Can a soda tax create a healthier America? – National Consumers League

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kelsey As the obesity rate in Mexico rises, lawmakers have taken action in the form of a tax on sweet drinks and some unhealthy packaged foods.  This action in Mexico might ultimately lead to similar laws in the United States and other parts of the world.  Similar measures are being passed in many South American counties such as Chile, Ecuador, and Peru all of which are promoting healthier eating through law making.  

Ecuador even banned industrial food makers from using images of celebrities, cartoons, or animal characters on foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt and Chile banned toys in fast food meals.

The 8% tax on packaged foods and one peso (about 8 cents) per liter tax on sweet drinks was not passed without criticism.  Food companies argued that snack food is a staple for the poor and that their companies played a large role as contributors to economic growth.  Taxing unhealthy foods raises their cost to competitive monetary levels with their healthier counterparts, causing difficult economic effects on the poorest citizens who may not be able to afford either.  Soda and junk food taxes also earn these foods a “forbidden fruit” reputation which could have negative outcomes, especially in children.

California State Senator Bill Monning proposed a one cent per ounce “soda tax” that a University of California, San Francisco study found would save between $320 million and $620 million in medical costs associated with diabetes.  San Francisco may also move ahead with its own city wide soda tax of two cents per ounce.  It isn’t just California that’s pushing for these taxes either.   Telluride, Colorado and New York City are among the many cities that have proposed their own soda tax.

As junk food taxes are becoming an increasingly popular idea we need to keep in mind the best means of implementation.  Raising taxes alone addresses one area of the obesity issue.  A multifaceted approach that targets junk foods and seeks to make healthy foods more desirable would produce lasting effects. If vegetables and potato chips are similarly priced, we need to make the vegetables are marketed in a way that is more attractive.  Focusing on reducing advertising of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt and targeted toward children while simultaneously initiating campaigns promoting healthy eating would a great starting place.

Consumer groups push for mandatory alcohol labeling – National Consumers League

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January 13, 2014

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein, (202) 835-3323,  benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC—With the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) holding a public meeting this week to hear testimony and consider comments regarding changes to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines, consumer advocates are urging the committee to endorse mandatory alcohol labeling and to maintain the definition of a “standard” drink.

Every five years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) work collaboratively to release new Dietary Guidelines. Presently, no law exists requiring alcoholic beverages to have nutrition labels, although some alcoholic beverages, such as Guinness beer, voluntarily include nutrition labels. Current labeling requirements for alcoholic beverages are inadequate, leaving consumers guessing about the nutritional composition of their drinks.  Consumer groups have long advocated that the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the federal agency that regulates alcohol sales, require nutritional labels on all alcoholic beverages.

The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s pioneering consumer advocacy organization, in conjunction with the Consumer Federation of America (CFA),submitted comments urging the committee to endorse mandatory alcohol labeling and to maintain the definition of a standard drink as containing 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol. 

 “Alcoholic beverages are the only major source of calories in the American diet that are not required to be labeled with the basic information needed to follow the Dietary Guidelines,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s Executive Director. “The nutrition facts panel on other food and beverage products is a vital tool for consumers. Without nutrition facts panel on alcohol, consumers are left in the dark when trying to adhere to Dietary Guidelines. This is a significant lapse in the effort to fight obesity and a great disservice to America consumers.” 

The DGAC does not have the ability to mandate alcohol labeling, but it can do more to encourage TTB to require alcoholic beverage producers to provide complete nutrition facts panels on their products. NCL and CFA hope to work with USDA and HHS in their quest to provide consumers with information regarding calorie content, carbohydrates, protein, and fat on alcoholic beverage labels.  

To read the NCL/CFA comments, click here (PDF).

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit https://nclnet.org.

Cancelled policies, mandatory insurance, oh my! What consumers need to know about health care insurance – National Consumers League

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92_ayannaHealth care Marketplace exchanges went into effect on January 1. Since open enrollment began in October, 6 million+ people have enrolled for new coverage under the law. Enrollment is still ongoing, and if you sign up by January 15, coverage will be effective on February 1. Despite the good news, media attention to “Obamacare” has been mostly negative because of roll-out glitches with the site and health plan “cancellation letters.”

