Insurance

Garamendi Seeks 21% Cut in Comp Rates;

May 29, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The commissioner's proposal is received cautiously by insurers, employers and Schwarzenegger.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The governor's reluctance to publicly pressure insurers to bring down ratesin the wake of the workers' comp overhaul has some consumer advocates questioning his commitment to follow through on his promise to slash workers' compensation costs.</p>

Arnold Wants to Keep You in Cell Hell

May 29, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved yesterday a Cell Phone Bill of Rights that includes simple steps for transparency in cell phone bills and the right to cancel a new...</font>

Consumer group challenges governor’s nonprofit political fund

May 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>FTCR is asking the IRS to reconsider its ruling granting tax-exempt status to a political fund run by Gov. Schwarzenegger, saying the entity violates federal tax laws by allowing him to raise money and lobby lawmakers without disclosing its sources.</p>

Will HMO Be Able to Pay-For-Rubberstamp on Major Acquisition?

May 20, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold Watch has noted the unequal access of average people with real problems to this Governor. Now Schwarzenegger's Department of Managed Health Care is breaking with a tradition that goes...</font>

ANTHEM/WELLPOINT: CALIF. MAY OK MERGER WITHOUT PUBLIC HEARING

May 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">American Health Line</p>

Boxer claims Shell plans faster shutdown of Bakersfield refinery

May 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Jamie Court, the foundation's president, said his group has talked to about half-a-dozen Shell employees, including refinery workers, who've reported being told by management about a planned shutdown in the crude unit in the third week of August.</p>

Going Slow on Cutting Premiums;

May 14, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insurers say savings will come from workers' compensation reform, but probably not as soon as employers wish.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Douglas Heller, director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica activist group, said premiums should drop by at least the 14% estimated by the rating bureau.</p>

Shell Has No Plans To Cover Refinery’s Loss

May 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>KERO Interviews Refinery Manager</h3><p class="source">The Bakersfield Channel - KERO TV (California)</p> <p>Jamie Court, the president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said that closing the refinery is about shorting the market and ultimately keeping gas prices above $2.</p>

Op-ed commentary: A Litigious Schwarzenegger Wants to Close the Door to Others

May 12, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The real question may be whether Arnold Schwarzenegger values the public's legal rights as much as his own. His stand on the initiative will be the litmus test of whether damage to the environment, public health and society is as important to him</p>

A Litigious Schwarzenegger Wants to Close the Door to Others

May 12, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<!-- excerpt --><p>The real question may be whether Arnold Schwarzenegger values the public's legal rights as much as his own. His stand on the initiative will be the litmus test of whether damage to the environment, public health and society is as important to him</p>

Telling numbers: Banks set quotas for sales pitches

May 10, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette (Texas)</p> <p>It's particularly offensive that when we simply try to get our own money out of the bank, we're going to be blistered with sales pitches from tellers who are afraid for their job. It's forcing the teller to be the hard seller, said Doug Heller with FTCR.</p>

State chamber looks revitalized

May 5, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"Arnold is the gun that the chamber has put to the heads in the Legislature to get its way," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "But you can only make big business sound like populism for so long."</p>