Zooming Oil Price Makes “Hot Fuel” Fix More Urgent as Memorial Day Approaches
Consumer Groups Criticize Oil Industry Resistance to Fixing Hidden Charge at Pump That Costs U.S. Drivers Close to $3 Billion Yearly Washington,…
May 22, 2008Consumer Watchdog
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Articles by Consumer Watchdog
Courtroom
CA Senate Rejects Bill That Would Allow Drug Marketing Firms to Access Prescription Drug Records Without a Patient’s Consent
Bill Sponsor Adheris Changed Its Name After Privacy Violations, Washington Post Santa Monica, CA -- The California Senate rejected a bill today…
May 22, 2008
Insurance
CONSUMER CONFIDENTIAL: This Executive Takes Service Personally
A lot of readers were miffed to learn in one of my recent columns that most car insurers have yet to fully…
May 21, 2008
Insurance
Commission Votes to Allow Casmalia Water Rate Increase
Rates May Rise 89 Percent The California Public Utilities Commission has decided that the utility supplying water to the tiny community of…
May 20, 2008
Privacy
California Cracking Down On Political Travel Expenses
SACRAMENTO, CA -- California's elected officials no longer will be able to hide lavish travel expenses, thanks to new rules by the…
May 20, 2008
Privacy
Watchdog Expands Rules On Spending Disclosure
Politicians Will Have To Itemize In-State Trips Paid With Donor Funds SACRAMENTO, CA -- California politicians will no longer be allowed to…
May 20, 2008
Privacy
Governor’s Trips Must Be Disclosed
SACRAMENTO, CA -- Some of the most influential business leaders who've underwritten Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's trips abroad will now have to do…
May 19, 2008
Privacy
CA Controller Backs Bill To Study Conflicts Of Interest In State’s Stem-Cell Program
California’s chief financial officer is supporting a bill that would order a study of how the state’s stem-cell research agency is governed,…
May 19, 2008
Insurance
Individually Speaking — Insurers Under Fire Over How They Rescind Policies
The race is on to reshape the individual health insurance market, as health plans increasingly come under fire from state regulators, patient…
May 19, 2008New Rules Place Politicians’ California Travel Under Scrutiny
State Ethics Board Increases Disclosure Required for Trips Paid for By Campaign Donors Santa Monica, CA – California politicians must explain…
May 19, 2008White House Forced to Cap Oil Reserve; Should Embolden Congress to Push for More To Drop Energy Prices
Consumer Watchdog Calls for Sales from Reserve, Warning to Refineries, Swift Action on Oil Trading Curbs Santa Monica, CA -- The…
May 16, 2008
Insurance
Kaiser-California Pact to Offer New Policies to 1,092 Rescinded Consumers
SACRAMENTO, CA -- The Kaiser Foundation Health Plan has agreed to a fine and to offer health care coverage to 1,092 individual…
May 16, 2008
Healthcare
1,200 People to Have Canceled Healthcare Coverage Restored
The action comes after Kaiser Permanente and Health Net reach an agreement with a state agency. Two of the state's largest health…
May 16, 2008
Insurance
Kaiser’s State Accord Reinstates Patients
The state Department of Managed Health Care and Kaiser Permanente announced an agreement Thursday to immediately reinstate health insurance to 1,092 Kaiser…
May 16, 2008Chevron Busts Family Budgets In Struggling California Town Of Casmalia
State PUC Grants Oil Giant’s Water Company 89.7 Percent Rate Increase; Chevron Wanted 138 Percent Santa Monica, CA -- A decision today …
May 15, 2008Consumer Watchdog Raises Concern that Health Policy Cancellation Rules Have Been Derailed in Deal With Kaiser
Sees Improvement But is Concerned About Loss of Legal Remedies Santa Monica, CA -- A settlement with Kaiser Permanente over more 1,000…
May 15, 2008
Insurance
Phone Deregulation Plan Aimed At Easing Mergers’ Path
An attempt sponsored by Verizon to cut into the state Public Utilities Commission's power over telephone-company mergers is drawing fire from unlikely…
May 15, 2008Consumer Watchdog Warns HMO Regulator Not to Side With Insurers Over Illegal Coverage Cancellations
Big 5 Health Insurers Named In Cancellation Lawsuits Contributed $804,600 to Governor Santa Monica, CA -- Consumer Watchdog today said that according…
May 14, 2008