Consumer Watchdog

Frist Dumps HCA Stock After Ethics Complaint

Remaining Senators Must Follow Suit: Sell Hospital, Pharmaceutical, Insurance Stock Or Abstain From Votes After refusing for two years to admit a…

Sep 21, 2005

Energy

Supply-side regulation needed for the US oil industry

Marketplace Radio Program (NPR) Since deregulation in 1982, oil consumption has increased 33 percent. But oil companies have reduced refining capacity by…

Sep 21, 2005

Healthcare

Calif. Treasurer Urging State to Nix UnitedHealth-PacifiCare Deal Unless ‘Excessive Payouts’ Given Up

BestWire In addition to Angelides, the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights came out again criticizing the proposed merger. Joined by nurses…

Sep 20, 2005

Insurance

Council moves to thwart Measure B

Pasadena Star-News (Pasadena, CA) The Santa Monica-based FTCR wrote Measure B and successfully defended it in court. Carmen Balber of FTCR, said…

Sep 20, 2005

Privacy

Campaign cash pays for travel;

Lawmakers' practices questioned Sacramento Bee "Politicans depend on the inability of the public -- including the press, to really get to the…

Sep 19, 2005

Healthcare

California rates HMOs

Modern Healthcare Jerry Flanagan, healthcare policy director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, says the survey provides a meaningless comparison…

Sep 19, 2005

Energy

Californians gouged on gasoline prices?

Big Oil Bringing Price Controls On ItselfVentura County Star (California) FTCR suggests the 20-cent post-Katrina leap was pure gouging, with no other…

Sep 19, 2005

Insurance

SUSPICION FUELLED;

DO REFINERS KEEP CAPACITY LOW IN ORDER TO DRIVE PRICES HIGHER?Calgary Sun (Alberta) The U.S.-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR)…

Sep 19, 2005

Insurance

Insuring a Fair Recovery

The New York Times The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights calculates that the current Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, Robert Wooley, received more…

Sep 17, 2005

Insurance

Surviving the insurance process

The Houston Chronicle (Texas) The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer group, has received complaints that companies have been slow…

Sep 17, 2005

Insurance

Bill expands cheap car insurance plan;

SCHWARZENEGGER: If it's signed, low-income Inland drivers would be able to buy inexpensive coverage.Press Enterprise (Riverside, CA) "For most low-income working people,…

Sep 17, 2005

Louisiana Insurance Commissioners Insurance Company Campaign Contributions Put Katrina Survivors at Risk

Commissioner Wooley's $577,000 From Insurance Industry Explains Industry-Friendly Response to Insurers' Refusal to Pay Claims Louisiana Insurance Commissioner J. Robert Wooley received…

Sep 17, 2005

Insurance

Angelides decries $315 million payout in planned merger

San Jose Mercury News (California) Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, agreed. "It's ridiculous that…

Sep 16, 2005

Privacy

Critics attack massive merger-related payouts of health systems’ executives

Sacramento Bee (California) "We want certain guarantees that they (UnitedHealth Group & PacifiCare) won't pull out of the small group market and…

Sep 16, 2005

Privacy

The Fantastic Meal

Yesterday, Arnold honored McDonald's for its role in fighting Childhood obesity. The beefy guru of physical fitness made the guru of special…

Sep 16, 2005

Consumer and Patient Groups Call on Regulators to Oppose PacifiCare Merger at Sacramento Hearing

PacifiCare Bonuses & Reserves Enough to Health Care for 278,000 Californians For An Entire Year

Sep 16, 2005

Insurance

Bill aids uninsured, poor drivers

Low-cost policies could be offered in Fresno Co.Fresno Bee (California) "Under the law, you are obligated to have liability insurance to protect…

Sep 15, 2005

Insurance

Rising Premiums Threaten Job-Based Health Coverage

Health Insurance Costs Exceed Annual Minimum-Wage EarningsLos Angeles Times Consumer advocates question why premium increases are needed as insurance industry profits rise.…

Sep 15, 2005