CONSUMER PROTECTION—Tennessee Citizen Action is the only organization the state fighting exclusively for consumer rights.  We passed the first legislation regulating the predatory lending practices of mortgage lenders, and we are working the limit the harmful activities associated with title and payday loans, check cashing companies, and tax advances. We work for environmental protections, food safety and ethical business standards.

AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE—Tennessee Citizen Action supports safe, adequate and affordable health care for all citizens and endorse programs and initiatives which will provide wider coverage options for children, families and seniors. We have been at the forefront of efforts to reform the prescription drug program operated through Medicare to eliminate penalties and gaps in coverage and allow the government to negotiate with the drug companies for better prices.

PATIENTS’ RIGHTS—Tennessee Citizen Action believes patients are entitled to the best quality health care and that the solution to medical malpractice is actually eliminating medial error, more effective discipline for the few bad doctors, alleviating the critical shortage of nurses and reforming insurance company practices. We oppose limitations on legal remedies to hold medical professionals, hospitals and nursing homes accountable for their mistakes.

WORKPLACE JUSTICE—Tennessee Citizen Action believes strongly in ensuring that working Americans can care for themselves and their families through the right to organize, an effective and equitable workers’ compensation program, a higher minimum wage as a step toward a truly livable wage, guaranteed health care benefits, and workplace safety standards.

ETHICAL GOVERNMENT—Tennessee Citizen Action works with its coalition partners on behalf of full disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures and a reduction in corporate and special interest influence over the electoral process.  We advocate for clean elections through secure voting practices and protection of minority voting rights. We coordinated one of Tennessee’ largest non-partisan get-out-the-vote programs in the most recent elections.

POPULAR EMPOWERMENT—Tennessee Citizen Action believes in the power of citizens acting from the grassroots level.  Our efforts range from the successful campaign to derail attempts to privatize Social Security to the ongoing movement to end the occupation of Iraq.  We work in a variety of coalitions to support social justice and advance the rights of the disabled, the economically disadvantaged, ethnic minorities, and working Americans.