Wall Street Oil Speculators Hurt Families, U.S. Economy
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Energy
Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.
Corporations, Wealthy Dominate Initiative Process
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SACRAMENTO, CA -- California's initiative process was intended to give people a way to arm themselves against corruption, whether it was from lawmakers in the Capitol or the special interests that controlled them.<br />
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But in the 100 years since former Gov. Hiram Johnson rallied against the corrupt politics that permeated state government, corporations and wealthy individuals have adapted to California's initiative process and in some years dominate it by qualifying ballot measures that benefit them.<br />
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State’s Drivers Ease Up On The Gas
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<strong>Fuel consumption declines even as the number of licensed motorists climbs.</strong><br />
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California drivers, long a symbol of America's love affair with cars, areenamored with saving fuel these days, so much so that they're setting the national standard for burning less gasoline.<br />
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In the first six months of this year, Californians used nearly 7.3 billion gallons of gasoline, down 1.7% from the same period last year and off 3.5% from the first half of 2002.<br />
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Scathing Report on Deadly PG&E Pipeline Blast Sounds Too Familiar
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<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2206" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_judydrawingname.gif" style="margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right; width: 133px; height: 200px; " width="133" height="200" /></p>
Oil Drops 14%, Gas Only 3.4% – Fuel Prices Vary Significantly
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In recent weeks, the price of a benchmark crude oil has fallen by double digits, while the price of gasoline in Little Rock and the rest of Arkansas has not dropped proportionately.<br />
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That disconnect may leave motorists wondering why gasoline prices haven't dropped more than they have.<br />
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As Stocks Fall, So May Gas Prices
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<strong><img class=" size-full wp-image-9313" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/gasoilprices2011.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 216px;" width="410" height="354" /></strong></p>
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<strong>A gallon could soon drop 50 cents, but the reason is grim: Pessimism about world economies.</strong></p>
States Could Play Important Role in Shaping Outcome of AT&T Merger
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<a href="http://cdn-media.nationaljournal.com/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=7321" rel="prettyPhoto" title="<p>AT&T-T-Mobile merger logo</p>"> <img src="http://cdn-media.nationaljournal.com/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=7321&format=homepage_fullwidth" /></a></div>
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Why Are Gasoline Prices Staying High?
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<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2206" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_judydrawingname.gif" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="133" height="200" /></p>
Apple’s Device Dominance Drives E-Book Price-Fixing Lawsuit
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A Seattle law firm has targeted Apple in an e-book price-fixing lawsuit partly because of the company's dominance in smartphone and tablet sales, the firm's managing director said.</p>
Oil Will Grease a Debt-Limit Recession
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<img class=" size-full wp-image-2162" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/gopbankruptsign.png" style="width: 300px; height: 214px;" width="300" height="214" />If the U.S. ends the coming weekend without national debt limit deal, it won’t just be bond defaults sending the nation back into a deep, ugly recession. A hint came Tuesday as the price of oil rose a little, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/26/markets-energy-nymex-idUSN1E76P0A020110726">nearing $100 a barrel</a> once again even as stocks did a mini-tank, with the Dow down 91 points.</p>