Consumer Watchdog

Big Business Lied To Voters;

Corporations Use Prop 64 to Attack Pending Consumer Protection Suits Big corporations charged with violating patients' medical privacy, marketing alcohol to minors…

Citing Prop. 64, Firms Seek to Kill Lawsuits;

At least a dozen unfair-competition cases that existed before the measure's passage have come under challenge.Los Angeles Times Opponents of Proposition 64…

New faces, big choices may shape PUC in ’05;

Nominees could shake up alliances on energy panelThe San Diego Union-Tribune Doug Heller of FTCR, an advocacy group in Santa Monica, said…

Insurers Back U.S. Oversight;

With states pushing to tighten their regulation, the industry embraces the idea of federal standards.Los Angeles Times The insurance industry is "threatening…

Delawareans to carry medical history in their pocket;

Card will give doctors round-the-clock accessThe News Journal (Wilmington, DE) Making sure the system is secure is "the time-old story," said Jamie…

Stem cells’ tangled web;

Committee charged with overseeing state-funded research is already wading through political, financial and legal muck.The Orange County Register (California) Jerry Flanagan, an…

Prop. 71 financier debuts as chairman;

29-member board sworn in; biotech exec is vice chairThe San Francisco Chronicle A Los Angeles nonprofit, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer…

Amid continuing complaints, stem cell board chooses its leaders

Associated Press Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said that a main concern is that research grants will…

Prop 71’s Stem Cell Oversight Committee Rife With Conflicts of Interest

Poizner nominated for utilities commission;

Governor Also Selects DemocratSan Jose Mercury News (California) Consumer advocates, who saw Wood and Lynch as ratepayer champions on a panel favoring…

Financier to Lead Institute on Stem Cells

The New York Times Some board members have been criticized for their ties to large biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and…

Tauzin Should Be Banned From Lobbying Congress, the President, Says Consumer Group

Talks on Shell Refinery Sale Break Down

Los Angeles Times Critics contend that Shell is a reluctant seller because it has made clear its desire to keep ownership of…

Controversy embroils stem cell panel;

The selection of a chairman, set for today, sparks some protests.Sacramento Bee A public watchdog group, the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer…

Consumer advocates leave PUC, Governor picks Poizner, Grueneich

Associated Press Their departures led consumer groups to wonder if the new members might skew toward business interests, but Schwarzenegger said in…

California regulators approve ‘free market’ power plants

Sacramento Bee Some consumer advocates argued that the free-market system would invite a repeat of the energy crisis, during which merchant generators…

Bush’s Economic Summit In Sync With Donors, Out of Sync with Reality

Pharmaceutical and Insurance Reforms Could Save System Billions, Medical Liability Limits Won't Help

Shell Oil Focuses on 1 Bidder;

The company is negotiating exclusively with an investment firm to sell its Bakersfield refinery, sources say.Los Angeles Times "With the extra three…