We called upon Congress to follow and build upon the President’s lead in crafting its Budget Resolution, recognizing that there is no time to waste in meeting the nation’s long-deferred needs.

AKPIRG joined with the Renew and Rebuild America Coalition to push for the president’s budget with all of its public interest priorities intact.  AKPIRG organizing a coordinated campaign, hosting events and reaching out to the media to make sure congress does not miss this important opportunity.

On April 29th 2009, Congress marked President Obama’s 100th day in office by passing his transformational plan to overhaul the nation’s health care system, make college more accessible, and eliminate wasteful subsidies and abusive tax shelters and loopholes.

The budget resolution passed by Congress prioritizes students over banks, consumers over insurance companies and taxpayers over entrenched special interests.  It speaks to the key concerns that all Americans share, and provides a roadmap to a strong, stable economy.

On health care, the budget resolution sets the stage for fiscally responsible health care reform legislation later this year to address sky-rocketing costs.”

For too long, unrestrained growth in health care costs has fueled the profit margins of insurers, drug companies, and other special interests, while American families and small businesses suffered.  In today’s struggling economy, our country simply can’t afford another year of higher health care costs.

For higher education, the resolution includes a significant reinvestment in the Pell grant, the nation’s primary need-based student aid program, which could be achieved by cutting excessive subsidies from banks and lenders.

By redirecting wasteful bank subsidies to increased aid for students, the budget resolution underscores just how deeply our federal government is committed to making college more affordable.

From consumer protection, identity theft and fraud, to voting rights, ethical government and clean energy, AKPIRG has been pursuing policies that give ordinary Alaskans a voice that can be heard. As a member of the federation of State PIRGs, we work on national policy as well as issues that are uniquely Alaskan.

We power our efforts from the grassroots and rely on a small staff with big goals and a dedicated group of board members and volunteers to fully serve our mission and its goals. Please take a few moments to find out about our latest work and how you can help.

Matt Wallace

Executive Director

Matt Wallace comes to AKPIRG after working with the state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) and affiliated organizations since 2001.  He has held a variety of professional roles in the public interest movement, from fundraiser and volunteer organizer to legislative advocate.  Most recently, Matt worked with the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG) where he served as Consumer Advocate, developing and implementing state level campaigns on consumer protection policy with the legislature, the media, students, and members of the public.  His achievements there included helping to craft and pass a state law in 2009 designed to slow the rate of foreclosures by requiring mortgage lenders to meet with struggling homeowners, and working to pass a state law to protect consumers from unlawful debt collection practices.  Matt is a graduate of Portland State University, and currently resides in Anchorage with his wife and a very excellent dog.