Insurance

Capitol Beat: Smile for the camera

October 7, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>POSSIBLY COMING TO A TV NEAR YOU: Unflattering video footage of legislators yukking it up with health industry lobbyists at a couple of fundraisers may turn into embarrassing TV ads -- if consumer advocates can raise enough money."They don't understand how bad it looks to take so much money from the insurers," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, "and to give them a guaranteed market for their product without regulation of the cost."</p>

State watchdog group leery of aides with corporate ties

October 7, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the fellowship is akin to a shadow corporate government infiltrating the Capitol. "It's a new way the private sector has influenced the public sphere, and I think there should be an audit by the state auditor."</p>

Less to bank on at state universities;

October 7, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Educators fear a 2004 funding deal has schools sliding toward mediocrity</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Other grants also have stirred controversy, including a $500-million donation by oil giant BP to form a joint UC-BP research laboratory at UC Berkeley to develop biofuels. BP researchers will work alongside UC professors, and the company will have exclusive rights to some of the expected discoveries. "The compact is driving the UC and CSU systems to seek funds from corporations at an unprecedented rate," said John Simpson, an advocate with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "What we are witnessing is the corporate privatization of what was once the nation's greatest public education system."</p>

Foundation submits patent changes: It hopes to solidify stem cell claims

October 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)</p> <p>John Simpson, stem cell project director at the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said he hadn't seen the Madison foundation's filings but expected it was narrowing the claims made in the original patents. "The best thing WARF could do for stem cell research and for itself would be to abandon all claims under these three patents."</p>

Low-cost car insurance expands: State-sponsored program adds 3 Lode counties

October 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Record (Stockton, California)</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights, which has advocated for the low-cost program since before its inception, took note of the small number of policyholders compared with the large number of uninsured. "The problem with the program is not the program. It's the awareness factor. Then they have to find an agent on the list willing to sell the insurance. Insurance agents don't make a lot of money on this product, so they're not real interested in pushing it," Heller said.</p>

In Chico, State Insurance Commissioner Talks About Changes He’s Making

October 2, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

A businessman who entered politics for the first time last year, Poizner is the only Republican, aside from the governor, who holds a major statewide office. He called a news conference in front of the Department of Motor Vehicles in Chico to announce an expansion in the state's low-cost auto insurance program. It's designed for low-income people who are good drivers.

Gov Ducks Hard Questions about GM

September 25, 2007  ·  Carmen Balber

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Governor Schwarzenegger continued his closed door policy today when he <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_6976232?">refused to allow aides to testify at a Senate investigative...</a> </font>

Mandatory health insurance? No sale

September 25, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Forcing citizens to buy an expensive, unregulated private product is nothing less than taxation without representation. If California were to follow the Massachusetts model for mandatory private insurance purchase (the only one in the United States), Californians would have to prove on their tax returns that they were insured or face tax penalties.</p>

Mandatory health insurance? No sale

September 25, 2007  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Forcing citizens to buy an expensive, unregulated private product is nothing less than taxation without representation. If California were to follow the Massachusetts model for mandatory private insurance purchase (the only one in the United States), Californians would have to prove on their tax returns that they were insured or face tax penalties.</p>

Schwarzenegger, Democratic leaders close to deal on health care reform

September 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (California)</p> <p>Health care companies and trade groups are also big spenders. Since 2003, the health care industry has spent $110 million on lobbying at the Capitol, according to the secretary of state. A recent analysis by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights found that six of the state's largest insurers and two health insurance trade groups gave more than $4 million to state officeholders since 2001.</p>

Touring on whose dime?

September 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, California)</p> <p>If the trips benefit the state's official interests, then the state should pay, said Doug Heller of the nonprofit Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "If California politicians need to leave the state to do their work, then the state taxpayers should pay for it," Heller said. "If politicians can't convince the public of the value of a trip, then they shouldn't be going on it." Heller said legislators also shouldn't be able to pay for overseas trips with campaign funds because it gives special interests another avenue to influence lawmakers. His group favors public financing of campaigns.</p>

Bush, Schwarzenegger differ on global-warming approach

September 20, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Copley News Service</p> <p>Some consumer watchdogs also criticized Linda Adams, the governor's top environmental adviser, and others for taking a spring trip to Europe financed by the California Climate Action Registry, which receives funding from regulated industries. Some business leaders also joined the trip, giving them access to decision-makers. "Big-business opponents of greenhouse gas reductions bought high-quality face time," said Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>