Privacy
Session Wasn’t Complete Waste
Given their sorry performance – the budget is now 67 days late – it's tempting to simply ignore any legislation that lawmakers…
Sep 5, 2008Consumer 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
Insurance
Health Insurance Bills Head To Governor
Consumer groups were more encouraged by the legislation and the protections the measures could provide. "There's a range of bills on the…
Sep 4, 2008
Insurance
Pay-As-You-Drive Plan Good for Wallets – and Environment
The PAYD model would allow drivers to document their annual mileage in three ways: They could submit maintenance records; they could have…
Sep 4, 2008
Privacy
Californians overestimate privacy policies protection
There's a real gap between the actual protection provided by online "privacy policies" and what Californians think they are getting. We're lulled…
Sep 3, 2008
Privacy
Can you be incognito on Google’s Chrome?
Google launched its new internet browser, Chrome, today taking on Microsoft's Internet Explorer 8, Mozilla's Firefox and Apple's Safari. Does Google's Chrome…
Sep 2, 2008
Insurance
Are hurricanes or Wall Street losses driving premium increases? CNBC didn’t like my answer
The CNBC anchors acted like I'd yelled fire in a crowded movie house when I pointed out this morning that it was…
Sep 2, 2008
Insurance
Congress Ready To Play ‘Beat The Clock’
Passage of Insurance-Related Bills Problematic with Sept. 26 Adjournment Looming Action was delayed after a new California member, Rep. Jackie Spier, a…
Sep 1, 2008
Insurance
California Lawmakers Pass Several Bills
Measures dealing with health insurance cancellation, mortgage lenders, chemicals and college aid to illegal immigrants are approved. SACRAMENTO, CA -- Insurance companies…
Sep 1, 2008CA Legislature Passes Historic Health Insurance Cancellation Bill
Nurses & Consumers Urge Schwarzenegger to Keep His Promise To Protect Innocent Patients and Sign The Bill SACRAMENTO, CA -- The California…
Sep 1, 2008
Insurance
Drive Less, Pay Less – And Able To Prove It
New Rule Would Really Link Miles Driven And Auto Insurance Rates Miles driven would be verified by one of three methods: odometer…
Aug 29, 2008
Privacy
Genentech doesn’t want to know
Suppose you made two drugs that did the same thing, but one sold for $60 a month and the other for $2,000. …
Aug 28, 2008
Insurance
Pay-As-You-Drive Auto Insurance Revs Up
The proposal stems from legislation authored by state Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, which would have made it possible for insurers to…
Aug 28, 2008
Insurance
Don, Arnold. Arnold, Don. Pot, meet Kettle
Arnold dusted off his old recall election campaign theme of cleaning up Sacramento yesterday when he lambasted Senate Leader Don Perata for…
Aug 28, 2008
Insurance
Poizner Pushes Mileage Plan
The Pay-As-You-Drive Proposal Could Save Californians Hundreds of Dollars a Year. Consumer groups, who opposed Huffman's bill in the Legislature because they…
Aug 28, 2008
Privacy
Buffoonery and $130 Million – What do they have in common?
The Sacramento Bee's Capitol columnist Dan Walters writes about Gov. Schwarzenegger today: "He's rapidly approaching buffoonery."
Aug 28, 2008
Insurance
Stanford cuts corporate influence on medical school
Stanford University's decision to curtail drug and medical device company financing of its continuing medical education (CME) programs is a major step…
Aug 27, 2008
Insurance
Calif. To Tie Auto Insurance to Miles Driven
The regulations will be voluntary and are expected to take effect by fall 2009. They will allow insurance companies to track mileage…
Aug 27, 2008
Privacy
Some Cities Limit Campaign Contributions
Strict Standards: Lake Elsinore Heeds State Laws, But Tougher Rules Exist That Ban Developer Donations. While Lake Elsinore officials have been content…
Aug 27, 2008