15 years ago, our "Private Roads, Public Costs" report warned of the risks of highway privatization to taxpayers and the public. Unfortunately, as this investigation by Dallas Morning News shows, lack of transparency and accountability can have devastating consequences.

“Even responsible, prudent people can end up thousands of dollars in debt if they get sick or injured,” writes Patricia Kelmar, our senior director for healthcare campaigns marketwatch.com/story/medical-…

CES 2025: Products from the 'Worst in Show' list fox4news.com/video/1574676

Have you been charged a "facility fee" even though it was just a regular doctor visit? These added costs are being tacked onto medical bills.  Reporter Julian Gill wants to hear from you. houstonchronicle.com/projects/2025/…

High medical bills are getting higher when doctors add a #facilityfee for a simple consultation or check up. Journalists are digging in to find out more. #Texas Texas 2036

“I think it’s a trick and should be outlawed,” state Rep. Tom Oliverson, M.D., R-Cypress, said of the billing practice. Oliverson, an anesthesiologist whose district includes parts of Harris County, recently filed a bill – HB 2075 – targeting facility fees.”

A freestanding doctor’s office isn’t a hospital. Yet patients are billed as if they are. A Center on Health Insurance Reforms report shows patients in 30 states have no protections from expensive “facility fees.”  If you’ve received one of these “facility fees,” let us know:  pirg.org/articles/were-…

Rachel Carnahan-Metzger, a hospital social worker, testified on our behalf today in support of legislation by Kelly Hancock to rein in “facility fees” - extra charges that patients usually have to pay out-of-pocket that help big health care companies bump up their profits.

Can't emphasize this enough. Every power purchase agreement, for every company doing business in Texas, will have to be renegotiated to be higher as "change in law" provisions are exercised. Everyone's bills are going up if HB 3356 passes.

The Texas Association of Business estimates bills like HB 3356 will raise electric bills by 10% and increase the risk of blackouts.

Small Business for America’s Future A whopping 94% of small business owners believe it's important for hospitals to clearly disclose #facilityfees BEFORE care is provided. Small Business for America’s Future James Frank Kelly Hancock Dan Patrick #TXlege smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org/small-business…

Congrats to James Frank for winning passage of this important consumer protection through the Public Health committee last week. Onward to the full House!

HB 2963 by Giovanni Capriglione would require manufacturers to provide consumers and small businesses access to the parts, tools and service information we need to repair personal electronics and household appliances. It's our stuff, and we should be able to fix it. #txlege

"Limiting the available resources - wind, solar, and batteries - in current TX bills means higher prices. TCA released an IdeaSmiths LLC study that shows that," said TCA’s Prez to Texas Tribune. #TxLege #TxEnergy

Huge vote margin sends clear signal: Don’t e-mess with Texas Giovanni Capriglione pirg.org/texas/updates/…

#txlege had a chance to protect consumers from unfair hospital facility fees by passing great bills by Kelly Hancock & James Frank but failed to do so. Now consumers will continue to be billed. pirg.org/texas/articles…

If we repaired our products and extended their lifespans by 50%, we’d save $382 per family, or around $4.1 billion across all Texas households each year. The House passed this bill unanimously- your move Texas Senate!

Texas Legislature won’t pass ethics bills this year | The Texas Tribune texastribune.org/2025/05/28/tex…

Manufacturers too often employ restrictions on the parts, tools, information, and software access needed to repair the things we own. That will start to change if Gov Abbott signs into law a TexPIRG-backed Right to Repair bill. pirg.org/texas/articles…

Every day, our military wastes valuable time and countless taxpayer dollars because manufacturers restrict access to the parts, tools, and manuals for repairs. This practice makes it nearly impossible for servicemembers to fix their equipment themselves. pirg.org/take-action/te…