Controller’s Stem Cell Agency Audit Ignores California Agency’s Built-in Flaws
Santa Monica, CA -- An audit of the state stem cell agency by California’s Controller ignores fundamental flaws in Proposition 71 that…
May 12, 2008Consumer Watchdog
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Privacy
Controller: Stem Cell Agency Passes Audit
State Controller John Chiang said an audit of the state's stem cell grant program found its conflict-of-interest policies, grant administration, administrative expenses…
May 12, 2008
Energy
Record Oil Company Earnings Haven’t Trickled Down to Gas Stations
BOUNTIFUL, UT -- During the first week in May, Doug Olson sold fuel at a loss. The co-owner of Slim Olson's gas…
May 11, 2008
Privacy
Community Colleges, Universities Asked to Join Stem Cell Program
State universities and community colleges got an invitation last week to join California's stem cell research program. A committee overseeing the $3…
May 10, 2008
Healthcare
Before ‘Big Oil U’ Was ‘Big Pharma U’
Consumer Watchdog has protested strings-attached grants from Big Oil to universities, but the oil companies are just following the path of Big…
May 9, 2008
Insurance
Rules, But No Cops
When the federal government passes a law but has no cops to enforce it, the crooks hold a "get out of jail…
May 9, 2008
Privacy
We’ve seen false redistricting promises before.
I'm not the only one skeptical of outgoing Speaker Núñez's reform credentials. A Merc...
May 9, 2008
Healthcare
One board member gets it
"All Californians are paying for Prop 71," said Dr. Claire Pomeroy, "so all should benefit from it." Dr. Pomeroy is the Dean…
May 9, 2008
Energy
Prices at the Pump Up at Dawn, Some by 20 Cents
Some gas stations in Arkansas raised regular by 20 cents overnight as record-setting oil futures gave retail prices a hefty boost Thursday.…
May 9, 2008
In The News
Stem cell agency’s conflicted board
One of the the problems with the California stem cell agency's board is that it is fraught with conflicts of interest. It…
May 8, 2008
Insurance
103 exposes costs lower than insurers claim
Our legal team was in San Francisco this week fighting another unjustified insurance rate hike - this time a 6% earthquake insurance…
May 8, 2008
Privacy
Major Repairs Needed at UC President’s Residence
Fixing foundation, water leaks may cost up to $9 million. The stately Kensington mansion that has been home to University of California…
May 8, 2008
Privacy
Foot in mouth disease
Here's what the Capitol Alert reported outgoing Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez said at his last press conference yesterday. ...
May 7, 2008
Privacy
Stem Cell Grants Being Doled Out
UCLA, USC and UC Irvine are among the research centers getting $227 million to build laboratories. California's voter-created stem cell institute is…
May 7, 2008
Energy
Chevron Commits to ‘Alt’ Energy
Chevron Corp. will spend $2.5 billion on alternative and renewable energy technologies, part of its push to develop new kinds of energy,…
May 7, 2008
Energy
Taxing Oil Profits: Proceed With Caution
Politicians are dying to get at more of Big Oil's billions, but analysts are torn about what that will do to prices…
May 6, 2008
Energy
Tired of Paying Through the Nose, Americans Try Praying at the Pump
WASHINGTON, DC -- At a Shell gas station in Washington, Rocky Twyman and an unusual group of activists were mad as hell…
May 5, 2008
Insurance
Examining ‘Emergency’ Insurance Regulations
“Socialized car insurance.” That's what insurers said would happen if California's Proposition 103 passed in November 1988. Advertisements said the referendum would…
May 4, 2008