Consumer Watchdog
Providing an effective voice for American consumers in an era when special interests dominate public discourse, government and politics. Non-partisan.
Articles by Consumer Watchdog
Nation’s Strongest Corporate Accountability Law Passes California Assembly
Bill Addresses WorldCom-Style Cover Ups, Intimidation The toughest corporate accountability legislation in the United States passed the California Assembly today. SB 783…
Aug 27, 2002Report: Motorists Overpaying Billions Due To Refiner Supply Manipulation
Moving To One Grade Of Gasoline Could Protect California Motorists As motorists take to the roads this labor day, a new report…
Aug 27, 2002Report: Motorists Overpaying Billions Due To Refiner Supply Manipulation
Moving To One Grade Of Gasoline Could Protect California Motorists As motorists take to the roads this labor day, a new report…
Aug 27, 2002Legislature Boils with Bills
End of the Session Is When Lawmakers and Lobbyists Do Some Arm-TwistingSan Jose Mercury News With months of policy debate dwindling to…
Aug 27, 2002Lawmakers OK Smog Check II, others in rush of session’s last week
Associated Press The Assembly passed a bill requiring business executives to reveal corporate fraud or face possible fines of up to $100,000.…
Aug 27, 2002Is State Senator Don Perata on the Take?
Is State Senator Behind High Insurance Rates?KRON TV4 - San Francisco Consumer advocates say that Mercury Insurance of Southern California paid Senator…
Aug 27, 2002Assembly OKs Bill Requiring Execs to Report Corporate Fraud
Associated Press Business executives would have to reveal corporate fraud or face the possibility of being hit with fines of up to…
Aug 27, 2002Portrait of a Sacramento Lube Job
Mercury Insurance Greases the Wheels for Anti-Consumer Bill
Aug 26, 2002Senator Don Perata Authors Eleventh Hour Bill To Surcharge Uninsured Motorists
Sponsor Mercury Insurance Gave Perata $25,000 Days Before Hearing on Similar Bill Last minute gut-and-amend legislation by Senator Don Perata (Oakland) would…
Aug 26, 2002Eleventh Hour Bill To Surcharge Uninsured Motorists Passes Assembly Committee
Sponsor Mercury Insurance Gave Legislators $1,077,550 Since 2000 Last minute gut-and-amend legislation allowing insurers to charge good drivers extra if they had…
Aug 26, 2002Rise in Insurance Forces Hospitals to Shutter Wards
The New York Times Around the country this summer, at least half a dozen hospitals have closed obstetric wards, others have curtailed…
Aug 25, 2002Democrats Resurrect Bill to Punish the Poor
Last-Minute "Gut & Amend" Bill Creates Surcharge On Previously Uninsured Drivers, Enshrines Quackenbush Rules
Aug 23, 2002PG&E’s Creditors Side With PUC
The Los Angeles Times State utility regulators and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. creditors announced a deal Thursday that would raise electricity…
Aug 23, 2002PG&E creditors, PUC regulators make deal;
Consumer groups divided on whether plan benefits ratepayersThe San Francisco Chronicle State regulators announced an agreement Thursday with major creditors of Pacific…
Aug 23, 2002PG&E PLAN LOSES SUPPORT;
LARGE CREDITORS SIDE WITH STATE REGULATORS IN DISPUTE OVER BANKRUPTCYThe San Jose Mercury News Embattled PG&E Corp. lost some ground Thursday as…
Aug 23, 2002Consumers to Help Bail Out PG&E
Associated Press Consumers would pick up the costs of helping Pacific Gas and Electric Co. pay its debts under an agreement reached…
Aug 23, 2002MICRA did not lower insurance premiums in California
During the insurance crisis of the 1980s, California's 1975 law restricting the right of injured patients to sue doctors, hospitals and HMOs…
Aug 22, 2002