Insurance

State targets fraud scams;

March 21, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insurance chief says consumers pick up the tab for crimes.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"He gathers information and is painstaking in his deliberative decision-making process. It's a different approach than a lot of elected officials," said consumer activist Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumers Rights and author of the landmark auto insurance measure, Proposition 103. "He's kept his campaign pledge not to undermine the rules and regulations that have been previously put in place," Rosenfield said about moves by former Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi to revamp the way auto insurance rates are set.</p>

Big oil, big row;

March 20, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Environmentalists are determined not to let oil companies 'greenwash' their image through tie-ups with some of America's top universities</h3><p class="source">The Guardian Unlimited (UK)</p> <p>"BP is clearly looking for a place to wash itself clean and green and UC Berkeley shouldn't be that place," complained Jamie Court, the president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, an advocacy organization asking Berkeley officials to cancel the deal if BP insisted on exclusive patent rights and retained the ability to advertise the partnership.</p>

Device may cool prices at pump

March 15, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Oakland Tribune (California)</p> <p>The "hot fuel" issue, as it's called, is a growing controversy. Some experts say it's not a problem, while watchdog groups, including the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, say motorists are being gouged.</p>

Consumer group urges Cal to forge a tough deal with partner BP;

March 13, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>UC warned to keep its name out of corporate advertising</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"We think any ads about this program need to be approved by the Regents on a case-by-case basis," said John Simpson, who co-wrote the letter with Jamie Court, the consumer group's president. "The other thing is -- it has to be crystal-clear who's setting the research agenda.</p>

Kentfield lawyer takes on insurers with new Web site

March 13, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Marin Independent Journal (California)</p> <p>"The people who really have financial power are not the corporations," Ray Bourhis said. "It's individuals who pay a trillion dollars a year in insurance premiums. They have never banded together before." Proposition 103, an insurance reform package voters approved in 1988, made it legal for insurers to offer group discounts, said Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the author of Prop. 103. Nevertheless, "This is the first such endeavor of its kind," Rosenfield said.</p>

Poizner faces competing interests in new role;

March 13, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Workers' comp, quake insurance, fraud and disaster prep top his list</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Business Journal (California)</p> <p>Consumer watchdog Harvey Rosenfield publicly criticized Poizner's pick of insurance industry insider Bill Gausewitz as special counsel to the commissioner. Rosenfield, author of the state's Proposition 103 insurance reform initiative, endorsed Poizner over Cruz Bustamante, a Democrat who was lieutenant governor during the campaign.</p>

The health care debate: Affordability of insurance is major concern:

March 12, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Massachusetts program fuels doubts over California's proposals to require health coverage.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"Our big concern is that without guarantees that costs will be controlled, we're certain to stick some patients with health plans that simply aren't affordable," said Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Los Angeles, an organization that wants the state to limit how much insurers can charge.</p>

How BP scouted about for a PR counterattack

March 8, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">THE FINANCIAL TIMES</p> <p>BP is not alone in an industry known for extensive government lobbying, but its efforts offer an insight into how the British company successfully lobbied against tighter environmental controls by state regulators, saving up to $US150 million in monitoring and equipment upgrades prior to the fatal Texas City refinery explosion in 2005.</p>

Universal Health Plans Take Wrong Approach

March 8, 2007  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Southern California Public Radio (89.3FM KPCC Pasadena, CA)</p> <p>The state legislature is considering proposals by the Governor and legislative leaders to provide health insurance for all Californians. Commentator Jamie Court says unfortunately the debate is less about what Sacramento can do for us, than about what politicians can do for their biggest contributors.</p>

Universal Health Plans Take Wrong Approach

March 8, 2007  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Southern California Public Radio (89.3FM KPCC Pasadena, CA)</p> <p>The state legislature is considering proposals by the Governor and legislative leaders to provide health insurance for all Californians. Commentator Jamie Court says unfortunately the debate is less about what Sacramento can do for us, than about what politicians can do for their biggest contributors.</p>

Class Action: Cell users pursue claims;

March 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Former customers of AT&T Wireless say service quality fell after the Cingular merger.</h3><p class="source">Tulsa World (Oklahoma)</p> <p>Harvey Rosenfield, who is co-counsel for the plaintiffs and founder of the Los Angles-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the wireless phone contracts are representative of a range of contracts that limit consumers' rights. "We have received an enormous amount of complaints from members of the public," Rosenfield said in a telephone interview. "According to Cingular, the lawsuit should be thrown out be cause every AT&T customer who moved to Cingular agreed to have every dispute handled by arbitration. According to Cingular, they forfeited their right to a lawsuit."</p>

Stem cell audit finds need for changes;

February 28, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Institute will comply on all but one request</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>"It's hard for me to determine whether this is the auditors being overly demanding or the institute continuing to do what it has done in the past -- oppose all attempts to make it conduct its business in the open sunshine of the public," said Jerry Flanagan, of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which has been keeping tabs on the institute.</p>