Energy

Governor pushes ‘reform agenda’ amid noisy contention

March 3, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Proposed pension revamp is a target</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union Tribune</p> <p>Amid the din of dueling supporters and protesters, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited a San Diego radio station parking lot Thursday to collect signatures for his ballot proposals and try to stamp out a controversy about his plan to overhaul public pensio</p>

Schwarzenegger considers tax breaks for filming in California

February 28, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Critics say with the state facing a $9 billion budget deficit, this is no time for California to be giving away money from the state treasury.</p>

Governor gives ‘special interest’ new slant;

February 27, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Teachers, nurses protest depiction</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Unions representing teachers and nurses are fighting back, saying their members are trusted professionals whose only special interest is improving education and health care. They say Arnold is doing the bidding of the real special interests...</p>

Governor Fails to Curb Big Money

February 21, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>While criticizing the system, Schwarzenegger continues to raise millions to help his political agenda and seeks to lift restrictions.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, one of the governor's biggest critics, accused Schwarzenegger of setting up a special election "to get around campaign finance laws," thereby wasting taxpayer dollars.</p>

Government Of, By and For Arnold

February 18, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Today, we note an Arnold first - the governor admits he's wrong. The Sacramento Bee reports that Arnold is withdrawing his plan to eliminate nearly 100 public protection boards that police...</font>

Film-industry tax break backed;

February 17, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>SCHWARZENEGGER WANTS MOVIE-PRODUCTION WORK TO STAY IN CALIFORNIA</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, with FTCR -- which has helped organize protests of teachers and nurses at many of Schwarzenegger's recent events -- said, "Given the crises facing the state, helping out his pals in the movie industry is not what California really needs."</p>

Cell phone decision spurs fears of a shift at utility commission

January 29, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Ventura County Star (California)</p> <p>Thursday's 3-1 vote to suspend the landmark Telecommunications Consumer Bill of Rights demonstrates that the commission is becoming more friendly to the businesses it is charged with regulating, said Doug Heller, a consumer advocate with FTCR.</p>

State fines former commissioner;

January 24, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Duque cited for utility commission votes on Nextel</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>In light of the fine, FTCR, the group that unsuccessfully went to court to try to oust Duque from office, said he should have to repay the state for the cost of defending him in court. At one point, the legal bills were estimated to be more than $100,000.</p>

PUMPING HIM UP;

January 16, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Governor's position as a top editor at a pair of bodybuilding magazines may enhance his political celebrity</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"These magazines are where Arnold the Brand meets Arnold the Politician," said Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a nonprofit watchdog organization that manages a Web site called Arnoldwatch.com</p>

Energy firm settles suit with state

January 15, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Consumer advocate Doug Heller with FTCR, said the settlement is certainly not enough money in the scheme of things, but isn't a bad payout considering FERC's longstanding reluctance to force generators to make refunds to California.</p>

Diesel retailer to buy Shell’s Bakersfield, Calif., refinery

January 11, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Orange County Register (California)</p> <p>Shell records obtained by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights showed the refinery estimated its net earnings at $ 11.4 million at the end of May -- a higher margin per barrel than at its larger Martinez refinery.</p>

Utah-based firm to buy Bakersfield, Calif., refinery for $130 million

January 11, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Bakersfield Californian</p> <p>Jamie Court, with FTCR, said the announcement the refinery will likely stay open is very good news for consumers, but the sales process should not have taken this long, and this should really force every other oil company in the nation to think twice befo</p>