Insurance

Bickering Lawmakers Pass Bills;

September 5, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>GOP, Democrats both have complaints to make as legislation advances on corporate fraud, handgun safety and garbage collection fees.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Doug Heller, a lobbyist for FTCR, said if it became law, the legislation would be the toughest of its kind in the nation. A major feature of the program would be a proposed whistelblower 800 hotline to the attorney general's office.</p>

Schwarzenegger Goes for Outsider Role, Insider Help

September 4, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Washington Post</p> <p>"It's really a shame. He's squandered an opportunity. He pledged to be the people's governor, and at the end of the day, he's taking everybody's money," said Douglas Heller of FTCR.</p>

SCPIE HOLDINGS GETS MEDICAL-MALPRACTICE RATE HIKE IN CALIFORNIA

September 3, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestWire</p> <p>SCPIE Holdings Inc. said it was happy to get a 9.9% increase in its 2003 California medical-malpractice insurance rates, while a consumer advocacy group claimed victory because the insurer had sought more.</p>

Energy companies hold consumers hostage

September 3, 2003  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">PRI - Marketplace (6:30 pm EST)</p> <p>Jamie Court (FTCR): Californians paid tens of billions of dollars in overcharges as blackout blackmail because producers could demand any price to keep the lights on.</p>

Group Found Social Security Numbers of Attorney General, CIA Director for $26

September 2, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CNN-TV - AMERICAN MORNING (7:00 AM EST)</p> <p>Mr. Court discusses how people intent on identity theft obtain Social Security numbers. He says for $26 his group found the Social Security numbers of Attorney General John Ashcroft and CIA Director George Tenet.</p>

Health-care revamp considered;

September 1, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Bill would require some employers to provide workers with insurance</h3><p class="source">The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA)</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, a spokesman for the left-leaning Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said he also believes that Davis is on the brink of announcing his support for the health-care bill.</p>

‘RECALL INSANITY’ SPARKS HEALTH CARE REFORM DEBATE

August 22, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestWire</p> <p>"Whether or not politicians will take insurers, hospitals and doctors to task for skyrocketing health-care costs will determine the success of the reform debate," said FTCR consumer advocate Jerry Flanagan.</p>

Insurers assisting Davis

August 19, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Daily News</p> <p>"The problem is that legislators have until Sept. 12 to get their special-interest bills to Davis and the insurers want to make sure they get in there before their cash cows are taken out to slaughter," said Jerry Flanagan with FTCR.</p>

Calif. Eyes Strong Privacy Policy

August 15, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Wired Magazine</p> <p>Faced with the possibility of an expensive campaign to defeat a threatened ballot initiative, California's financial industry set aside its opposition to a comprehensive information privacy law Thursday and announced a last-minute compromise with privacy</p>

West Zone: Davis Signs Discount Bill

August 11, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Insurance Chronicle</p> <p>The measure, SB 841, which could also lead to higher premiums for drivers who let their coverage lapse for more than 90 days, was signed nearly a year after a similar bill was vetoed by the governor.</p>

Garamendi seeks governor’s office that eluded him in 1994

August 8, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Harvey Rosenfield, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica-based consumer advocacy group, said Garamendi is "well-versed in public policy, and that's something that Arnold (Schwarzenegger) doesn't bring to this."</p>

Do-not-fax law a two-edged sword

August 7, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Oshkosh Northwestern (Oshkosh, WI)</p> <p>"While we're frustrated with junk mail, with junk faxes, we're paying for the paper, we're paying for toner. Our fax machine is being tied up while we're waiting for an important real fax," said Doug Heller, consumer advocate with FTCR.</p>