The Oregon State Public Interest Research Group Foundation (OSPIRG Foundation) is the left-of-center research arm of the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG), a left-of-center advocacy organization. It is the Oregon state affiliate of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US-PIRG). The Foundation conducts research on the left-of-center healthcare and tax policies for which OSPIRG advocates. ^{1 2}

Background

The Oregon State Public Interest Research Group Foundation is a member of the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. ³ State and local chapters of the U.S. PIRG began in 1970, with about 400 organizers, policy analysts, scientists, and lawyers in 47 states. ³

The OSPIRG Foundation engages in research and public education campaigns supporting the Public Interest Network’s left-of-center special interest goals. The Foundation also says it promotes “good government,” investigates problems, and promotes “media exposés.” ³

Advocacy

In 2016, the state government of Oregon used federal grant money to pay the OSPIRG Foundation to analyze proposed health insurance rate increases for the state. The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services followed the Foundation’s analysis on a proposed 22.1% rate hike by Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield on individual plans, instead allowing only a 12.8% rate increase. ⁴

In 2018, the OSPIRG Foundation teamed with the Frontier Group, a left-of-center nonprofit think tank based in Santa Barbara, California. The organizations issued a report which claimed that more price transparency in healthcare would result in health care savings. ¹

The OSPIRG Foundation issued a 2019 report which claimed that Oregon lost $175 million per year in tax revenue from companies using offshore tax havens in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and other areas. ²

Leadership

Charlie Fisher is the state director of the OSPIRG Foundation. He previously worked in advocacy for Environment Oregon, an affiliate of the left-of-center Environment America. ⁵

Ed Mierzwinski is the senior director of the federal consumer program of the OSPIRG Foundation. He is the co-founder of Americans for Financial Reform, a left-of-center coalition of organizations seeking to impose stricter regulations on the financial industry. ⁶

Patricia Kelmar is the director of health care campaigns for the OSPIRG Foundation. She previously was the senior director of the National Consumers League, a left-of-center advocacy organization. Kelmar was also a former senior policy advisor at New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute and was a consumer advocate at the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG). ⁶

1. Achen, Paris. “Report: Knowing prices could slash health care spending.” Portland Tribune. March 20 2018. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/390015
2. Botkin, Ben. “Tax advocates push for Oregon to close offshore corporate loophole.” Statesman Journal. January 17, 2019. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/17/oregon-corporate-tax-loophole-offshore-companies-legislature/2605630002/
3. About. OSPIRG Foundation. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://ospirgfoundation.org/page/orf/about-ospirg-foundation-0
4. Marquand, Barbara. “Does Your State Even Care What You Pay for Health Insurance?” Fox Business. January 12, 2016. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/does-your-state-even-care-what-you-pay-for-health-insurance
5. Charlie Fisher. OSPIRG Foundation. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://ospirgfoundation.org/staff/usp/charlie-fisher
6. Staff. OSPIRIG Foundation. Accessed May 21, 2021. https://ospirgfoundation.org/staff