Big Brother Tracking Unnecessary to Encourage Californians to Drive Less
Santa Monica, CA -- Devices to track a driver’s every move, as allowed by a bill under consideration by the California legislature,…
Aug 6, 2008Consumer Watchdog
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Articles by Consumer Watchdog
Insurance
Benefits of Morning Fill-Ups an Urban Myth, Watchdog Says
According to a news release by a California nonprofit organization called Consumer Watchdog, the idea that motorists should fill their tanks in…
Aug 6, 2008
Insurance
Pay-As-You-Drive Insurance Spurs Big Brother Fears
SACRAMENTO, CA -- Question: How do environmentalists get motorists to drive less in order to combat global warming? Answer: Team up with…
Aug 6, 2008
Insurance
Poizner Drops Refund Effort
The State Insurance Chief Settles with Allstate, Which Agrees Not to Oppose a 28.5% Homeowners' Rate Cut. California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner…
Aug 5, 2008
Insurance
Beware the Cap
Many Workers Now Have Health Insurance Policies with a $1 Million to $2 Million "Lifetime Maximum." What Happens When You Exceed It?…
Aug 3, 2008
Energy
Chevron’s Record Profit Fleeting?
Chevron Corp. rocketed to record quarterly profits of $5.98 billion, the oil giant reported Friday, but some industry watchers pilloried Chevron's profits.…
Aug 1, 2008
Energy
Exxon’s Second-Quarter Profit Breaks Its Own Record
The oil giant brings in $11.68 billion, the largest profit for a U.S. company, and still fails to meet analysts' expectations. Critics…
Aug 1, 2008Chevron Profits: Drill Less, Profit More
Chevron Data Shows Industry Lag in Producing New Oil from U.S. Source -- Lower Production Shows Failure of Investment, Not Lack of…
Aug 1, 2008
Privacy
Perata Solicits for Own Backers
Nonprofit Group Run By an Adviser Spends to Assist Senator's Agenda Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata has solicited at least $200,000…
Aug 1, 2008Exxon Profits: ‘Pumping Cash, Not Oil’
Exxon’s ‘Biggest Profit in the World’ Is Actually Bigger -- $8 Billion in Unproductive Share Buybacks Should be Counted, Says Group Shell,…
Jul 31, 2008
Insurance
Hayashi Urged to Say ‘No’ to Governor’s Rescission Bill
When we at Consumer Watchdog heard a disturbing rumor late last week that Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) is considering authoring the governor's…
Jul 30, 2008BP Profits: ‘Congratulations Are Not In Order,’ Says Consumer Watchdog
New Quarterly Records Show Oil Companies 'Spiting the Future For the Sake of Cash in Hand' Santa Monica, CA -- BP,…
Jul 29, 2008Public Interest Groups Back Federal Court Appeal To Implement New U.S. Patent Rules
Proposed Regulations Would Curtail Abusive Behavior By Patent Applicants WASHINGTON, DC -- A coalition of consumer advocacy and public interest groups today…
Jul 29, 2008
In The News
Dealing with a time before regulations
The California stem cell agency's Standards Working Group hammered out very thorough ethical guidelines to ensure human embryonic stem cell lines derived…
Jul 29, 2008
Healthcare
Stem Cell Funds Face Roadblock
Bill could Alter CIRM's Focus With a $3 billion pot of stem cell research cash in the balance, California legislators want to…
Jul 28, 2008
Privacy
See how stem cell agency spends your money
Interested in how the California stem cell agency has so far parceled out $554 million in research grants? The California Institute for…
Jul 28, 2008
Insurance
Referendum Process Now Being Used By Wealthy
When California's reform-minded Gov. Hiram Johnson launched the referendum process in 1911, his idea was to give common citizens more of a…
Jul 28, 2008
Insurance
Legislation Puts Insurers on Road to More Profits
The insurance industry is busy telling us that it has teamed up with environmentalists to clean the air by cutting insurance premiums…
Jul 26, 2008