Insurance

Panel Restricts Perks for Officials

December 12, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>Ethics Commission Tightens Rules on Municipal Employees Accepting Tickets to Concerts, Sport Events.</strong><br /> The new rules "should reduce the number of tickets, because some will have to be considered gifts that weren't before," said Carmen Balber of the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog. Anaheim, Pasadena and other cities argued that attending a sporting event or the Rose Parade serves a public purpose in allowing the government official to see how the city-owned venue is operating. That exception may be widely exploited, Balber asserted.

ISO: Consumers in the know are criminals

December 11, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> I know that the insurance industry likes to operate in the dark. It took a <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/subcamp/prop103/">voter revolt at the ballot box</a> and 20 years fighting to implement Proposition 103 to... </p>

Money Getting Tighter for Thinkers

December 10, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

(<a href="http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/12/10/think_tanks/">Click here to listen to audio of the radio broadcast of this segment</a>.)<br /> Washington's 340 think tanks are hurting from new lows in funding. This could hit more impartial, non-partisan groups the hardest, while corporate-funded think tanks may get a leg up.

Consumer Groups Seeking Investigations Into Flight Cancellations

December 4, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer advocacy groups want federal regulators and Congress to investigate whether U.S. airlines are canceling or rerouting flights at the last minute when they have not sold enough seats to make them profitable. They say airlines are canceling flights to save money, but telling passengers it’s because of mechanical problems or weather delays. And they are ready to take legal action against carriers.

Health Insurers Offer Reform Plan

December 3, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>Savings Promised, But Everyone Would Have To Buy Policy</strong><br /> The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog said the insurance industry's proposal would simply "encourage the industry to demand higher premiums and more taxpayer subsidies, while providing less health care."

Health Insurers Pitch Plan to Curb Costs, Premiums

December 3, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Obama should block any effort to override coverage of services mandated by state legislatures, such as preventive screenings and newborn care, and stop health plans from selling stripped-down “junk insurance policies,” said Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica, California-based advocacy group. The insurance trade association should focus on other problems in the health-care system, the consumer group said in an e-mail.<br />

Núñez Joins Board of Workers’ Comp Insurer

December 2, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez has taken a lucrative seat on the board of directors for a workers' compensation insurer after helping broker a 2004 deal that benefited the industry. Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a group that tracks the insurance industry, criticized the deal. "This is the revolving door working at its worst," he said.

Nunez Lands Paid Position on Insurance Company Board

December 2, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez will take a seat on the board of one the state's largest workers comp insurers, Zenith National. Nunez played a major role in passing workers comp reforms that critics say benefited insurance companies. </p>

Friends

December 2, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

This organization drew heat from some of our friends over the last year for tangling with then-Speaker of the California Assembly Fabian Nunez -- over his support for Governor Schwarzenegger's mandatory private health insurance plan, his flawed term limits extension initiative and his campaign contributor-financed junkets.  Why, some of our friends asked, are you fighting with Fabian?  He's a friend...  Well, the verdict is in on Mr. Nunez and his real friends.

Gov’s appointments go to donors

November 26, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Not to be outdone by the <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=23983">legislature’s blatant cronyism in appointments</a>, Governor <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/017375.html">Schwarzenegger awarded a spot</a> on the LA Coliseum Commission to one of his top campaign donors...

Watchdog Groups Raise A Stink About Waste Board Picks

November 26, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

The long tradition of political appointees landing high-paid slots on California's waste board continued Tuesday. Government watchdogs have criticized the board for its high proportion of highly paid political appointees. "These type of sugar-plum jobs have been a senior fellow program for politicians who are termed out of office," said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. Court leveled that criticism even as he said Laird and Kuehl were among the most well-respected departing legislators.

Sugarplum appointments

November 25, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> It looks like the biennial Sacramento ritual of handing out prize appointments to political allies has begun. I haven't been paying close enough attention to give a real rundown, but here are a few that have been reported... </p>