Consumer Watchdog

Will Arnold Take on Chevron?

The lawyer from Ecuador who is prosecuting Chevron for its crimes against the Amazon has written Arnold Schwarzenegger, asking the Gov to…

UC Academic Senate Confirms BP Contract

The Berkeley Daily Planet (California) Also on hand for Thursday's votes was John M. Simpson of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer…

Academic Senate Calls for BP Deal Oversight

The Daily Californian (Berkeley, CA) John Simpson, the stem cell project director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the…

UC Berkeley biofuels deal stirs debate;

Critics of a $500-million agreement with BP to create a lab at the school raise questions about the influence the oil giant…

BERKELEY: FACULTY PANEL BACKS BIOFUELS DEAL

CBS-TV5 (San Francisco, CA) Playing on the names of the university and the energy company, John Simpson of the Santa Monica-based Foundation…

Arnold’s Fundraising Total Tops $115 Million

Arnold shows no signs of slowing down his prolific fundraising machine, and his total take is now just shy of $115.3 million.…

State stem cell program head suddenly resigns

THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE John Simpson, who has been monitoring the stem cell program on behalf of a Santa Monica nonprofit called…

Stem cell agency president steps down earlier than planned

Associated Press "Hall's health should be a primary concern," said John Simpson of the Foundation For Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which has…

Stem-cell exec moves up date of resignation

San Jose Mercury News (California) Although it's unclear if Hall's letter signals a serious division within the agency, John Simpson of the…

Fuel costs set records

Oakland Tribune The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer watchdog group based in Santa Monica, sees it differently. "The spread…

Rising gas prices do little to dent driving habits:

Report shows fuel consumption is actually higher now than last yearThe Houston Chronicle (Texas) Americans just seem more conditioned -- and maybe…

Two quit stem cell panel after dispute;

Talk on distributing funds grows contentious.Sacramento Bee (California) John Simpson, stem cell project director for the watchdog group Foundation for Taxpayer and…

Faculty Senate Nears Showdown Over UC-BP Pact

The Berkeley Daily Planet (California) Release of the documents sparked a sharp April 12 letter from John M. Simpson of the Santa…

Assembly Health Committee Approves Requiring Health Insurers to Justify, Seek Approval for Rate Increases

The California Assembly Health Committee approved a bill today by Assemblyman Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) that would require HMOs and health insurers to…

Allstate hit with $2.8 million verdict in Katrina case

Associated Press The jury found Northbrook, Ill.-based Allstate -- which claimed most of the damage was due to storm surge, an event…

Stem Cell Institute President’s Early Departure Troubling, Say Consumer Advocates

Embryonic stem cell pioneer chose to publish, not patent

The San Diego Union-Tribune "(James) Thomson made a very important contribution to science," said John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and…

Stem cells not only golden goose for WARF;

Stem cells get the publicity, but the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation's cash cow continues to be vitamin D.Wisconsin State Journal The Los…