Insurance

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>

Fraud and Decption in Workers’ Comp Battle

March 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold has been campaigning against fraud and deception in the workers compensation system, but there's new deception in his campaign to change the system. Arnold has received $452,000 in...</font>

Schwarzenegger appoints former assemblywoman to head DCA

March 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said Zettel didn't belong in the consumer protection post.</p>

HEALTH PREMIUMS SOAR;

March 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>EMPLOYERS PASS ON MORE OF COST TO WORKERS</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>"Premiums keep going up because of the huge profits and administrative costs these insurers are taking," said Jerry Flanagan, advocate on health-care reform for FTCR. "Furthermore, premiums are increasing 250 percent faster than medical inflation."</p>

Ex-Lawmaker Named to Head Consumer Affairs Department

March 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"The obligation of the Department of Consumer Affairs is to protect consumers. And if you have no record of that and, indeed, a record that is antagonistic to consumer rights, then you don't belong in that post," said Doug Heller with FTCR.</p>

Cases against California lawmakers fail to get equal attention

March 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The selective attitude about delving into allegations of misconduct is being demonstrated anew in two other cases.</p>

Murphy’s Law?

March 15, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold has generally managed to avoid the old assurance that if it can go wrong, it will. Instead he's followed another Murphy's law: his top political adviser Mike Murphy's, which seems to be...</font>

Supremes Limit Punitive Damages

March 13, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>In a little noticed ruling, the Supreme Court curbed juries' ability to punish corporate misdeeds.</h3><p class="source">Dollars and Sense Magazine</p> <p>Juries will no longer have the power to do what the jury in the GM case successfully did-punish a corporate defendant in a way that ensures it truly pays a price for its crimes.</p>