Consumer Watchdog

CAPITOL WATCHDOG: A surge in contributions;

The timing of industry donations to the state Assembly's new Insurance Committee chairman suggests early notice of the appointment.The Orange County Register…

Court Rejects Insurance Industry Attack on Garamendi Good Driver Regulations

Term Limits Initiative Targeted At $90 Mil. Extra ’08 Election

Health Affordability Talk, But No Regulatory Walk In Wake of $1 Million Dollars in Industry Contributions To Committee Members;

Senator Kuehl Called On To Introduce Insurance Premium Regulation

California’s Voice in the 2008 Presidential Campaigns?

Which Way LA? (National Public Radio - KCRW 89.9FM Los Angeles) The Governor and the Legislature are likely to move California's presidential…

Big Oil Shifts To Greener Rhetoric But Investment Still Lags

Dow Jones Newswires Big Oil's embrace of the environmental debate has drawn jeers from some quarters. "Big Oil CEO's are meeting in…

Insurance chief appoints figure from industry;

CRITICS SAY MOVE BELIES POIZNER'S NEUTRAL IMAGEThe San Jose Mercury News (California) The appointments have prompted questions about Poizner's commitment to create…

Poizner’s choice of advisor criticized;

Consumer advocates are wary of the insurance regulator's new aide, an ex-industry lobbyist.The Los Angeles Times Poizner said he valued Gausewitz's insurance…

Topics shift to the environment as oil executives meet in Texas;

'It really reflects how the times change,' says Daniel Yergin, whose group is the sponsor.The Los Angeles Times All the talk of…

Politicians Approve Extra Election at $90 Mil Taxpayer Cost;

Bill Tied to Deal Extending Term Limits for Lawmakers, Governor

Big Oil’s Hot Air in Houston;

Oil CEO's Presence at Energy Summit Is About Image, Not Change, Says Group

California’s presidential primary will likely move to February

The San Jose Mercury News (California) In California's most previous changes to early primaries from June to March, legislative primaries also were…

Stem cell dollars flow;

But grant process is needlessly shroudedThe Sacramento Bee This lack of public disclosure is the single most glaring problem with the Institute…

RATEPAYERS’ RELIEF — INSURANCE:

THANKS TO FAVORABLE ACCIDENT AND CLAIMS RATES, CALIFORNIA'S FOUR LARGEST CARRIERS WILL LOWER PREMIUMS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARSPress Democrat (Santa…

Foundation suggests Schwarzenegger health plan’s success depends on affordability

Health Insurance Law Weekly "Insurance companies and HMOs will do all they can to undermine the governor's healthcare plan, and fight to…

Big Oil cautious about clean-energy spending;

Critics want more from firms earning billionsThe San Francisco Chronicle For BP and other oil companies reaping record profits, research on new…

There’s More Than Meets the Eye to an Early Primary

KPCC 89.3FM (Southern California Public Radio) Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, says California politicians…

Mass. Must Require HMOs, Insurers to Justify Premiums Under Health Insurance Mandate;

Insurance Regulation Will Lower Costs: Has Saved Calif. $23 Billion in Auto Insurance Rates