NYPIRG Executive Director Blair Horner is never at a loss for words when it comes to protecting the public’s right to know—and to act.

In his more than 40 years as NYPIRG’s legislative director—and later as its executive director—Blair has advocated for a wide range of important issues, including energy reform, government openness, ethics and accountability, campaign finance reform, the environment, climate change, voting rights and health care among many others.

Everybody who’s anybody in New York state politics knows him. And journalists love talking with him. The New York Times did a profile on him and he’s appeared on “The Today Show” and “ABC World News Tonight.” He’s written scores of opinion pieces that have been published in newspapers across the state. He’s a regular commentator for WAMC-FM and sits on the NPR station’s Board of Trustees.

He’s been a strong UUP ally as well. Blair has joined UUP in our ongoing battles to protect SUNY and get more state funding for our campuses. And he’s spoken out strongly in support of keeping SUNY Downstate University Hospital open and in Brooklyn.

On this episode of The Voice podcast, we welcome NYPIRG Executive Director Blair Horner. We’ll talk about his work with NYPIRG, some of the issues NYPIRG will be focusing on through the end of the year, and a look ahead, one year after NYPIRG celebrated its 50th anniversary.