Consumer 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
Energy
California gas-price gap with rest of U.S. grows
Sacramento Bee Attorney General Bill Lockyer has issued subpoenas to every California refinery for evidence of "profiteering and gouging." The Foundation for…
May 18, 2006Bill To Ban Junk Health Insurance That Left Three Patients With $680K In Medical Bills Moves Closer to Passage;
AB 2281 Caps Patients' Out of Pocket Health Care Costs
May 17, 2006
Insurance
Florida Orders Mercury General Units To Return More Than $2 Million To Policyholders
TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Two Mercury General Corp. subsidiaries have been ordered to pay more than $2 million in refunds to policyholders for…
May 17, 2006
Energy
Gasoline Costs Fall Slightly in State;
Pump prices average $3.33, a weekly survey shows. It's unclear how long the break will last.The Los Angeles Times Muddying the picture…
May 16, 2006
Insurance
Races to Put a New Face on Capitol;
With term limits, the Assembly will see an influx of newcomers, while a band of moderates seeks Senate seats held by liberals.The…
May 15, 2006
Insurance
Health bill caught in lobbying game
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri) For starters, Blue Cross's decision to sit this round out helped clear the path for Thursday's Senate vote;…
May 14, 2006
Insurance
INSURERS’ CONSOLIDATION FUELS DEBATE OVER RISING U.S. HEALTH COSTS
BestWire Despite health plans' historically high profit margins, premiums for patients keep rising without an expansion of benefits, Rohack said in his…
May 11, 2006
Insurance
KATRINA AFTERMATH; Homeowners tell State Farm that one size doesn’t fit all;
Lawsuit accuses insurer of using a single report to deny many claimsThe Houston Chronicle A lawsuit filed Tuesday by nearly 700 Gulf…
May 10, 2006
Energy
Anti-gouging laws don’t cut gas prices;
State probed 50 potential cases; no chargesTHE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE "It's the oil companies who are getting fat and rich, and they're…
May 10, 2006
Privacy
Wary of Backlash, Cancer-Drug Makers Weigh Price Limits
The Wall Street Journal Medicare reimbursements are in line with drugs' actual selling prices, and physicians and hospitals can no longer afford…
May 10, 2006
Insurance
Insurance chief claims ‘blackmail’;
He wants probe, says industry leveled ad threat over auto plan.Sacramento Bee (California) The Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights,…
May 9, 2006
Privacy
As bond issue is set, big bucks rolling in to Schwarzenegger
The San Francisco Chronicle Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said he believes that car dealers are concerned…
May 9, 2006
Healthcare
Stem-cell Research Blasted from New Angle;
Patient advocates call funding hand-out to firms at expense of poorThe New Standard A new controversy is gripping stem-cell science as California…
May 8, 2006
Insurance
Payment Due — Healthcare Headaches in America;
Transcript of Show on Junk Health Insurance Plans Bill (S. 1955 - Enzi-R-WY)PBS-TV: NOW Program The numbers are staggering -- 45 million…
May 5, 2006
Insurance
Trade associations see potential boon from AHP legislation
The Hill Trade associations will find a way to benefit from the plans financially, insists Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer…
May 4, 2006
Insurance
Author throws punch at Allstate: Tough tactics alleged if payouts resisted
Chicago Tribune Doug Heller, executive director of the watchdog group Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, agrees with Berardinelli, saying that it…
May 3, 2006
Insurance
Stem cell institute gearing up to distribute research funds
The San Francisco Examiner John Simpson, stem cell project director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said he approves of…
May 2, 2006