AIG Bonuses Should Be Delivered by FBI, Consumer Watchdog Says
Advocates Say No Bonuses Should Be Paid Until Law Enforcement Conducts Detailed Review Of Any AIG Employee Who Wants to Enforce Contract…
Mar 16, 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
How to stop the AIG bonuses
President Obama has told Treasury Secretary Geithner to "pursue every legal avenue" to block $165 million in bonuses to American International Group…
Mar 16, 2009
Privacy
Dinners, Trips, Concerts Are Perks Of The Capitol
No elected official should be allowed to accept gifts of any kind from lobbyists, interest groups, trade groups, corporations or labor unions,…
Mar 15, 2009
Insurance
Health Insurance Industry Works On Image Makeover
"Private insurance is the problem," said Carmen Balber of Consumer Watchdog, a California-based group. "Individuals can't afford to be forced into buying…
Mar 15, 2009
Healthcare
Stem Cell Institute Puts 2 In Same Post — Joint Appointment For Vice Chairman
Job sharing came to the state stem cell institute yesterday when its board appointed two people to the post of vice chairman:…
Mar 13, 2009
Privacy
Googlebuster fights back against behavioral advertising
One of the editors of Adbusters magazine has a populist strategy to create an online revolt against Google's latest forray into targeted…
Mar 13, 2009
Privacy
A Split Decision On No. 2 Stem Cell Post
Outgoing state Democratic Party chief Art Torres and a Republican biotech executive, Duane Roth, are chosen by the California Institute for Regenerative…
Mar 13, 2009
Energy
No Benefit To Motorists In A ‘Hot Fuel’ Fix, State Panel Says
California Energy Commission says the costs of compensating for gasoline temperature would outweigh the gains in fuel volume. Amid allegations of conflict…
Mar 12, 2009
Privacy
Corrupt, corrupt, corruption!
LA Times reporter Paul Pringle took another bite out of corruption at another SEIU California local today. Here's his latest.
Mar 11, 2009
Privacy
DC politicians party down
Check out my favorite blog discovery this week: Party Time – Documenting the Political Party Circuit.
Mar 11, 2009Documents Show Political Appointees Interfered With Cal. Energy Commission Study Of Hot Fuel Ripoff To Protect Oil Companies
Consumer Group Says Government Staff's Consumer-Oriented Findings Were Altered by Commissioners With Ties to Oil Industry Santa Monica, CA -- Public…
Mar 11, 2009
Privacy
Beer Keg, Lakers Tickets, Wine Lodge Trip Among Gifts To OC Lawmakers
According to economic disclosure forms filed last week with state Fair Political Practices Commission, Orange County’s 14 lawmakers in the State Legislature…
Mar 11, 2009
Insurance
DC Dispatch: White House compromising on Obama’s public option already?
As HMO execs gathered at the Ritz Carlton in Georgetown, their hired hands on Capitol Hill grilled the Adminisration in hearings today…
Mar 10, 2009
Healthcare
Insurance Setback For Autism Patients
California regulators decline to require carriers to pay for a behavior therapy that is gaining recognition. Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog,…
Mar 10, 2009
Healthcare
Montana Senator Takes Center Stage On Healthcare — Democrat Baucus Fills Leadership Void
With growing prominence, Baucus has also faced heightened scrutiny; the Consumer Watchdog group listed him as the top Democratic recipient of contributions…
Mar 10, 2009
Insurance
Patients protest health insurance industry’s Ritz-Carlton strategy session
I joined patients and nurses at a protest this morning outside the Ritz-Carlton, while health insurance executives gathered inside and plotted how…
Mar 10, 2009
Insurance
Concerns Over Drug Companies’ Political Donations
Consumer Watchdog has revealed that politicians in Washington have received multimillion dollar donations from drug and health insurance companies. "When the engineer…
Mar 10, 2009
Privacy
Lobbyists Paid For A $14,000 Getaway To Wine Country During Budget Talks, As Well As Pricey Trips Abroad
SACRAMENTO, CA -- In the midst of intense state budget negotiations, Democratic lawmakers stole away to an elegant wine-country lodge where the…
Mar 9, 2009