Accountability

More Accountability Needed in California’s Stem Cell Institute

July 11, 2005  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">KPCC 89.3 FM (Pasadena, CA)</p> <p>The way to move on is for the institute to voluntarily submit to the same democratic rules and good government laws as other state boards. And the public should be guaranteed some control over the fruits of its research.</p>

Arnold Donors Could Cost Cal Retirees $400 Million

April 12, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The most recent bout of corporate corruption may cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Revelations about apparent fraud at mega-insurer American International Group (AIG) has led to $400 million...</font>

Blood Money

March 30, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold's 2nd largest donor is a predator -- not the imaginary motion picture creature, but the real-deal predatory lending beast. Americaquest Mortgage, which has given more than $1.2 million to...</font>

California joins in nationwide insurance probe

October 29, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>FTCR sued Novato-based Firemans Fund Insurance Co. on Friday, alleging the firm is giving its agents financial incentives to dissuade them from giving 20 percent "good driver" discounts to qualified drivers, which would be a violation of California's Prop</p>

Labor Day Report Shows CA Legislators Present But Not Working

September 22, 2004  ·  Carmen Balber

"nonvoting" has played a role in the outcome of more than 2/3 of the bills defeated in the California legislature

Labor Day Report Shows CA Legislators Present But Not Working

September 2, 2004  ·  Carmen Balber

"nonvoting" has played a role in the outcome of more than 2/3 of the bills defeated in the California legislature

Indictment bittersweet in California

July 8, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said the reported indictment was bittersweet for California because the charges apparently have little to do with the energy-market manipulation for which the state is still seeking refunds.</p>

Schwarzenegger rewards employees with higher pay

June 30, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"For a governor who came to office saying he would cut the government, he seems to have really pumped it up, at least salaries for his inner circle," said Jamie Court, a consumer activist with the Santa Monica-based FTCR. "It doesn't show much respect</p>

Cuts at FPPC May Halt Probes;

May 30, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The 30-year-old state ethics watchdog agency, which is looking into the governor's use of campaign funds, is targeted for reductions.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The state agency that polices the flow of money into California political campaigns has been targeted for deep cuts by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, even as the agency is looking into the governors' own use of campaign funds.</p>

Out for the Count

May 3, 2004  ·  Carmen Balber

In 2002 and 2003, three of California’s largest newspapers, the Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle, and Los Angeles Times, carried articles and editorials raising concerns about the increasingly...

State panel won’t investigate Perata;

March 13, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Money paid by college friend questioned</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"It's not surprising that behind closed doors, politicians decided not to fully investigate one of their own," said Doug Heller, an advocate with FTCR. "But closing down this investigation before there's a hearing will not satisfy the public's need to kno</p>

Perata won’t face probe by Senate;

March 13, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>COMMITTEE SAYS HE FOLLOWED LAW</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>FTCR will explore whether to pursue other action, such as filing a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission, and FTCR said the release of the letter late on a Friday appeared designed to limit news coverage.</p>