Consumer Watchdog

Governor OKs loan conversion

He agrees to give up $4.5 million rather than let campaign donors cover it.Sacramento Bee "It's a good thing that he listened…

Proposed health care mega-merger gets OK from nation’s regulators

The Daily News of Los Angeles The FTC's decision "is more bad news for patients," said Jerry Flanagan, health care reform advocate…

Hey Voters, Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

The Los Angeles Times "Are we such a malleable electorate that a celebrity gets a bunch of special interests to give him…

A Remedy for Shakedowns

The Los Angeles Times Chamber of Commerce President Allan Zaremberg maintains that the initiative would "stop these shakedown lawsuits before they happen."…

Johnson puts starpower behind debtless ‘Magic’ money cards

San Bernardino Sun (California) With many underserved communities dependent on check-cashing stores for their banking needs, prepaid debit cards are a viable…

BOOK REVIEW; An economist prescribes ‘Strong Medicine’;

The Los Angeles Times The problem is that Cutler wrote the book for the system's engineers, not for its travelers. A player…

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first 100 days in office

National Public Radio (NPR) Morning Edition Mr. DOUG HELLER (Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights): He's taking money from insurance companies, HMOs,…

Ethical lapse

Governor's high-priced event is wrong tacticThe San Diego Union-Tribune The worthy cause of resolving California's budget crisis should not be compromised by…

Bill would make it easier to drop policyholders

Charleston Gazette (West Virginia) Insurance rates could actually increase if the bill passes, said Doug Heller, a consumer advocate with FTCR. "If…

17200 proponents take fight to corporate doorstep

The Recorder "It's seen as a lawyers versus the corporations issue. It's really... public interest versus big corporations," said Jamie Court, who…

The Arnold Index

On Meet the Press yesterday, Arnold advised President Bush about giving and getting in politics: "You know, what you would do for…

FTCR Calls for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s Recusal from Medical Malpractice Debate for Conflict of Interest

Frist Malpractice Legislation Boon For Family’s Hospitals,

Conflict Requires Majority Leader's Immediate Recusal

Tenet sale may lead to mandate of incentives for buyers

Los Angeles Business Journal "The likely people who will take over these hospitals are non-profits. I am interested in what is the…

Governor’s charm playing well in Capitol;

Schwarzenegger makes inroads despite some broken promisesThe San Diego Union-Tribune "It's worse than Gray Davis because Gray Davis didn't tell people he…

Arnold’s first 100 days win praise;

4 goals complete, others under wayThe Daily News of Los Angeles "Schwarzenegger has been fund raising even faster than Gov. Gray Davis,…

“Governator” Schwarzenegger passes 100 days

Agence France Presse "This really outpaces Gray Davis," said Carmen Balber of FTCR, which operates the ArnoldWatch website. "He has gone hat…

Action figure: Energetic and charismatic, the state’s new governor has earned high marks from across the political spectrum

Much of his agenda a work in progressSacramento Bee Since taking office, his raising millions of dollars from corporate interests at a…