It is estimated that 4.7 million people have received cancellation notices, stating that their 2013 health insurance policies have been cancelled effective January 2014 because of Affordable Care Act (ACA) guidelines, according to a House Energy and Commerce Committee report. About half of those who received cancellation letters are now able to renew their prior coverage. As for the other half, the government estimates that roughly 10,000 will not have access to affordable coverage under ACA and will have to buy unsubsidized insurance on their own. The remainder, however, will be insured through expanded Medicaid, state or federal health exchanges, expanded age limits on parents’ plans for young adults under 26, or in purchasing a catastrophic coverage plan.

What hasn’t been covered in the media is the reason behind cancelling health insurance policies. These policies were cancelled because they do not meet minimum standards set up by the ACA for health insurance coverage. For example, prior to the ACA, it was legal for health insurance companies to exclude certain individuals from purchasing health insurance policies based on their preexisting conditions. Under the ACA, practices such as this are no longer legal. Additionally, all insurance policies must include certain “essential health benefits,” as defined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. An example of an essential health benefit that is mandatory under the ACA is the complete coverage of all childhood and adult vaccinations. If an insurance policy does not meet the ACA’s minimum requirements, it must be modified so that it complies with the ACA or it must be cancelled.

The Confusion— On multiple occasions, President Obama asserted that, under the ACA, all Americans would be allowed to keep their insurance policies, if they were happy with them. However, the ACA states that if you are signing up for or renewing an insurance policy that does not meet minimum standards, it either must be modified to meet these standards or must be cancelled. Unfortunately, President Obama’s statement was not broad enough, and did not take these minimum standards into account.

The Fix— Health insurance companies may now continue to provide plans that do not meet ACA guidelines for an additional year. This is left up to the discretion of the state and if a policy remains valid, insurance companies have the right to keep or discontinue these policies. If a health insurance company renews a policy that does not meet ACA minimum standards, it is required to specifically inform customers about how these plans do not meet ACA requirements and of alternative ways of getting health insurance, such as through the Health Insurance Marketplace where customers might be eligible for lower cost plans.

There are still a number of options for consumers to get coverage, in the event of a cancelled or modified policy. It is strongly recommended that if your policy has been cancelled you shop around for other health insurance policy options before choosing any particular policy. There have been reports of cancellation letters that urge customers to sign up for “comparable” policies at the same health insurance company that are often significantly more expensive. The smart thing to do is to look at your options before signing up for any policy.

If your insurance company cancels your plan, your options include:

  • Buy one of the plans that the company offers in its place. It must allow you to buy any of its other plans available to you.
  • Buy a new plan in the Marketplace. You may qualify for lower costs on monthly premiums and out of pocket costs based on your income. Visit the Health Insurance Marketplace. Use this online resource to find out if you qualify for lower cost private health insurance plans or inclusion within Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  If you are not qualified for these, the Health Insurance Marketplace is still a place to get insurance at a standard price.
  • Shop around for health insurance policies outside of the Health Insurance Marketplace.  This can be a good option if you don’t qualify for lower costs based on your income.
  • Buy a catastrophic plan. If your plan has been cancelled and you can’t afford a Marketplace plan to replace it, you can apply for a hardship exemption. This will allow you to buy a catastrophic plan. A catastrophic plan has lower premiums than a comprehensive plan but only provides coverage if you need a lot of care. This plan typically requires paying all your medical costs up to a certain point, which is usually several thousand dollars.

NCL issues top priorities for consumer, worker issues for 2014 – National Consumers League

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January 10, 2014

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC–As the National Consumers League (NCL) enters 2014 – its 115thyear – we remain dedicated to the mission of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For 2014, NCL has identified 10 priorities, not listed in order of preference, and all vitally important, that will help to shape its work, enabling NCL to fulfill its mission on behalf of consumers and workers.

