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
Union Disunity;
The secret deal worked out between SEIU bosses and nursing home owners denies union members the right to speak out strike, or…
Apr 11, 2007Consumers Suffering Double-Digit Rate Increases Call For Health Affordability Bill;
Measure Modeled on Landmark Auto Reform Would Require Insurers to Justify Increases and Get Approval Before Raising Rates
Apr 11, 2007Giant reined in by landmark judgment;
A decision by the US patent office offers encouragement to small-scale research unitsThe Australian (Australia) As the WARF challenge shows, it's far…
Apr 11, 2007Congress Presses Refiners on California’s Gasoline Price Spike, Supply Restrictions;
Rep. Kucinich Requests Oil Companies' Plan for Increasing Supply In West as California Far Outpaces U.S. Average Price
Apr 10, 2007Public Records Reveal European Junket for Energy Regulators, Utility Execs Cost $8150 Apiece;
Advocates Call for Ban on Privately Funded Out-of-State Travel
Apr 10, 2007With Gasoline a Dime From Record Price, Top Analyst says West Coast Is Toast;
Low Supply Makes the West a "Compromised Market for the Rest of This Decade," say OPIS Chief
Apr 9, 2007Light bulb legislator strives for bright ideas;
Elephants are also on radar of Lloyd Levine, who wants to 'do big things'Sacramento Bee (California) The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer…
Apr 9, 2007HMO Regulator Finds Blue Cross Batting Average Is Zero in Proving Patients Lied Before Retroactively Canceling Coverage
Managed Care Law Weekly "Out of 90 cases reviewed to determine whether Blue Cross abided by state law, Blue Cross struck out…
Apr 9, 2007Stanford’s deal with Exxon Mobil raised concerns
Sacramento Bee (California) The Stanford deal was controversial from the start, but one aspect recently captured headlines. The San Jose Mercury News…
Apr 9, 2007Mass. Would Junk Quality, Affordability Promises of Health Insurance Mandate
Health Insurance Law Weekly "We can only imagine that the Board is considering an HDHP exemption in response to criticism that health…
Apr 8, 2007Officials’ overseas trips raise eyebrows;
Foundation skirts gift limits, critics sayThe San Diego Union-Tribune One watchdog group has demanded that Kehoe and Levine disclose details of the…
Apr 6, 2007Group wants details of trip:
Expense-paid Japan travel for lawmakers, regulators bothers consumer advocatesSacramento Bee (California) "It was with great concern that we learned of your participation…
Apr 5, 2007Retroactively Canceling Insurance Lands Blue Cross in Flurry of Litigation
Los Angeles Daily Journal Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights was not surprised. "Generally, plans get caught red-handed,…
Apr 5, 2007Editorial: Stem cells for all;
Patent ruling could remove chill on researchSacramento Bee (California) Nonprofits such as the Public Patent Foundation and the Foundation for Taxpayer and…
Apr 5, 2007PTO Agrees To Re-Examine WARF Claims In Stem Cells
BIOWORLD Today Dated March 30, the PTO's preliminary decision became known Tuesday. WARF has two months to appeal the finding that favors…
Apr 4, 2007Government nixes stem-cell patents;
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejects three patents held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.The Daily Deal (deal.com) A challenge to…
Apr 4, 2007