Insurance

Stem cell grant picks ill-served by secrecy

August 7, 2007  ·  John M. Simpson

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The stem cell committee should direct that scientific review of building projects be handled like the facilities review -- in public. As it stands now, the two-step process is apparently premised on the notion that it's unwise to risk embarrassing an institution for its lack of scientific ability, but it's all right to say it doesn't know how to construct a decent building. That approach serves neither scientist nor architect, but especially not the public.</p>

Patent fight could tarnish reputation of a stem cell pioneer

August 6, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>John Simpson, stem cell project director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said it didn't matter that the scientists backing his group's challenge had applied for patents themselves. Thomson's work was commendable but not worthy of a patent, he said. "A bunch of folks at WARF have dollar signs in their eyes," Simpson said.</p>

Kaiser reports income boost

August 4, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Inside Bay Area (California)</p> <p>A consumer advocate said the financial results show that Kaiser premiums are too high. "They're bringing in that money, and it's not from new members, so the current members are overpaying," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "This is an example of how overpriced Kaiser policies are in an unregulated market and why we need health insurance regulation."</p>

Support for quake fund in dispute;

August 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Companies want to cut their obligations to the state authority that provides coverage for 755,000 homeowners.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Consumer activists are irate. "The industry should not be allowed to turn its back on California by walking away from the ever-impending calamity that is the next big earthquake," said Douglas Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. Consumer advocates note that insurance companies have gotten close to a free ride over the last 11, relatively earthquake-free years because none of the $2.2 billon they put up was needed to pay claims. The CEA reported that it paid out only $3.5 million in losses for 130 claims since 1996.</p>

The Secret Ingredient:

August 1, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Your credit usage may be to blame for high home and auto premiums</h3><p class="source">Money Magazine August 2007 Issue</p> <p>In concurrent cases against GEICO and SAFECO, the Justices unanimously agreed that the companies were not wrong in charging certain poor-credit customers more without notifying them. The impact of the decision: "You are not going to know if your credit score is costing you," says Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Letter to Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner 8-1-07 RE: Banning the Use of Socioeconomic Factors by Auto Insurance Companies in Private Passenger Automobile Insurance

August 1, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

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Appointee Won’t Protect Consumers

July 31, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The week of Arnold Schwarzenegger's 60th birthday his advisors seem to be living in a 6-year-old's fairytale. The governor's spokesman told the LA Times today: "Michael Kelley has been a...</font>

When California Assembly member’s car is damaged, taxpayers pay to fix it

July 27, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>"That's the sort of thing that happens when you have absolutely no skin in the game, none of your own money at risk," said Judy Dugan, research director with the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights. "Most people when they get a door ding, they don't go out and get it fixed."</p>

The Green Haze is Lifting

July 26, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Californians are beginning to see through the haze of the <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6467055?IADID">governor's green smoke machine</a>. <br/> <br/> A statewide poll by the Public...</font>

Stem cell patent skeptics also filed: Pair made claims like those under scrutiny

July 26, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)</p> <p>The scientists' past patent applications are not relevant to whether WARF's patents are valid, said John M. Simpson, stem cell project director at the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer watchdog group in Santa Monica, Calif. Simpson's group a year ago requested re-examination of WARF's patents with the Public Patent Foundation, a New York group that targets the patent system. "There's a consensus view among scientists that this was an obvious development. I think that's why, without particularly much trouble, we got stem cell scientists to file affidavits to that effect," Simpson said.</p>

Stem cell board aims for speed;

July 20, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Backers say 'enemies' are hoping for missteps</h3><p class="source">San Francisco Business Times</p> <p>CIRM's citizen boards are pressing forward on grant awards quickly and yet, they say, transparently and cautiously. "They're talking here really about the major shot they're going to get at building things," said John Simpson, stem cell project director with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a watchdog group based in Santa Monica. "It's a big amount of money, and they're trying to come up with the rules so they're fair."</p>

Lawmaker wants documents behind “flex-fuel” program;

July 20, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>CONTRACTS BENEFITED GOVERNOR'S ALLY GM</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News, (California)</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumers Rights, a Santa Monica-based watchdog group, asked for an audit Thursday morning, saying they believed it was needed to determine why the contract requirements and policy changes took place. "I hope that the governor's office does respond in full to the senator's public records act request," said Carmen Balber, of the foundation. "I'm not necessarily hopeful that the governor's office is going to be completely open since it deals with governor's connections with the donor and the contracts awarded to the donor. I think the option of an audit has to remain on the table depending on the response."</p>