Exxon Profit at 2003-04 Levels ‘Shows What Normal Looks Like,’ Says Consumer Group
Despite 2/3 Drop in Crude Oil Prices, Oil Giant Boosts Bottom Line With Refining Profits Santa Monica, CA -- Exxon Mobil’s…
Apr 30, 2009Consumer Watchdog
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Articles by Consumer Watchdog
Privacy
Regulators Question Google’s Deal With Publishers — Online Book Project Raises Antitrust Concerns
U.S. antitrust enforcers are asking questions about Google’s settlement with publishers over its book-scanning project, representatives for Consumer Watchdog and the American…
Apr 30, 2009
Insurance
Health insurers’ insider power play in California
The shameful way a legislative committee vote went down in California yesterday tears the veil off how health insurance companies and HMOs…
Apr 29, 2009
Insurance
Hearing Examines Cost of Health Care as Potential Barrier to Lasting Overhaul
Despite the success states have had increasing health care coverage, national health care overhaul must address costs to be sustainable, lawmakers and…
Apr 29, 2009
Privacy
DOJ Inquiry Over Book Deal Puts Google on Notice
Earlier this month, Consumer Watchdog sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder arguing that the deal between Google and the Author’s…
Apr 29, 2009
Insurance
Mercury Insurance, Asm Joe Coto protest their own hearing
In one of the weirder moves I've seen over the past decade-plus that I've been going to Sacramento, Assemblyman Joe Coto and…
Apr 29, 2009
Privacy
Authors & consumers uniting against Google book deal
Google's overreaching in trying to tightly control scanned digital copies of world literature has stuck an alarm bell with more than just…
Apr 29, 2009
Privacy
Google Lobs $880,000 At Health Record Lobby – What Ye Worry?
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Why is Google lobbying the US Congress over the webification of the nation's health records? It won't say.…
Apr 29, 2009
Privacy
Google Book Deal Targeted by Justice Department
Google has reportedly been questioned by the U.S. Justice Department over whether its plans to digitize the world’s books into an online…
Apr 29, 2009
Healthcare
DC Dispatch: Health reform in Obama’s first 100 days
I was asked by a local TV station to participate in today’s talk-fest on the Obama administration’s first 100 days in office,…
Apr 29, 2009
Privacy
US Justice Department Probes Google Settlement
John M. Simpson, an advocate with Consumer Watchdog, a California consumer group, said his organization had been contacted by justice department lawyers…
Apr 29, 2009
Privacy
U.S. Opens Inquiry Into Google Books Deal
The Justice Department has begun an inquiry into the antitrust implications of Google's settlement with authors and publishers over its Google Book…
Apr 29, 2009
Privacy
Federal Report Shines Light On Google’s EMR Lobbying Effforts
According to first quarter federal reports, Google participated in lobbying efforts aimed at allowing the sale of electronic medical records in the…
Apr 29, 2009
Privacy
Justice Department Reviews Google Book Deal
The U.S. Justice Department is making antitrust inquiries into Google Inc.'s settlement with authors and publishers over the Internet giant's project to…
Apr 29, 2009
Privacy
Judge Issues Extension In Google Book Search Settlement
A federal judge has granted authors worldwide four more months to decide whether to participate in a settlement involving Google's online Book…
Apr 28, 2009Lesson From the States: Lack of Cost Controls Derailed California Health Reform, Led to Budget Overruns and Unaffordable Policies in Massachusetts
Washington D.C. -- Health care reform failed in California last year, and Massachusetts faces budget overruns and out-of-pocket cost increases for patients…
Apr 28, 2009U.S. Senate Records Reveal Google Inc. Lobbying Campaign On Personal Medical Records Law Despite Internet Giant’s Denials
Washington, DC -- First quarter federal reports show Google lobbied on the electronic medical records provisions of the federal economic stimulus act,…
Apr 28, 2009
Insurance
Google seeks delay in book settlement
Faced with mounting criticism of the proposed Google Books settlement, the Internet giant has asked the court to extend the time for…
Apr 28, 2009