1. Enact far more robust protections for consumer financial information from large-scale data breaches.

The Target and Snapchat data breaches have raised the profile of data security in public policy circles. NCL issued a White Paper in December 2013 calling for reforms to protect consumer information.

2. Help consumers be better informed about the minimal risks and tremendous benefits of vaccination.

A recent NCL survey found that consumers have many misconceptions regarding the effectiveness and health benefits of getting vaccinated. Many parents don’t vaccinate their children and don’t get vaccinated themselves, increasing the risks for all of us.

3. Move the federal bill to increase the minimum wage through the U.S. Senate and keep up pressure and activism across the states for higher state minimum wages.

The federal bill before Congress, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, would increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and result in a raise for 30 million Americans. Polls show that consumers, those identifying as both Republican and Democrat, overwhelmingly support increases in minimum wage, and 13 states have raised their state minimum wage in 2014. Momentum to give those at the bottom of the wage ladder is building.

4. Educate the next generation of consumers and workers to be savvy consumers who will resist scams and ripoffs, manage their finances responsibly, and make wise decisions as citizens and consumers.

Expand LifeSmarts, NCL’s national consumer education challenge for teens, to all 50 states. In 2013, participants from 42 states competed online and in live competition. Recruiting new coaches in states without programs and introducing LifeSmarts to new students through training camps will bring our goal of championship teams from every state competing in the national finals within reach.

5. Protect children from harvesting tobacco leaves. Workers who do absorb the equivalent of 36 cigarettes per day.

NCL, through its work with the Child Labor Coalition, which NCL founded, coordinates, and co-chairs, is calling for a ban on work by children on this dangerous crop. Kids are not permitted to buy cigarettes by law; why should they be allowed to absorb nicotine from working in tobacco fields, some as young as 12 years old?

6. Ban the use of unnecessary antibiotics in beef, poultry, and pork.

FDA’s guidelines issued late in 2013 recommend that antibiotics not be used to promote growth in livestock, because the practice is leading to more drug-resistant bacteria that can threaten both animals and humans. FDA guidelines should include more specific criteria for when veterinarians can prescribe antibiotics. Currently, farmers are able to use antibiotics as a means of disease prevention when the animals are not at serious risk for disease. This loophole should be closed to protect American consumers.

7. Pass a Farm Bill that preserves the Food Stamp program and requires country-of-origin labeling on food products.

Regrettably, cuts are likely for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as Food Stamps, when a new farm bill passes. The House version of the bill includes $39 billion in cuts over 10 years, while the Senate version would trim $3.9 billion from SNAP over the same period. To protect low-wage workers and those struggling to recover from the great recession, cuts to SNAP must be as minimal as possible.

In November 2013, rules went into effect (called country-of-origin labeling, or COOL) requiring meat producers to identify on labels the countries where livestock was born, raised, and slaughtered. The rules apply to certain cuts of beef, veal, chicken, pork, lamb, and goat sold in supermarkets. There are intense lobbying efforts from meatpackers seeking to remove the COOL rule when a farm bill is passed. Consumers deserve to have the COOL rule remain in place.

8. Ensure that the silica rule is finalized by the Department of Labor in 2014 and implemented quickly and effectively to reduce workers’ exposure to dangerous levels of dust that causes silicosis.

In 2013, the Obama Administration allowed the rule to move through the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the federal agency that conducts cost-benefit analysis, and now the rule is on its last step towards being finalized. NCL will testify in support of the rule before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. First proposed in 1997(!), the new rule has been stuck in bureaucratic purgatory for 17 years. Annually, 60 workers lose their lives because the rule has not yet been passed. Current silica dust standards date from 1971. Workers deserve this change!

9. Improve medication adherence in the United States.

Pass legislation on medication adherence that would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to create comprehensive measures of adherence for use by health care programs, test the effectiveness of specific interventions to improve adherence, and provide Medicare Part D plan enrollees and their health care providers a list of all their medications. Americans who take many prescriptions, especially older consumers, often struggle to take them as directed. To raise consumer awareness of the importance of proper adherence, NCL’s Script Your Future campaign is encouraging Americans to ask their healthcare professional questions about their medicines. Improving that conversation is a vital first step toward better adherence rates and health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.

