Insurance

Insurers Cut Rates, but It’s No Trend Yet;

September 21, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Two California companies reduce their auto premiums. Others appear to take a more cautious route.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Under Prop 103, the insurance commissioner has the power to independently call hearings on rates. Garamendi has said that insurers should realize that they won't be allowed to simply sit back and collect excessive profits by declining to seek rate decreas</p>

‘Investigational’ treatments see cutbacks

September 21, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Kansas City Star</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of FTCR in Santa Monica, CA, said insurers generally have tried to escape from all sorts of procedures until Congress or a legislature has forced them to cover a specific treatment.</p>

Marty’s Messy Money & Mailers

September 20, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">When politicians defend their fundraising habits, they promise never to mix talk of campaign cash and policy positions. Now Arnold has introduced a new twist: <br/> <br/> In the interest of...</font>

Bipartisan aura fades as Schwarzenegger finishes first year

September 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>One persistent critic, consumer advocate and "ArnoldWatch" operator Jamie Court said, "In less than one week, Arnold has managed to renounce every vow he's taken to the people of California to keep big money and big policy separate in the governor's offic</p>

Arnold Inc.

September 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">In less than one week, Arnold has managed to renounce every vow he's taken to the people of California to keep big money and big policy separate in the Governor's office. <br/> <br/> Here's...</font>

Reducing lawsuit abuse

September 14, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Marketplace Radio - Minnesota Public Radio</p> <p>You don't hear too much about frivolous corporate litigation. That's because big business pays to publicize other things, like ambulance chasers out to bankrupt America.</p>

Reducing lawsuit abuse

September 14, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<!-- excerpt --><p>You don't hear too much about frivolous corporate litigation. That's because big business pays to publicize other things-like ambulance chasers out to bankrupt America.</p>

A Plain Aye or Nay Will Do

September 11, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>If the nonvoting problem persists, the progressive Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights says it will sponsor a ballot initiative in 2006 that would deny legislators their pay when they fail to vote.</p>

Assembly ‘workers’

September 6, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>We have repeatedly expressed our disgust at the way Assembly members have made a custom of ducking important votes. Under Assembly rules, a majority of members on a committee -- not just those who actually vote -- is required for passage.</p>

USC study: Abstentions, absenteeism played major role in bills’ failing

September 3, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>FTCR said it would try to put an initiative on the ballot in 2006 to withhold lawmakers' pay when they don't vote if the Legislature doesn't enforce rules against abstentions. The measure would also require the reporting of lawmakers' missed votes online</p>

Out for the Count

September 2, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>An Analysis of Nonvoting in the California Legislature</h3> <p> An award-winning study from the University of Southern California School of Policy, Planning and Development that analyzes the impact of lawmakers' non-voting on the success of legislation in California. </p>

A Show of Weakness in Drug Import Debate

September 2, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Fresh from his star turn at the Republican convention, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could scarcely find a better way to certify his role as a political action hero than to take on perhaps the most powerful corporate force in America: the drug industry.</p>