Schwarzenegger Drug Plan Bought and Paid For By Drug Companies, Leaves Most Californians Without Protection
<h3>Consumer Group Vows To Propose Ballot Measure</h3>
Energy
Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.
Calif. Governor Calls for Reforms, Spending Cap
<p class="source">Reuters</p>
<p>Schwarzenegger also promised a prescription drug plan for nearly 5 million Californians, which consumer advocacy group The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, immediately called a plan to put drug companies in charge of health.</p>
New faces, big choices may shape PUC in ’05;
<h3>Nominees could shake up alliances on energy panel</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p>
<p>Doug Heller of FTCR, an advocacy group in Santa Monica, said consumers could find themselves without a consistent vote on the five-member CPUC, which was established to guard against corporate abuse but which is the focus of more and more business lobbyin</p>
Poizner nominated for utilities commission;
<h3>Governor Also Selects Democrat</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p>
<p>Consumer advocates, who saw Wood and Lynch as ratepayer champions on a panel favoring business interests, were skeptical of the new nominees, particularly Poizner because of his background as a business executive.</p>
Talks on Shell Refinery Sale Break Down
<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p>
<p>Critics contend that Shell is a reluctant seller because it has made clear its desire to keep ownership of certain storage tanks and other assets integral to running the refinery and leasing those assets back to the new owner.</p>
Controversy embroils stem cell panel;
<h3>The selection of a chairman, set for today, sparks some protests.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p>
<p>A public watchdog group, the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, plans to tell the committee that it will be monitoring the new panel because of its members' connections to pharmaceutical and biotech firms that could profit from state-funded stem</p>
California regulators approve ‘free market’ power plants
<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p>
<p>Some consumer advocates argued that the free-market system would invite a repeat of the energy crisis, during which merchant generators raised wholesale power costs dramatically, driving PG&E into bankruptcy protection.</p>
Shell Oil Focuses on 1 Bidder;
<h3>The company is negotiating exclusively with an investment firm to sell its Bakersfield refinery, sources say.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p>
<p>"With the extra three months, we're getting really close to popping the cork," said Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "I think there are too many government eyes on this for it not to happen."</p>
Refinery granted reprieve;
<h3>Shell refinery in Bakersfield, CA reaches pact with EPA to stay open</h3><p class="source">The Bakersfield Californian</p>
<p>Shell critic Jamie Court said Monday that Shell's agreement with the EPA "puts the burden on Shell to negotiate reasonable terms for buyers." If the refinery doesn't sell, he said, people won't be able to blame the government.</p>
PUC’s firecracker ignites final salvo
<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p>
<p>Loretta Lynch leaves the CPUC as a commissioner at year's end vilified by energy companies and applauded by consumer advocates, who note a curious turn in her career.</p>
Don’t look now, but it’s the LNG invasion
<p class="source">Vallejo Times-Herald (California)</p>
<p>"I don't believe for a moment that they would idle an LNG plant under any circumstance," says Doug Heller, executive director of FTCR. "We've learned too much through the energy crises to believe companies like this one will take the hit if their big gamb</p>