Insurance

Eighteen California companies win $80.8 million in tax refunds

January 25, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Critics claim the companies recently paid no state income taxes.</h3><p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The board awarded the refunds with little discussion and no public documents detailing the size of individual refunds despite testimony calling them an absurd giveaway as the state contends with budget deficits.</p>

State (Wisconsin) missed chance at health care payoff for poor;

January 24, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Others saw opportunity in insurance company merger</h3><p class="source">Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, health-care advocate for the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, disagreed and said Wisconsin's law clearly provides plenty of room to hold up mergers based on likelihood of passing along burdensome merger cost</p>

Amid Broken Promises, Many Begin to Doubt Schwarzenegger

January 20, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The question political insiders are starting to ask about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is potentially one of the most damaging that can be asked about a politician. Can you believe him? Can you trust him? Will he keep his word?</p>

Firm hires governor’s fund-raiser to pitch program to agencies

January 19, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"This is the worst kind of influence peddling," said Jamie Court, president of FTCR, a Santa Monica-based consumer group. "This type of cash register politics is the very thing that Schwarzenegger ran Gray Davis out of office for."</p>

COMMENTARY; Regulate insurance to fight malpractice ‘crisis’

January 16, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Chicago Tribune</p> <p>The insurance industry pushing for tort reform? Kind of like the Big Bad Wolf trying to prohibit little pigs from living in brick houses.</p>

For Insurance Claimants, Wording Is Slippery Slope;

January 14, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Distinction between what constitutes a flood and a slide can dictate whether one is covered.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of FTCR in Los Angeles, said it was good that insurance companies were bringing disaster claims specialists in to assess the damage, but the fear is they're going to bring in people essentially for denying claims.</p>

Assemblyman regrets flier’s wording;

January 13, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Some see Calderon's invitation as targeting special interests.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the flier "basically put a for-sale sign on the Banking and Finance Committee. This is probably the most blatant mixing of policy and politics that I've ever seen..."</p>

Arnold’s Special Interest Tools

January 13, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold and his corporate backers have contrived yet another way to get around California's campaign finance rules. We shouldn't be surprised. When the FPPC issued rules last spring (after...</font>

Connecticut governor orders rate debate on medical malpractice insurance

January 11, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Malpractice Premium Forges Rare Alliance</h3><p class="source">Hartford Courant (Connecticut)</p> <p>FTCR challenged Medical Protective's proposed 29.2 percent rate increase for California last year. The company ended up accepting an 11.8 percent increase there.</p>

Commentary: The President Prescribes Retribution

January 11, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>In using the crisis to settle a political score with the trial lawyers, Bush is guilty of presidential malpractice.</h3><p class="source">Newhouse News Service</p> <p>A study by FTCR, using the experience in California and statistics developed by the federal government's auditing office, makes the case that capping jury awards has had little impact on malpractice insurance rates. What works best is tighter regulation</p>

Plan to reduce state boards assailed;

January 7, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Consumer protections are at great risk, critics contend.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration insisted Thursday that his plan to abolish nearly 100 California regulatory boards and commissions would bolster consumer protection, but consumer activists called the claim preposterous.</p>

Health Biz: Malpractice caps not enough

January 6, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">United Press International (UPI Wires)</p> <p>The non-profit Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights quickly shot back malpractice premiums rose 450 percent after the 1975 cap until a 1988 voter initiative passed that began regulating insurance premiums by law.</p>