The 2000 election put all of us on warning: Flaws in our elections open the door to partisan manipulation of election results, disenfranchisement of large portions of the population, and uncertain results—all of which undermine faith in our democracy.

Last year, the U.S. Senate Rules Committee held a hearing on the Florida PIRG-backed Ballot Integrity Act of 2007.

Among the protections that the Ballot Integrity Act would provide: equitable distribution of voting machines, standards for using and counting provisional ballots, standards for purging voters from the rolls, and funding for training Election Day poll workers.

Companies with recent histories of shoddy work and fraudulent practices still receive billions of dollars in federal contracts, according to a new report by the Florida PIRG Education Fund.

The report, “Forgiving Fraud and Failure: Profiles in Federal Contracting,” highlights nine representative examples of new, often no-bid, contracts that were granted to companies with recent records of questionable performance. 

In each of the cases profiled, companies received new contracts during or shortly after having negotiated settlements in cases of poor performance.  In several instances, companies were awarded contracts with less competition after problems surfaced.

The report recommends taking immediate steps to establish accountability, including increasing disclosure of contract information, increasing competition, and strengthening the rules to screen bad actors.

The lives of thousands of people who work at or live near Florida’s chemical facilities could become less dangerous under a bill drafted in December.

The Safe Chemical Facilities Bill would require chemical facilities to switch from certain dangerous chemicals to less toxic alternatives. In 2006, our bill won the approval of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee. This session, we’re seeking the committee’s support again and building support in the next key stop on the bill’s path toward passage: the Energy and Commerce Committee, which includes Rep. Cliff Stearns.

Florida PIRG Consumer Advocate Brad Ashwell said, “Rep. Stearns should take this opportunity to help make the lives of people who live near or work at a chemical facility safer.”