How Private Equity Firms Prey on the Public

Sonali Kolhatkar speaks with Patrick Woodall, a Senior Researcher & Writer with Americans for Financial Reform.

As Senators and the White House continue to work out details of a bi-partisan deal on infrastructure spending, progressive lawmakers are playing “whack-a-mole” with provisions built into the bill that allows for private equity firms to dig their teeth into public programs. According to the organization Americans for Financial Reform, “Private equity is responsible for 1.3 million lost jobs in the retail sector alone…[and have] damaged the health care system, contributed to the affordable housing crisis, and helped build abusive monopolies.”

Patrick Woodall is the Senior Researcher and Writer at AFR/AFREF. Prior to joining the team, Patrick was the Research Director at the national advocacy group Food & Water Watch working on farm, food, water and energy issues. Patrick has decades of experience working as public policy analyst, researcher and advocate at the Consumer Federation of America, ACORN, Public Citizen, and Physicians for a National Health Program. He has policy and advocacy expertise on issues pertaining to economic and social justice, financial services, international trade, and antitrust. Patrick has written scores of reports across his career and co-authored a book on international trade.

Rising Up with Sonali is a radio and television show that brings progressive news coverage rooted in gender and racial justice to a wide audience. Rising Up With Sonali was built on the foundation of Sonali Kolhatkar's earlier show, Uprising, which became the longest-running drive-time radio show on KPFK in Los Angeles hosted by a woman. RUS airs on Free Speech TV every weekday.

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Americans for Financial Reform Economy Free Speech TV Patrick Woodall Private Private Equity Firms Public Rising Up with Sonali Sonali Kolhatkar Sonali Kolhtkar United States White House