Consumer Watchdog

Schwarzenegger Must Dismiss Cabinet Secretary Whose 2002 Memo Attacks Civil Servants, Group Says;

Recently Promoted Former Insurance Lobbyist Dunmoyer Will Hurt Governor's Bipartisan Push

Letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger Re: Appointment of Dan Dunmoyer to Deputy Chief of Staff & Cabinet Secretary

“The Golden State Has Lost Its Luster”

Internal Insurance Industry Memo

Inaugural cash pouring in:

Donor list includes health insurers and builders who have agendas in the Capitol.The Sacramento Bee (California) Carmen Balber, a consumer advocate with…

Health industry gives to governor’s inauguration fund;

Donations coincide with planning for revamp of systemThe San Francisco Chronicle Some critics noted that the big contributions from the health care…

Inaugural “Money In” Still A Secret

Governor Schwarzenegger still has not disclosed, as he promised, what companies are footing the bill for the two-day bash he's planning for…

This Just In!

An update to our previous...

Governor raises at least $640,000 for inaugural celebration

The San Francisco Chronicle Carmen Balber, a consumer advocate for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica-based group that…

Schwarzenegger Personnel Moves Indicate Deeper Influence of Insurance, Big Business Interests in Governor’s Office;

Governor's Top Staff Includes Many With Ties to Insurance Industry and Opponents of Healthcare Reform

Put Insurers’ Spending and Profit Front and Center in Reform Debate, Says Group

Businesses Must Join Consumers to Resist Industry's Political Clout

Health care debate hits fever pitch

The San Diego Union-Tribune (California) A consumer group, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, advocates cutting health care costs by regulating…

Governor to start 2nd term with glitz, bipartisanship

The San Francisco Chronicle Watchdog groups say the galas hosted by Schwarzenegger are still deeply distressing. "It reminds me of the wedding…

Difficult Departures

The San Francisco Chronicle Zach Hall, 69, brought both vision and pragmatism to the fledgling California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). On…

Regulators enjoy cozy relationship with insurance industry;

Oversight is all too often an oversightThe Kansas City Star Insurance companies have far deeper pockets, and far greater political pull, than…

Consumer Group Hammers Report On Governance Regs;

Financial connection to Greenberg organization citedNational Underwriter - Property & Casualty/Risk & Benefits Management Edition A California consumer group has criticized former…

Vargas takes insurance job;

Ex-assemblyman's reversal draws fireThe San Diego Union-Tribune (California) Some consumer advocates are outraged, saying the job is a payoff for Vargas' friendly…

Former head of California insurance committee takes insurance job

The San Jose Mercury News (California) Vargas, who left office last month, headed the Assembly Insurance Committee for the past four years,…

Drug firms to get part of stem cell grant pool;

State institute would see a share of their profitsThe San Francisco Chronicle John Simpson, stem cell project director for the Capitol Foundation…