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Energy

Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.

Earnings stay hefty for ExxonMobil, Shell;

July 28, 2006 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Energy giants confront political implications</h3><p class="source">The Houston Chronicle</p> <p>"These oil giants are profiting once from the sale of crude oil at record prices and again from refining profits of 43 cents per gallon of gasoline, an amount for which there is no possible justification," Judy Dugan, the foundation's research director, said in a prepared statement. "Profits at this level are pure greed and the real explanation for outrageous prices at the pump."</p>

Sparks fly as ExxonMobil profit tops 10 billion dollars

July 27, 2006 · Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Agence France Presse</p> <p>The California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said sky-high fuel prices had nothing to do with oft-cited factors such as Middle East unrest or instability in Nigeria. "Refining profits at this level are pure greed and the real explanation for outrageous prices at the pump," said the FTCR's Judy Dugan.</p>

Presto Change-o

July 27, 2006 · Consumer Watchdog

<p> <font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Assembly Speaker Núñez's AB 32 would be the first law in the nation to <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-greenhouse26jun26,1,2929733.story">limit...</a> </font> </p>

Big Oil lobbyists stall bills in Legislature that industry opposes

July 15, 2006 · Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE</p> <p>"Democrats are supposed to care about people who are being forced to choose between filling up their cars and having more food on the table," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "It is insane that in a state where Democrats control both houses of the Legislature, they can't attack this issue," he said. "The only reason there has not been more action is that politicians are scared to take them on."</p>

Declining gas prices may soon be memory;

July 4, 2006 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>S.D. average for regular up 6 cents since Friday</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>FTCR in Santa Monica said crude oil prices had little to do with the recent runup. Analyzing data reported by the state energy commission, the foundation said profits for the refining sector of the petroleum industry appear to have soared at the expense of California's motorists. The commission has reported that California refinery costs and profits per gallon have more than doubled since January, rising from 30 cents per gallon during the first week of this year to 71 cents per gallon last week.</p>

Fall Ballot Is a $46-Billion Question;

June 29, 2006 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Five bond measures and four tax-hike efforts contribute to the record tally. The issues are expected to complicate political alliances.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which is supporting the (clean money) initiative, said outside events may heighten its chances. "To the degree that corruption and the power of cash-rich lobbyists stay in the headlines, that helps," he said.</p>

Funds flow on telecom legislation:

June 18, 2006 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>State's star lobbyists and PR firms take sides on cable franchise bill</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"I haven't seen this level of lobbying in the Capitol since fallout from the electricity crisis," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which opposes AB 2987.</p>

Full of Gas

June 15, 2006 · Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Californians are paying more for gasoline than motorists anywhere in the nation and there's no good reason for it. That's what the California Energy Commission has said in weekly reports. But...</font>

Anti-Gouging Bill Targets Big Oil Firms;

June 9, 2006 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Legislation would make it easier for the governor and attorney general to counter market manipulators as gasoline prices climb.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Those fixes, for the first time, could "attack the severe price spikes we see every summer driving season that aren't justified by increased crude costs or refining costs," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica.</p>

The Real Test for Arnold 2.0

June 9, 2006 · Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold is basking in the glow of reviews of his bi-partisan rebirth, but the real test for Schwarzenegger is coming soon. Is Arnold 2.0 still being programmed by the cash-rich special interests...</font>

Green Sonja

June 7, 2006 · Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The gov launches a tour of the state today -- in a green bus wrapped with snow-capped California mountain vistas -- hoping to persuade California voters he is a green machine. But a spiffy new...</font>

Calif. Demands Answers On Oil Prices