Accountability

Sacramento Responds To Golden Wasteland Report/NBC expose

February 21, 2013  ·  Liza Tucker

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2601" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/goldenwasteland.jpg" style="width: 1px; height: 1px; float: right;" width="500" height="335" />Somebody's listening.

W.H. Warned To Distance From Google

June 24, 2011  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Consumer Watchdog is telling the White House that its cozy relationship with Google is inappropriate, given ongoing reviews by both the FTC and the Department of Justice.</p>

The Progressive’s Guide to Raising Hell: How to Win Grassroots Campaigns, Pass Ballot Box Laws, and Get the Change We Voted For

August 27, 2010  ·  Jamie Court

Change is no simple matter in American politics-a fact that Americans have recently learned well. Elections rarely produce the change they promise. After the vote,...

The Progressive’s Guide to Raising Hell: How to Win Grassroots Campaigns, Pass Ballot Box Laws, and Get the Change We Voted For.

August 27, 2010  ·  Jamie Court

Change is no simple matter in American politics-a fact that Americans have recently learned well. Elections rarely produce the change they promise. After the vote,...

Does financial reform hit Wall St where it hurts?

May 25, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Two distinct narratives have emerged from last week’s approval by the U.S. Senate of financial reform legislation. One: Of an historic overhaul of the financial industry for reformers demanding accountability for Wall Street. Two: Of Wall Street lobbyists pleased that they managed to kill the biggest game-changers in reformers’ playbook...

Experts’ Biggest Fear: New Dodd Bill Won’t Stop Another Meltdown, “Epidemic” of Wall Street Fraud

March 17, 2010  ·  Consumer Watchdog

On top of that, the compromised agency's actions are subjected to a veto by a "systemic risk" council made up of the same federal regulatory agencies that ignored the bubbles, scams and frauds that caused the last meltdown. As the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog's Washington Director Carmen Balber remarked, "You can't pull an agency's teeth, and let other regulators tie its hands, and still call it an independent champion for consumers."

Chrysler does the right thing

August 29, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

It's not every day that one of the world's biggest automakers voluntarity agrees to greater legal accountability to injured consumers. But that's exactly what Chrysler did this week.

CIRM Board Member Gets Ethics Warning Letter, But Not Fine, Over Conflict Of Interest

January 13, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

This ends an investigation that was launched over a year ago at the request of CIRM watchdog, John Simpson. “I hope Dr. Reed and all members of the board have learned from this,” Simpson said in a statement. Though Simpson had previously called on Reed to resign, he says it would now be acceptable for Reed to rejoin the Institute’s 29-member board.

Fair Practices Panel Delays Action on ‘Slush Fund’ Rule

December 11, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Carmen Balber, an advocate with Consumer Watchdog who wrote to the fair practices panel in support of the regulation, was at Thursday's meeting in Sacramento. "Most of the commissioners expressed a recognition -- and concern -- that these committees function as indeterminate, unlimited war chests," she said afterward.

Who’s behind the curtain?

September 9, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> I just got an email that the FPPC is planning to tighten up the rules for disclosure of who's behind political committees. It's perfect timing after a story in Saturday's LA Times highlighted how little we know about who's running the show... </p>

Complaint Accuses Nunez of Misusing Charity

January 23, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<b>In a filing with the ethics panel, a foundation says the Assembly speaker used funds given to a nonprofit for political purposes. He denies the claim.</b> <p> A complaint filed with state ethics officials Tuesday accused Assembly...</p>

Complaint accuses Nunez of misusing charity;

January 23, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<div class="postDetail"> <p style="font-size: 11px"> <span style="font-weight: bold"></span> </p> <h3 style="font-size: 10pt">In a filing with the ethics panel, a foundation says the Assembly speaker used funds given to a nonprofit for political purposes. He denies the claim.</h3> </div>