Our Top Priorities
Using the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposés, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation, MontPIRG stands up to powerful interests and delivers concrete results. 

AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR CONSUMERS

Consumer Program Director Ed Mierzwinski has fought for consumer for more than 20 years. He spearheaded our fight to create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which recently forced Capital One to pay back $140 million in unfair credit card fees to consumers.  >LEARN MORE
 

 

PUTTING PUBLIC HEALTH AHEAD OF BIG AG

As big agribusinesses like Monsanto lobbied to renew their multibillion-dollar taxpayer funded junk food subsidies, you held firm: Our advocacy and tens of thousands of your petition signatures defeated the 2012 lobbying blitz. A showdown is set for this year. >LEARN MORE
 

 

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Together, we demanded changes on Wall Street and won a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - the first agency to safeguard consumers from the sorts of financial tricks and abuses that plagued the 2008 financial crisis. Despite the efforts of special itnerests to weaken it, in its first year, the CFBP delivered critical consumer wins. >LEARN MORE
 

RECLAIMING OUR DEMOCRACY FROM BIG MONEY

The Citizens United ruling led to huge donations from a handful of billionares and corporations flooding our electoral process. With support from our members, we helped pass a resolution that put Montana at the forefront of a grassroots campaign to restore power to the people via a constitutional amendment. >LEARN MORE
 

Our Mission
When consumers are cheated or the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out by special interest lobbyists, MontPIRG speaks up and takes action. We uncover threats to public health and wellbeing and fight to end them, using the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposés, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation. MontPIRG’s mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented public interest activism that protects consumers, encourages a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic government.

MontPIRG Staff - A Partial List
MontPIRG is an advocate for the public interest. When consumers are cheated, or the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out by special interest lobbyists, MontPIRG speaks up and takes action. We uncover threats to public health and well-being and fight for the public interest.

STEVE BLACKLEDGE

Regional Director

(916) 448-4516 x108

>CONTACT
>BIO
 

 

GARY KALMAN

Federal Legislative Office Director

(202) 546-9707 x311

>CONTACT
>BIO
 

 

ED MIERZWINSKI

Federal Consumer Program Director

(202) 546-9707 x314

>CONTACT
>BIO
 

Funded By Our Citizen Members 

Thousands of MontPIRG members and supporters fund our staff so we can counter the influence of powerful special interests by: 

• conducting research; 

• educating the public; and 

• advocating in the public interest by, for example, making our case face-to-face with elected officials. 

Your contribution provides the resources and the clout we need to win real results. 

MontPIRG And The Federation Of State Public Interest Research Groups
MontPIRG is an independent, state-based, citizen-funded organization that advocates for the public interest and is a member of U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups.

Since 1970, state PIRGs have delivered results-oriented citizen activism, stood up to powerful special interests, and used the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposés, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation to win real results on issues that matter.

Across the country, state PIRGs employ close to 400 organizers, policy analysts, scientists and attorneys, and are active in 47 states, with a federal lobby office in Washington, D.C. On national issues that impact Montanans, we also coordinate our efforts, pool resources, and share expertise so that we can have the biggest impact—here in Montana and for the country at large.