In The News
The Causes and Effects of the Price Spike in the Midwest during 2000
Manipulation of Inventories and Creation of Price Spikes
Sep 18, 2000Consumer Watchdog
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Articles by Consumer Watchdog
Energy
Higher utility bills a step closer
PUC to hear companies' plans to pass costs onto customersStockton Record The California Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday opened a door that…
Sep 18, 2000
Insurance
Average HMO Medicare Rate Set to Double
Health: Premiums May Even Reach $179 a Month for Some. Little Change Seen for L.A., Orange CountiesLos Angeles Times Medicare managed-care plans--often…
Sep 16, 2000
Insurance
California: Lawmakers Advocate CHIP Expansion
American Healthline Backed by a "cadre of heath care workers and local activists," California Assembly members Bob Hertzberg (D) and Martin Gallegos…
Sep 15, 2000
Insurance
State is letting car insurers flout law, group says
Associated Press Consumer advocates told an appeals court yesterday that the state is giving its blessing to insurance companies that violate a…
Sep 13, 2000
Healthcare
PATIENTS’ RIGHTS: New Compromise Bill Targets GOP Votes
American Healthline Four patients' rights champions -- Reps. Charles Norwood (R-Ga.), John Dingell (D-Mich.), Greg Ganske (R-Iowa) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.)…
Sep 13, 2000
Insurance
California Looks for Solutions to Growing Lack of Health Coverage
Associated Press With no work for nearly six months, electrician Michael Everett barely had money to survive, let alone supply medical coverage…
Sep 13, 2000Court of Appeal Hears Case to End ZIP Code-Based Automobile Insurance Rates
Lower Court Ruled Quackenbush Regulation Defective
Sep 12, 2000Consumer Advocates Chastise Insurance Regulators for Endorsing Deregulation
NAIC "Appeasement" Proposal Would Undermine Consumer Protections Throughout Country
Sep 11, 2000
Healthcare
Doctors, Advocates Like Aetna’s Choice
Hartford Courant Aetna's appointment of Dr. John Rowe as its next chief executive gave hope to the medical community and consumer advocates…
Sep 7, 2000Governor Signs Phony Ratepayer Relief Bill; Punishes Ratepayers For SDG&E, Legislative Mistakes
Governor, Legislature Fail to Address Heart of Problem: Deregulation
Sep 6, 2000
Insurance
Reform Proposal Would Publicize Insurer Data
Los Angeles Times SACRAMENTO--In a reform linked to the California insurance commissioner scandal, confidential state studies of how insurance companies handle policyholder…
Sep 1, 2000
Energy
Race Is On To Provide Help On Electric Woes
Sacramento Bee With their final adjournment scheduled for midnight tonight, state legislators are in a frantic, last-minute struggle to ease the sky-high…
Aug 31, 2000Compromise On Public Disclosure of Insurer Market Conduct Exams Reached
An advocate for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) prevailed over more than two dozen insurance industry lobbyists in winning…
Aug 31, 2000
Energy
Electricity Compromise Emerges In Legislature
Associated Press A rescue plan for San Diego's strapped utility customers moved through the Legislature on Wednesday night, offering a $150 million…
Aug 30, 2000
Energy
San Diego Officials Decry Rate Plan
Los Angeles Times Camped in Sacramento to plead for relief from electricity bills that have cost San Diegans hundreds of million of…
Aug 29, 2000
Insurance
JUDICIAL COUNCIL WEIGHS CURBS ON SEALED FILES, SECRET SETTLEMENTS
The Recorder Like thousands of others, this settlement would be secret, the opposing attorneys agreed. So a private school in La Jolla…
Aug 29, 2000New Utility Rate Plan Takes Too Much From Consumers
Assembly Bill 265 (Alpert & Davis), which passed the Senate 30-0 today, has serious flaws for ratepayers.
Aug 29, 2000