Insurance

California’s stem cell institute moving forward despite snags

December 28, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Examiner</p> <p>CIRM is also to be commended for creating a strategic plan in 2006 that will guide spending decisions for the next 10 years, said John Simpson, the stem cell project director for The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a watchdog organization. The agency fell short, however, according to Simpson, by not establishing more rules that would have guaranteed Californians affordable access to any cures or therapies developed by entities -- including for-profit organizations -- that receive the state funding.</p>

Farmers plans to cut rates for homeowners;

December 27, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The insurer's proposed 12% to 15% reduction in premiums would apply to most of its 1.3 million customers in California.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Douglas Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, reacted cautiously to Farmers' proposal. "We want to make sure this happens quickly but happens right," he said. "The problem is they have been drastically overcharging us in the last few years."</p>

Second Democrat puts forth health care overhaul plan — focus on kids

December 22, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, pointed out that the Núñez plan does nothing to rein in what he considers to be excessive insurance profits. "There's a total lack of attention to health insurance overhead, and that's the fastest-increasing driver in health care," he said. "Without taking on health insurance greed, there's no way to balance the health care books and make reforms add up."</p>

Inaugural cash pouring in:

December 16, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Donor list includes health insurers and builders who have agendas in the Capitol.</h3><p class="source">The Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>Carmen Balber, a consumer advocate with the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said donors are paying for access to the governor as he establishes his agenda in 2007. "This is simply another way for companies and associations who want special access to the governor to gain it," Balber said. "The 'Gold Sponsors' gave more than they're allowed to give the governor in any election year. They bought themselves additional access and influence that they wouldn't otherwise have."</p>

Health care debate hits fever pitch

December 13, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune (California)</p> <p>A consumer group, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, advocates cutting health care costs by regulating health insurance premiums and extending the state's power to get drug discounts by purchasing in bulk.</p>

Regulators enjoy cozy relationship with insurance industry;

December 12, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Oversight is all too often an oversight</h3><p class="source">The Kansas City Star</p> <p>Insurance companies have far deeper pockets, and far greater political pull, than consumers might ever dream of -- and their influence is considerable. The reason is simple. Big money is at stake. Insurance premiums now equal roughly 10 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. "The industry gets what it wants across the country," said Doug Heller, director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a non-profit California-based consumer advocacy group.</p>

Consumer Group Hammers Report On Governance Regs;

December 11, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Financial connection to Greenberg organization cited</h3><p class="source">National Underwriter - Property & Casualty/Risk & Benefits Management Edition</p> <p>A California consumer group has criticized former American International Group Chairman Maurice Greenberg's financial connection to a committee that issued a report calling for an easing of corporate regulation and accounting standards. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Los Angeles noted that Mr. Greenberg was ousted as chief executive officer and AIG chairman after an accounting scandal.</p>

Vargas takes insurance job;

December 8, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Ex-assemblyman's reversal draws fire</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune (California)</p> <p>Some consumer advocates are outraged, saying the job is a payoff for Vargas' friendly approach toward the industry over the years. Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights charged that Vargas put the industry ahead of consumers by blocking bills to aid victims of the Southern California wildfires, including those in San Diego County. "We thought it was because they were giving him so much in campaign contributions," Heller said. "Now it looks like he's been creating a résumé for this job, while chairing this committee by giving the insurance industry what they wanted."</p>

Former head of California insurance committee takes insurance job

December 8, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>Vargas, who left office last month, headed the Assembly Insurance Committee for the past four years, a post from which he advocated legislation benefiting the insurance sector, said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "While he was chairman he often sided with the industry and now we know why," Heller said. "He saw a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow."</p>

Stem cell policy vote due;

December 7, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>10-year spending strategy likely to get board approval.</h3><p class="source">The Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>Watchdog groups say the plan offers a refreshingly sober contrast to the grand promises delivered during the Proposition 71 campaign. "I think Californians deserve to have an honest assessment of what's going to be done with their money," said John Simpson, stem cell project director for the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "That's happening now. And it may be sign that the scientists are in the ascendancy" in shaping the agency's agenda.</p>

Juan Vargas, former Assembly Insurance Committee chairman, takes job with Safeco

December 6, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Capitol Weekly (California)</p> <p>Vargas' job change drew a critical response from Doug Heller, the executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, who said Vargas appeared to favor the insurance industry during his stint as chairman of the Assembly Insurance Committee. "This is exactly what we're saying is wrong in Sacramento," Heller said. "It casts a cloud over his entire chairmanship of that committee. It's as if he was interviewing for that job for four years, and presented his credentials by attacking consumer protections in order to defend the insurance industry." Heller noted that two of Vargas' committee consultants also took jobs in the industry. </p>

Stem cell grantees may be required to share profits

December 4, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">East Bay Business Times (California)</p> <p>John Simpson, the stem cell project director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights who is an outspoken advocate for a direct financial payback to the state, said he was happy to see the rules. "When this all started, there were serious proposals that there would be no payback to the state at all and that the only payback would be in terms of the jobs created and perhaps the taxes," he said. "I'm happy to see they put the payback in and it's a reasonable rate." But Simpson expressed concern over issues of assuring access to therapies that result from work financed by the institute.</p>