Energy

Records at pump may not be far off

October 13, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Oakland Tribune</p> <p>Tim Hamilton, a petroleum industry consultant who has issued gas pricing studies with the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, said oil firms do have market power as an oligopoly that benefits jointly together by a rise in prices.</p>

Shell, EPA work on deal to keep Bakersfield, Calif., refinery open

October 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Bakersfield Californian</p> <p>Jamie Court, a spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, said extending the refinery's operations until March "is a needed building block to making sure the refinery stays open."</p>

Schwarzenegger says he’ll take on special interests in coming year

October 8, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, found himself opposing Schwarzenegger several times on issues where the governor sided with those whom he had received campaign contributions from in the past.</p>

Governor vetos Canadian-drug bills

October 1, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>The bills, among the top priorities for Democrats, would have set up a state Web site informing consumers about prices charged by reliable Canadian pharmacies and encouraged the state to use its buying power to purchase drugs from Canada for state program</p>

Gov. sets power-system overhaul in motion

September 27, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA)</p> <p>FTCR, a Santa Monica organization that regularly criticizes Schwarzenegger and operates Arnoldwatch.com, accuses him of proposing the same electricity deregulation "agenda" that led to the 2001 energy crisis and ended up costing Davis his job.</p>

Shell Studying Offers for Its Bakersfield Site

September 23, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"This is a far cry from Shell's statement that no one would want this facility," said Jamie Court, president of FTCR in Santa Monica. With so much interest, "I don't think Shell can announce that they couldn't finalize a deal without regulators asking...</p>

New Obstacle to Refinery Deal;

September 15, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Shell is refusing to include key parts in the sale of its Bakersfield facility, sources say.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, said Shell's latest restrictions were proof that the company never intended to sell the refinery and wanted it closed to further tighten fuel supplies in Californi</p>

Rise of the nonlegislator

September 6, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The report authors found that those Assembly members most likely to abstain on failed bills were moderate Democrats. Along party lines, Assembly Democrats didn't vote on 32 percent of failed bills while Republicans didn't vote on 13.5 percent of them.</p>

The bills stop here;

September 3, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>'LITMUS TEST' MUST BE COMPLETED BY END OF MONTH</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>"I think this is the ultimate litmus test of whether the governor is going to put the real people's interest above the dollars he receives from special interest groups," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights</p>

Calif. electric re-regulation bill gets an OK;

August 27, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Measure likely to reach governor; veto possible</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Douglas Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, which supports the bill, says opponents of the bill avoid talking about deregulation, although he said that is their objective.</p>

ARNOLD’S STATE ‘GARAGE SALE’;

August 26, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>SURPLUS PROPERTY RANGES FROM CAR TO CATTLE PROD</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Consumer advocate Doug Heller of FTCR said some of Schwarzenegger's ideas for streamlining government might have merit. But he criticized the behind-closed-doors method the governor has employed to develop proposals like the CA Performance Review.</p>

Rx Express heads north for drug buy;

August 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Two Portlanders are taking the Canada-bound train trip calling attention to the power of bulk purchasing</h3><p class="source">The Oregonian</p> <p>"Why do you get better prices at Costco? It's bulk purchasing," said Jamie Court, foundation president and chief organizer of the protest.</p>