allow counties and cities to restrict smoking in public places.
- Supports S635, Prohibit Smoking / Public Places, which bans smoking in all North Carolina workplaces.
Protecting Ratepayers
Utility companies like PSNC, Piedmont Natural Gas, Progress
Energy and Duke Power are working to force consumers to pay more for
less energy. NCPIRG:
- Opposes legislation that will
allow utilities to force consumers to finance “construction works in
progress,” which may never yield any energy.
- Opposes
legislation that will enable utilities to recover interest from
ratepayers on “construction works in progress” that are never
completed.
- Opposes
legislation that authorizes fuel cost riders for carbon, mercury, and
particulate matter allowances, as they take place outside of a rate
case and pass unknown costs directly to the consumer.
- Opposes HB 1086, Natural Gas Consumer Tracking rate, legislation that enables natural gas companies to raise residential customers’ rates when they conserve more energy than anticipated.
Corporate Accountability
North Carolina needs a fair playing field for local businesses
to promote economic growth. Tax avoidance practices by large
corporations put small businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
NCPIRG:
- Supports H462, S244, Modernize Corporate Income Tax Filing,
which implements mandatory combined reporting for corporate income
taxes. Combined reporting prevents large corporations from hiding
revenue in states without corporate income taxes.
- Supports H1791, Notice/Clawbacks for Local Incentives,
legislation that provides for disclosure of financial incentives given
to companies for economic development and that permits localities to
recoup money when companies fail to create keep their end of the deal.
- Supports H1663, Confidentiality Agreements Void, which would prohibit localities and companies from entering into agreements that would keep secret the amount of subsidies and tax breaks given to companies in exchange for promised benefits to the community.
Reinvigorating Democracy
Too often special interest donors determine who runs for
office, who wins, and how elected officials vote. This discourages
voters and leads to low turn-out on election-day. NCPIRG:
- Supports S1205 and H1517, which
will establish a clean elections system for Council of State
candidates. Under the system, candidates can qualify for a publicly
funded pool of money if they demonstrate a prescribed level of public
support.
- Supports S1261, Legislative Campaigns Pilot , which creates a pilot program for legislative clean elections.
- Supports H91 and S195, Registration and Voting at One-Stop Sites, which allow voters to vote and register at the same time at early-voting sites.
- Supports H1645, S760, National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, legislation that will ensure all of North Carolina’s electoral votes go to the winner of the popular vote.
Expanding Access to Health Care
Too many North Carolinians struggle to find quality,
affordable health care. 1.4 million of us are uninsured, including over
100,000 children. NCPIRG:
- Supports H1476, Health Insurance for All Children, legislation that will make health insurance affordable for all children in North Carolina.
- Supports H265, Establish High-Risk Pool, which creates a high-risk health pool to cover North Carolinians unable to obtain insurance due to serious medical conditions.
Reliable, Affordable Energy
As a state, we rely too much on expensive and unstable sources
of energy. By increasing efficiency and using alternative sources of
energy, we can stabilize our energy markets, create local jobs, and
keep prices down. NCPIRG:
- Supports S668, H1075, Energy Conservation in State Buildings, legislation that will require all new government buildings to meet LEED efficiency standards.
- Supports H77, Promote Renewable Energy / Energy Efficiency, legislation that sets a goal of meeting 20% of our energy demand through efficiency and renewables by 2020.
Protecting Homebuyers
Too often, homebuilders and realtors fail to provide homebuyers with adequate information about their new homes. NCPIRG:
- Supports H1628, Coastal Hazards Disclosure, legislation that requires sellers of coastal homes to disclose potential storm damage risks to consumers.
- Supports S817, Residential Property Disclosures, which requires realtors to disclose the 100-year floodplain to potential buyers.
Hospital Safety
The CDC estimates that 90,000 people die nationwide every year
from infections acquired after admission into hospitals. While most
health care practitioners are responsible and capable, we still must
protect against the high number of hospital-acquired infections. NCPIRG:
- Supports H1738, Advisory Comm. / Hosp. Infection Incidence, legislation that creates a study commission with the purpose of requiring all hospitals in North Carolina to report publicly their annual number of hospital-acquired infections.