Insurance
Tossing stuff overboard in the Senate
The end game of the health reform bill in the Senate, with furious bargaining inside the Democratic Party, looks a lot like…
Dec 8, 2009Consumer Watchdog
Providing an effective voice for American consumers in an era when special interests dominate public discourse, government and politics. Non-partisan.
Articles by Consumer Watchdog
Privacy
Jobs Obama can fill now, rehiring consumer reps at the White House
The President is rightly proposing using government money to help hire more Americans. Back at his house, Obama should set an example…
Dec 8, 2009
Privacy
‘Abstain’ Tactic Kills Bills
When a bill to increase penalties for selling methamphetamine came before an Assembly committee in April, no one voted against it. It…
Dec 8, 2009
Insurance
Cowards in suits
The Senate took up the right to abortion in the health reform debate today, with a proposal by Sen. Ben Nelson of…
Dec 8, 2009Senate Opponents Delivering “Chicken Little” Mistruths Crafted to Sow Fear on Health Reform, says Consumer Watchdog
Group Offers "Truth Squad" Messages to Counter Insurer-Spun Sound Bites WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Opponents of health reform are fear-mongering relentlessly during prolonged…
Dec 7, 2009
Privacy
Giving Obama A Picture of What’s on Your Mind — BarackandMe.com
Can you believe what it takes to get President Obama's ear these days? You shouldn’t have to crash a White House party…
Dec 4, 2009
Energy
Political Chess Played On California Initiatives
These are very uncertain and contentious times in California. The state's economic and political turmoil has spawned a flood of potentially far-reaching…
Dec 4, 2009
Insurance
Chicken Little invades Congress
The sky is falling, said Chicken Little, and so say the health reform critics in the Senate. They are fearmongering relentlessly to…
Dec 4, 2009
Privacy
Judge Rejects Amazon Bid To Scrap Google Pact
NEW YORK - A federal judge has rejected Amazon.com Inc's request that he withdraw preliminary approval of a settlement between Google Inc…
Dec 2, 2009
Privacy
‘Breasts and Bureaucrats’ Day in the U.S. Senate
I about fell over today when Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana declared himself concerned about 'threats' to women's breast care under the…
Dec 2, 2009The Facts About the CBO Report on Health Insurance Premiums Under the U.S. Senate Health Reform Bill, HR 3590
Santa Monica, CA -- Opponents of health care reform charged repeatedly this week that the Senate health reform bill would increase individuals’…
Dec 2, 2009
Insurance
US House Committee Sends Insurance Office Bill To The Floor
WASHINGTON, D.C. --The U.S. House of Representatives' Financial Services Committee unanimously voted to approve a bill forming a federal insurance office, sending…
Dec 2, 2009Federal Insurance Office Proposal, Allowing Treasury to Preempt State Insurance Laws, Should Be Kept out of House Financial Reform Package
Financial Reform Should Not Override State Protections, Says Consumer Watchdog Washington, D.C. --- Legislation to undermine state insurance protections, including laws…
Dec 2, 2009Michigan’s Proposed FAIR Initiative Modeled After Nation’s Most Successful Insurance Reforms
California Drivers Have Saved $62 Billion in 20 Years Under Similar Rules and Have Among Most Competitive Insurance Markets in Nation WASHINGTON,…
Dec 1, 2009
Healthcare
John McCain’s Rant for Private Medicare
I was about to fall asleep listening to opening statements today in the Senate debate on health reform--until Sen. John McCain of…
Nov 30, 2009
Privacy
Can Google Be Trusted? No: The Search Engine Must Do More To Protect Private Data
Few doubt that Internet giant Google is succeeding in its audacious corporate mission "to organize the world's information and make it universally…
Nov 29, 2009
Healthcare
Thailand Is ‘In Network”? Employers And Insurers Embrace Medical Tourism
Like some 47 million other Americans, Nancy Sowa (pictured) doesn't have health insurance. So when her doctors last year told her she…
Nov 28, 2009
Insurance
Google’s Book-Scan Deal Is Not Solid Yet
Google Inc.'s settlement with authors and publishers over the digital scanning of books got a preliminary approval from a federal judge last…
Nov 28, 2009