Insurance

Governor considers proposal

March 26, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insurance industry suggestion could cut workers' compensation costs</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>"The commissioner has to have the authority to enforce rate limits. Anything short of that will allow insurers to gouge businesses and reap their own financial rewards," said Jerry Flanagan, a spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Right</p>

Governor willing to consider rate regulation to ensure savings

March 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"There's alot of pitfalls that can make regulation a sham," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "We do not want insurance companies to be able to pull wool over our eyes and end up with no savings."</p>

Governor shifts stance on workers’ comp debate;

March 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Schwarzenegger open to insurance rate regulation</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Doug Heller, an advocate from the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said 25 states regulate workers' compensation rates, including some that have avoided a crisis.</p>

Editorial: Same old same old

March 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Schwarzenegger, too, likes closed doors</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Some of the people who voted for him might actually still be expecting him to live up to his promise to be a different kind of governor. The least he can do is to let them know he didn't really mean it.</p>

Rate regulation key hurdle in workers’ comp pact

March 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights today plans to propose regulations similar to those under the groundbreaking Proposition 103, a measure approved by voters in 1988 that slashed property and auto insurance rates.</p>

Author of measure to discuss regulation

March 24, 2004  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p class="source">Belleville News-Democrat</p> <p>Rosenfield said California's malpractice insurance premiums dropped 20 percent after passage of Proposition 103, but opponents claimed it was a coincidence.</p>

Can Arnold Say 103?

March 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">California's Gov is no friend of regulation, but it looks like Proposition 103-style insurance premium regulation may be the answer to legislative gridlock over workers' compensation reform. In...</font>

Governor’s team for workers’ comp drive is battle-tested;

March 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insiders who marshaled Props. 57-58 support are ready if issue goes to ballot.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register (California)</p> <p>Critics, such as Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, say Schwarzenegger's campaign apparatus is a "hide-the-contributor" shell game that opens the door for special-interest money.</p>

Governor stops insurers’ donations

March 20, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The Santa Monica-based FTCR said Schwarzenegger's hiatus from accepting workers' compensation insurance contributions only pays lip service to his campaign pledge that he'd be different from other politicians and not beholden to special-interests</p>

Getting insurance a new buying barrier

March 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Washington Times</p> <p>Critics and watchdog groups, including the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, claim that the losses are compounded by financial missteps by the industry, which invested heavily in stock losers such as Enron and WorldCom.</p>

Plan to Cut Drug Prices Proposed;

March 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>L.A. councilman suggests city residents could join consortium to buy medicine in bulk.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The proposal would create a nonprofit consortium that city residents, employees and small businesses could join for a fee. The consortium in turn would negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to buy selected prescription drugs at lower prices</p>

Lobbyist’s ties to governor queried again

March 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>"It's becoming clear that there is not the fire wall between Mike Murphy as political consultant for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mike Murphy as lobbyist for special interests. The governor should let him go.", said Doug Heller with FTCR.</p>