Energy
Something Stinks and It’s Refineries
Today’s explosion at the Torrance refinery couldn’t come at a better time—for refiners interested in driving up the price of gas.
Feb 18, 2015Liza Tucker
Liza Tucker is a consumer advocate for Consumer Watchdog, following everything from oil and gas to the regulation of toxic substances in the state of California. She comes to us from Marketplace, the largest U.S. broadcast show on business and economics heard by ten million listeners each week on 400 radio stations. Liza worked at this public radio show for a decade, first as Commentary Editor and then as Senior Editor for both Washington and Sustainability News.
Reporting & Commentary
Articles by Liza Tucker 282
Two Refineries Down, Gas Prices Up: Consumer Watchdog Calls For On-Site Inspections To Investigate Price Manipulation
Santa Monica, CA—Responding to a shutdown of two refineries that produce 16 percent of the state’s gasoline, Consumer Watchdog called on state…
Feb 18, 2015
Energy
How Business is Really Done Before Environmental Agencies
If you think the environmental news in California is depressing with the latest fiasco of regulators allowing oil companies to re-inject wastewater…
Feb 14, 2015
Consumer Watchdog Urges CA Attorney General and Regulators to Investigate Tesoro’s Martinez Refinery Shutdown to Rule Out Gasoline Price Manipulation
Santa Monica, CA—Consumer Watchdog today sent a letter to California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Robert Weisenmiller, Chair of the California Energy…
Feb 6, 2015
Top Toxics Regulator Levies No Fines On Exide For Fresh Violations In Signal It Plans To Grant Serial Polluter A Permit, Says Consumer Watchdog
Santa Monica, CA — Far from turning over a new leaf, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) listed eight violations inspectors…
Jan 28, 2015
In The Courtroom
Sacramento Judge Rejects Boeing’s Bid to Demolish and Dispose of Radioactive Waste Without Accountability
Santa Monica, CA -- Sacramento Superior Court has denied Boeing’s motion for summary judgment in a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lawsuit…
Jan 12, 2015
Reports
Pump Jacking California’s Climate Protection: The Threat Of Oil Industry Influence & Market Manipulation
Internal documents obtained from the oil industry’s lobbying arm, the Western States Petroleum Association, show that the companies have made stopping California’s…
Dec 15, 2014
New DTSC Director Says No Need to Reform Toxics Agency: Consumer Watchdog Urges Governor Brown to Fire Appointee or Have Her Apologize
Santa Monica, CA—Consumer Watchdog urged Governor Brown today to rethink his appointment of Barbara Lee as the new director of the Department…
Nov 20, 2014
Consumer Watchdog Campaign: CA TV Stations Take $100 Million From Insurance Companies Against Props 45 & 46 But Some Did Not Cover Measures
Santa Monica, CA - TV stations in a dozen California markets skipped coverage of consumer friendly Propositions 45 and 46, despite the…
Nov 4, 2014
Consumer Watchdog Campaign: Insurance Companies Spend More Than $100 Million Against Prop 45 and 46 Consumer Protections; Public Warned Of Deceptive Mailers and Advertising
Santa Monica, CA – Consumer Watchdog today warned voters that insurance companies had spent more than $100 million on deceptive advertising opposing…
Nov 3, 2014
Yes On 45: La Opinion Adds Endorsement Of Prop 45 To Long List Of Small Newspapers Standing Up For The Little Guy
SANTA MONICA—Spanish language newspaper La Opinion endorsed Prop 45 over the weekend joining more than a dozen other newspapers supporting Yes on…
Oct 28, 2014
YES on 45: HealthNet Contributes $5 Million to Deceptive and Misleading No on 45 Campaign Using Actor as Phony Hardware Store Owner in TV Ads
SANTA MONICA, CA – Health Insurer HealthNet has chipped in nearly $5 million to defeat Prop 45 in a sign that the…
Oct 16, 2014
Advocates Call on Governor Brown to Side with Communities on Key Legislation Reforming Hazardous Waste Permitting
SANTA MONICA, CA –Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice today asked Governor Jerry Brown and California EPA…
Aug 25, 2014
Consumer Watchdog Calls on Governor Brown to Fix Top Toxics Regulator in Wake of Scathing State Audit
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today said that the state audit uncovering $194 million that the Department Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)…
Aug 8, 2014
In The Courtroom
New Report Exposes Boeing Influence Peddling That Derailed Cleanup of a Partial Nuclear Meltdown Site Near L.A.
A new report released by Consumer Watchdog today documents how Boeing and its influential fixers derailed the cleanup of a partial nuclear…
Jun 5, 2014
In The Courtroom
Inside Job: How Boeing Fixers Captured Regulators And Derailed A Nuclear And Chemical Cleanup in LA’s Backyard
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has been a historically troubled agency, far too often failing to effectively fulfill its…
Jun 4, 2014Top Toxics Regulator Resigns in Sign of Possible Reform
SANTA MONICA, CA –Today’s resignation of Debbie Raphael, Director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control, is a hopeful sign that the…
May 1, 2014
Privacy
Toxics Regulators Doctor Results of Investigation To Avoid Admitting Wildomar Residents Poisoned
Santa Monica, CA— A new report released today by leading environmental advocate Penny Newman and residents of the poisoned Wildomar community shows…
Apr 8, 2014