CALPIRG Staff

Mike Russo is a Policy Analyst for U.S.PIRG, based in our Los Angeles office. In that role, he works with CALPIRG and the rest of the federation of state PIRGs around the country on policy issues including public health and health care. He led CALPIRG's health care work during California’s 2007-08 push for health care reform, and during the federal effort in 2009-10.  In those campaigns his work included leading outreach efforts to pro-reform small business owners, and coordinating policy analysis and response.  He has authored and co-authored numerous reports on health care policy, including The Three Trillion Dollar Question, which evaluated the potential cost-saving benefits of reform, and Delivering on the Promise, a guide to state-level implementation of 2010’s health care reform law.  His particular policy focuses include insurance reform and policies to lower costs and improve care. Previously to joining CALPIRG, he worked with other public interest organizations on human rights and First Amendment issues.  He graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 2002 and from Columbia Law School in 2007.