10. Push for state and national legislation to address the lack of transparency and anti-consumer practices in the multi-billion-dollar live event ticketing market.

When buying tickets, consumers should have the opportunity to transfer paperless tickets to friends and family. NCL also supports legislation that outlaws ticket-buying “bot” software that can purchase huge quantities of high-demand tickets, preventing consumers from buying them at reasonable prices. NCL will continue its work with the Fan Freedom Project to expand the number of stakeholders working on this issue and to target arenas that are not transparent in their ticketing practices.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit https://nclnet.org.

It’s time for broadcasters to step up on deceptive advertising – National Consumers League

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If you’ve turned on the television or radio recently, chances are that you’ve heard at least one advertisement that made you sit up and say “what the…?” From bogus weight-loss products, to suspicious tax “advice” firms, to “free” cruises to the Bahamas, it often seems difficult to avoid ads that are misleading, if not outright fraudulent. At the federal level, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charged with protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive advertising.

Over the years, the agency has brought hundreds of cases against companies that have made dubious claims in their advertisements. In addition, in cases where there is evidence of fraud the FTC can also shut down operations under its “unfair and deceptive acts or practices” authority. State attorneys general also have authority to go after deceptive advertising and fraudulent operations.

Unfortunately, given the limited resources at their disposal, regulators are often only able to go after the most egregious cases of deception and fraud. The result? Ads for all kinds of deceptive and fraudulent products and services continue to proliferate on the public airwaves and on cable TV.

So what can be done to better police the airwaves for deceptive and fraudulent content? As part of its recent enforcement action against four bogus weight-loss companies, the FTC sent a letter to publishers and broadcasters asking them to refer to the FTC’s guidance on spotting phony weight-loss claims when advertisers submit ads.

While this action is a step in the right direction, we think the broadcasting and publishing industries can and should do more to vet the ads they run before they run. The FTC has largely steered clear of putting pressure on publishers and broadcasters to take this common-sense step. The Commission’s last significant effort on this was back in 2003, when former chairman Tim Muris asked cable television advertisers to strictly screen weight-loss ads.

As the Washington Post’s Lydia DePillis noted in a recent article on this topic, publishers and broadcasters usually cite two big reasons for resisting ad screening: their First Amendment right to publish and broadcast what they wish and the expense of setting up a screening program. With the proliferation of Internet-based advertising, the problem becomes even harder to control.

That said, we don’t think that these excuses are reason enough for the industry not to even try. Consumers tend to trust the ads they see on the radio or on television to a greater extent than online ads. When a fraudulent or deceptive ad runs, it undermines confidence in the advertising industry generally. More concretely, when a deceptive advertiser goes under due to enforcement actions, it can leave media outlets holding the bag. For example, when “tax resolution” company TaxMasters went bankrupt in 2012 after being investigated by the Texas Attorney General’s office, it owed CNN and Fox News Channel more than $3.5 million in unpaid advertising.

Doing a better job of screening out deceptive ads is not only the right thing to do from a public interest point of view, but it makes good business sense too. That being the case, why aren’t more companies doing it? Consumers deserve no less.

Our roads have never been safer, car safety regulations work! – National Consumers League

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It’s hard to measure things that don’t happen. But the recent news that Americans killed in traffic accidents has declined to the lowest point since the 1940s – especially in certain states – is evidence that people have not been dying in nearly as large numbers on our highways as they once did. This truly great news can be directly attributed to the years of work by consumer advocates, groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and government regulators.

I would like to credit auto manufacturers but it’s hard to do, given that they fought very sensible and lifesaving technologies – like seatbelts and airbags –  tooth and nail  and still fight efforts like making backup cameras standard in all  cars and trucks.  They have developed some tremendous safety technologies – like Electronic Stability Control to prevent rollover in SUVs and cars – and for that we can all be grateful.

