Report: “Pennsylvania Lives at Risk”

Highlights the Painful Impact of Federal “Regulatory Reform” Proposals

PennPIRG Education Fund and Demos

Philadelphia, PA – A new report by Demos and PennPIRG finds that Pennsylvanian’s lives, health and livelihoods would be at risk if so-called “regulatory reform” proposals were to become law, slowing or stopping the regulatory process.  The new report details the number of Pennsylvanians harmed by just a one-year delay in the creation of three popular upcoming rulemakings.

Key findings from “Pennsylvania Lives at Risk:”

–As many as 3,890 preventable deaths and 84,539 preventable asthma attacks among Pennsylvania children for each year the government fails to update the restriction on levels of toxic soot in our air. 

–As many as 414,000 preventable illnesses from contaminated food for each year the government fails to enact new rules to avoid produce contamination.

–78,030 cancer patients at risk of being denied health insurance for each year of delay in creating rules prohibiting health insurance companies from refusing to issue insurance to people with pre-existing conditions. 

“This report demonstrates that the ‘regulatory reform’ proposals being considered by Congress are a serious threat to Pennsylvanians,” explained Alana Miller, Program Associate at PennPIRG. “Policymakers should resist efforts by powerful special interests to weaken public health and consumer safety rules. The need for consumer safety should not be a political question or a partisan issue.”

“The negative consequences of the industry-backed ‘regulatory reform’ proposals should they become law are difficult to overstate,” said Ben Peck, Demos Senior Legislative and Policy Associate.  “These proposals would have a profound impact on our daily lives—from our first breath in the morning to the food we eat throughout the day. Without government safeguards, experience has shown that industry will cut corners in pursuit of short-term profit. Electric utilities will foul our air, and food processors will neglect the safety procedures needed to keep our food free of contamination.  Proponents of ‘regulatory reform’ minimize the real-world impact of the years added to the basic regulatory process because of the new red tape these proposals would create.  Our analysis shows how every year of delay costs American lives.” 

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