Building A 21st Century Transportation System
America will begin investing in a new generation of high-speed rail—including potential rail service between Madison and Milwaukee—thanks to a WISPIRG-backed law that authorizes $13 billion for advanced intercity rail over the next five years. The bill is an important first step toward public transit and away from wasteful new highway projects.

Making State Government More Transparent
Taxpayers deserve to know where their money is being spent. In 2008, WISPIRG helped pass a bill that requires the state to disclose information about subsidies it provides for economic development. The information will also be available online.

Holding Elected Officials To Higher Ethical Standards
In 2007, WISPIRG helped to pass a sweeping ethics reform bill. The new legislation creates an independent, nonpartisan ethics board to make sure that our elected officials obey Wisconsin’s ethics code and campaign finance laws—and hold them accountable if they don’t.

Keeping Our Families Safe From Dangerous Products
Corporations that violate our product safety laws will face stiff fines and penalties, and hazardous products will be removed from store shelves more quickly, under a landmark law championed by WISPIRG in 2008. Our members and staff helped overcome the last-minute opposition of the chemical industry.

Holding Drugmakers Accountable For Safety
The FDA reform bill adopted by Congress in 2007 included WISPIRG-backed provisions that will force drug companies to post all clinical trial results, good and bad—an antidote to such notorious cases as Vioxx, Paxil and Avandia. The law also increases penalties for drug companies that rush unsafe drugs to market.

Promoting Young Voter Participation
In the 2008 presidential election, 3.4 million more 18- to 29-year-olds voted than in 2004, resulting in the largest number of young voters on record. Organizers from WISPIRG Students’ New Voters Project did their part by contacting more than 40,000 young Wisconsinites before the election to remind them to vote.  

Protecting Wisconsinites From Identity Thieves
A WISPIRG-backed bill that gives consumers the ability to freeze their credit reports was signed into law in 2006. The law will allow consumers to lock out identity thieves and protect themselves against fraud.  

Standing Up For Students, Not Lenders
We helped pass the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which will give billions of dollars in additional aid to students through the Pell Grant program. The bill is funded by reducing wasteful lender subsidies.