Back to these very promising numbers. According to the Iowa State Department of Transportation, there were only 317 fatalities in Iowa in 2013 the lowest number of traffic deaths since 1944. Similar results in Ohio: 982 motorists and pedestrians died in Ohio in 2013, the lowest number since the state began keeping records in 1936. In New Jersey, state police reported 542 traffic deaths on highways and main streets in 2013, another all-time low. Eighty-five people were killed in Wyoming traffic accidents last year, the state Highway Patrol said Monday. The last time there were fewer than 100 deaths in Wyoming was in 1945. The South Carolina Highway Patrol said traffic deaths dropped by 125 over 2012 figures, a decrease of 17 percent.

According to the Washington Post, the national statistics, compiled by the Department of Transportation, won’t be released until later this year. But the early data is encouraging: In October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the number of fatalities for the first half of the year had declined 4.2 percent from the same period in 2012.

When I first worked on auto safety for Consumers Union, the number of people dying on our highways each year was well over 40,000. The falling fatality numbers of today are part of a national trend that experts attribute to stronger regulation and better built cars with many safety technologies standard equipment:  head, side and lower body airbags, side, frontal and offset crash testing of cars and awarding five stars to those that perform well and sharing that information with consumers so they can make informed buying decisions. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to prevent often deadly vehicle rollovers. We have cars that are far better designed and today auto makers not only acknowledge that safety helps sell cars but they advertise that their car or van received five star ratings in crash tests. That is progress!

The reduction in numbers is especially good news when we consider that the number of vehicles in the United States has increased significantly. The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported there were 253 million registered vehicles in the United States in 2011, compared with just 161 million in 1980.

The AAA says that younger drivers and passengers are less likely to be involved in fatal accidents than in years past. The number of fatalities among adolescents between age 10-15 fell by almost 4 percent between 2011 and 2012, the last year for which federal statistics are available, while the number of teens who died in accidents fell by 5.7 percent.

How many parents have their teenagers alive and well today? How can we count these priceless lives saved?  These are young people who might have otherwise died on the road  had we not had strong education campaigns about drinking and driving and cars designed to withstand crashes far more effectively.

Consumer advocates and those who support us should be shouting from the hilltops that sensible regulations requiring safer cars and testing of those cars and advertising which are safest has saved thousands of lives this year and will likely continue to do so in the future. NCL is proud to be among the groups that have long advocated for strong safety regulations for automotive vehicles  and we can see from these very uplifting reports, our efforts have paid off handsomely.

National Consumers League statement on FTC crackdown on deceptive weight-loss advertising – National Consumers League

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January 8, 2014

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League, the nation’s pioneering consumer and worker advocacy organization, today applauded the Federal Trade Commission’s crackdown on four deceptive marketers of weight-loss products. The companies – Sensa Products, LLC, L’Occitane, Inc., HCG Diet Direct and LeanSpa, LLC – are charged with duping consumers into buying fraudulent weight-loss products. The League also called on broadcasters and publishers to do more to root out deceptive advertising in their pages and on the airwaves.

The following statement is attributable to Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director:

“As the new year kicks off, many consumers will be trying to stick to their resolutions to lose weight. Unfortunately, consumers are constantly bombarded by advertising claiming that a cream or shake will magically help them shed unwanted pounds with little effort. The truth is that many of these products fail to produce the results they claim. Just as insidiously, deceptive advertising undermines confidence in all advertising, hurting legitimate businesses as well as consumers. To protect the public interest and their business models, we therefore urge broadcasters and publishers to closely monitor the ads they accept and screen out deceptive advertisers.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit https://nclnet.org.

Statement on Mel Watt commencing his tenure as head of the FHFA – National Consumers League

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January 7, 2014

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC — The National Consumers League applauds the swearing in of Congressman Mel Watt of North Carolina to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The FHFA oversees the work of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Mr. Watt has had a long tenure on the House Financial Services Committee, which oversees housing matters.

