Accountability

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>

Ethics probe into finances of Sen. Perata;

February 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Group writes Burton, alleges wrongdoing</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, an advocate in FTCR's San Francisco office, said: "Certainly there is a lot of evidence here that Perata violated campaign laws that bar elected officials from utilizing their positions to leverage their personal wealth."</p>

Davis signs reform package

September 23, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Bills target corporate fraud, with hot line for whistle-blowers.</h3><p class="source">The Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"This is the answer to the best line of defense to the next Enron and other state scandals," said Jamie Court, executive director of the Santa Monica-based FTCR, sponsor of two of the bills carried by Sen. Martha Escutia D-Whittier.</p>

Senate sends corporate crime bills to governor

September 4, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"Punishing corporations after the fact doesn't help pensioners who have lost their savings," he said. "With this package of bills, we create the nation's best defense against future fraud.", said Doug Heller, consumer advocate with FTCR.</p>

California News Brief: New CA Dept. of Insurance Brass

February 5, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Workers Comp Executive</p> <p>Gary Cohen's appointment to General Counsel to the CA Dept. of Insurance, surprised consumer activist Harvey Rosenfield's Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, which asserts that Cohen helped bail out Southern California Edison during the energy cris</p>

Corporateering: How Corporate Power Steals Your Personal Freedom… And What You Can Do About It

January 1, 2003  ·  Jamie Court

Enron. Tyco. Arthur Andersen. These companies have turned “corporate” into a four-letter word as headline after headline reveals shocking stories of executives stealing money from...

Climate changed by cash and war

October 3, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento News & Review</p> <p>So, why would Davis wait until the very last minute to act on a bill that used new protections and the threat of fines to encourage corporate executives to report financial fraud in their companies?</p>