TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview of the Collection

History

Scope and Content

Arrangement

Restrictions

Subjects:

Related Material

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Series XIV: Consumer Issues, undated, 1971-1979

Connecticut Citizens Action Group Records

Series XIV: Consumer Issues

History

The Connecticut Citizen Action Group was the first state-based consumer interest group. Created in 1971 by Ralph Nader and directed by Toby Moffett, CCAG was designed to represent, inform, unite, and empower the citizens of Connecticut in their roles as consumers, workers, tax payers, and voters. Taking on such issues as illegal business practices, utility rate increases, environmental pollution, and consumer fraud, the newly formed group was inundated with citizen requests for information and counsel. One year after its inception, CCAG created the Citizen's Lobby. The Lobby's purpose was to increase citizen participation in the legislative process, and to sharpen the awareness of legislators to the needs and demands of their constituents. Among its victories, Citizen's Lobby lists passage of legislation allowing substitution of generic prescription drugs; a ban on utilities charging ratepayers for utility advertising; the Environmental Policy Act, which requires the state to submit statements regarding the environmental impact of state projects; a toll-free hot line to the Department of Consumer Protection for citizen complaints and problems; consumer protection legislation concerning issues ranging from credit card interest charges to see-through meat packaging; and protection of thousands of acres of watershed lands. In 1975, CCAG instituted a canvassing program with a staff of community organizers to go into Connecticut neighborhoods, explain CCAG's work, and ask for financial and active support. This effort at community organizing tripled CCAG's budget by the end of its first decade and swelled membership from three thousand in the mid-1970s to twenty-eight thousand in the mid-1980s. CCAG has served for over thirty years as an advocate for the rights of Connecticut citizens. Among its major activities and accomplishments are: the General Assembly Project, an in-depth analysis of the behavior of state legislators; the Health Project, which compiled a wide range of state health care information; organizing efforts to enact the Bottle Bill, which required deposits on many types of beverage containers; enforcing environmental standards and enacting consumer protection legislation; and watchdog oversight and legal action concerning utility companies and development projects.

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Scope and Content

The Connecticut Citizens Action Group Records document the activities and concerns of the first state-formed consumer interest group. Their records contain significant information about most of the major consumer and public interest issues of the 1970s and 1980s, ranging from environmental and energy concerns to health, housing, political reform, insurance, and housing. There are no restrictions on the use of these records. There are other additional records that were received after this guide was produces.

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Arrangement

Series I: Director's Records (undated, 1974-1985) contain the files of the directors of CCAG, arranged alphabetically by topic.

Series I: Director's Records.

Series II: Press Releases and Public Information (undated, 1972-1986) includes information collected and distributed the media on topics of interest to its members.

Series II: Press Releases and Public Information.

Series III: Administrative Files (undated, 1972-1984) contains general administrative records pertaining to the running of the origanization not specifically associated with a director.

Series III: Administrative Files.

Series IV: Member Groups (undated, 1970-1984) contains information about or concerning the establishment and operation of regional groups and organzations.

Series IV: Member Groups.

Series V: Gubernatorial Project (undated, 1967-1980) contains records about Connecticut governors.

Series V: Gubernatorial Project.

Series VI: General Assembly Project (undated, 1967-1979) contains information, reports, and questionnaires by and about members of the Connecticut General Assembly.

Series VI: General Assembly Project.

Series VII: Health Project (undated, 1962-1980) contains information, reports, correspondence, publications and grants pertaining to health issues.

Series VII: Health Project.

Series VIII: North Haven Mall (undated, 1978-1984) includes documents relevant to the development of a mall in North Haven.

Series VIII: North Haven Mall.

Series IX: Bottle Bill (undated, 1969-1978) documents organizational activites, research and background associated with the passage of the Connecticut Bottle Bill.

Series IX: Bottle Bill.

Series X: Mary Mushinsky Files (undated, 1973-1979) include the files associated with Mary Mushinsky.

Series X: Mary Mushinky Files.

Series XI: Environmental Issues (undated, 1971-1985) includes such topics as conservation, energy, fuels, hazardous waste, pollution, housing, and legislation.

Series XI: Environmental Issues.

Series XII: Energy Issues (undated, 1964-1982) includes correspondence, reports, studies, plans and materials associated with various forms of energy resources, production and distribution at the local, state and national level.

Series XII: Energy Issues.

Series XIII: Utility Rate Cases (undated, 1970-1990s) includes information, files, reports, studies and legal materials pertaining to power companies operating in Connecticut and relevant information from other states.

Series XIII: Utility Rate Cases.

Series XIV: Consumer Issues (undated, 1971-1979) includes files on issues pertaining to consumer concerns and complaints.

Series XIV: Consumer Issues.

Series XV: Lobbying Efforts (undated, 1977-1984) contains information, files, and correspondence associated with CCAG lobbying.

Series XV: Lobbying Efforts.

Series XVI: Subject Files (undated, 1969-1983) contains files on topics of interest to the organization including taxes, utilities, insurance, economics and labor.

Series XVI: Subject Files.

Series XVII: 1992 Addendum (undated, 1970-1990) contains materials added to the collection in 1992.

Series XVII: 1992 Addendum.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

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Related Material

Archives & Special Collections has a substantial collection of civic and consumer materials. For detailed information on these collections please contact the curator or ask at the reference desk.

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Subjects:

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Document Types:

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Occupations:

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Item description, #:#], Connecticut Citizen Action Group Records. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries.

Acquisition Information

The records of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group were donated to the Historical Manuscripts and Archives Division of the University of Connecticut Libraries in December of 1980. Since then, additional materials have been added. Although, not all additions have been incorporated into the finding aid.

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Detailed Description