“Congressman Watt is a great choice for chief of this agency. His distinguished service as a member of Congress since 1992, and work on the House Financial Services Committee, makes him uniquely qualified to run the FHFA. He understands what led to the housing crisis and is on the side of responsible homeowners to help them get through this very tough period. We think he will be on the forefront of expanding access to credit for worthy borrowers and offering concrete tools and real assistance to homeowners who are under water, owing more on their homes than the property is worth,” said Sally Greenberg, the group’s Executive Director.

As Chief of the FHFA, Mr. Watt will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Fannie and Freddie. Mr. Watt consistently pressed for better access to mortgages for minority and low-income borrowers since being elected to Congress. He also brings a close working relationship with the financial services and insurance industries that are core members of the business community in Charlotte, NC, the area Congressman Watt represented.

“We congratulate Director Watt on heading this very important federal agency, the FHFA, and look forward to working with him,” Greenberg added.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit https://nclnet.org.

Target data breach a wake-up call for retailers, policymakers – National Consumers League

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92_creditcard.jpgAmericans assume that, when they shop, their personal financial information will be kept private and away from identity thieves. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, as evidenced by the more than 4,000 data breaches that have been reported since 2005 — an average of more than one a day over the last nine years. The latest headline-making breach involving the mega retailer Target is making many of us wonder just how safe our data is.

After data breaches occur, the burden for monitoring credit cards and recovering lost funds typically falls squarely on the affected consumers’ shoulders. This can cost the consumer significant time and money. If you think your personal information may have been stolen by cyber thieves in the Target data breach or any other data breach make sure you follow these tips:

  • Check credit card statements and your bank account every day to see if there are any unfamiliar charges. If you see any suspicious activity, report it to your bank immediately.
  • Monitor your credit report. It is a good habit to check your credit report at least once a year. If you think your personal information may have been compromised, check it sooner. Consumers can obtain one free credit report per year from each of the three credit reporting agencies via annualcreditreport.com.
  • Stay vigilant. Fraudsters may wait months to use your personal information.

Consumer advocates hope that the scale of the Target data breach will serve as the impetus for much needed data security reform. The time for change is now!

Although consumers’ financial information will never be 100 percent secure, there are things that can be done. Retailers can use advanced encryption technology and more secure firewalls. Credit card companies can encourage the use of “Chip and PIN” technology in their credit cards. Our politicians can pass legislation establishing a national data breach notification standard and urge the Obama Administration to explore incentives and penalties to encourage private sector businesses to better protect consumer data. These changes will not happen without pressure from consumers.

Target has provided a “responses and resources” page for consumers affected by the breach. Click here for more information. The FTC also has information for consumer online here.

Sitting on mountains of cash, U.S. corporations do too little to reduce income inequality – National Consumers League

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The question of income and asset inequality has certainly moved center stage. Demands for an increase in the minimum wage are being met by howls of protest, and complaints about skyrocketing executive compensation, alas, are being met with apparent indifference in corporate boardrooms. So the struggle for justice continues, and NCL is right in there, as we have been since 1899.

There’s another player in this drama, though, that doesn’t get the same attention, even though it may have an even greater impact. That’s the fact that U.S. corporations are sitting on top of mountains of cash, but they’re not investing in creating new jobs. With the big increases in stock value — the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained more than 28% in 2013! — a reasonable person might think, why, let’s use some of this new wealth to help out all those unemployed Americans, our fellow citizens!

What are many corporations doing instead? They’re buying back their own stock, which increases the value of the shares still available to be traded. Great, if you’re a shareholder. If you’re one of the millions who lost their jobs in the great recession and whose unemployment benefits have just run out, not so good.

What can we do about it? If you are a shareholder, agitate! Let the company know you want it to invest in jobs, in community development, in public health. Tell the executive leadership to get off the sidelines. If you’re a public employee, contact your retirement system managers and tell them you don’t want them investing in companies that are basically on strike against unemployed and underpaid U.S. workers.