Insurance

Assembly vote opens bond measure up to referendum, delays

May 8, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>Despite dodging Republican opposition to $13.4 billion in bonds for power buys, Democratic lawmakers have opened the potential for a referendum and delays in repaying the state treasury.</p>

Bailout Watch #38 – May 04, 2001

May 4, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>BAILOUT WATCH: Keeping an eye on the energy industry and the politicians<br/> <br/> Bailout Watch #38 - May 04, 2001<br/> <br/> Duke Energy meet Chuck Quackenbush.</strong> When you send a politician a secret note that says you'll...

Auto Insurance Seen Returning to Era of Annual Rate Increases

May 1, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Major insurers, looking to increase profits and citing higher claim costs, seek to raise fees, executive says.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Californians are heading into a period of annual auto insurance increases as savings from liability reform and improvements in auto safety come to an end, a top industry executive told Wall Street analysts Monday.</p>

City council won’t enforce Measure A

April 25, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Inland Valley Daily Bulletin</p> <p>The city will neither enforce Measure A nor file a lawsuit seeking to overturn the conflict-of-interest initiative passed by voters last month, the City Council announced Tuesday.</p>

Higher co-payments for CalPERS Health insurance

April 18, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The giant pension plan deals for smaller jumps in HMO premiums by agreeing to higher co-payments.</h3><p class="source">Orange County Register</p> <p>The California Public Employees' Retirement System, widely viewed as a bellwether of health-insurance trends in the state, said Tuesday that it has reached deals with eight HMOs to limit premium increases</p>

When we let commerce trump the Constitution

April 17, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Until recently, the independent judiciary was the last branch of government where the average person could reasonably expect to prevail over the rich and powerful corporation.</p>

When we let commerce trump the Constitution

April 17, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Until recently, the independent judiciary was the last branch of government where the average person could reasonably expect to prevail over the rich and powerful corporation.</p>

HOME INSURERS SEEK 6.9% HIKE IN CALIF. PREMIUMS

April 17, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>California homeowners may be hit with higher insurance rates after two companies--including one of the state's largest insurers--requested premium hikes averaging 6.9% for their property policies.</p>

Edison could get big breaks If state buys utility’s grid, deal includes financial gains, curb of investigation.

April 15, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>From the start, some consumer groups and lawmakers had doubts about shoring up shaky utility finances through a state purchase of their high-voltage lines.</p>

Calif. Board Asked to Stop Paying Member’s Law Bills

April 12, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Bloomberg News</p> <p>California's Public Utilities Commission should stop paying legal fees for defending Commissioner Henry Duque against a conflict-of-interest lawsuit, the consumer group that brought the suit said.</p>

Law ensures that officials will represent public

April 9, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Inland Valley Times</p> <p>Claremont voters recently enacted Measure A, a law forbidding any city official from receiving rewards, gifts over $50, campaign contributions or jobs from anyone to whom they award public benefits worth more than $25,000.</p>

Davis abandons struggle to keep electricity rates low, proposes hike for half of state’s residents

April 6, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>In a rare statewide television address, Gov. Gray Davis on Thursday abandoned his struggle to keep electricity rates from skyrocketing and proposed an increase of about 26.5 percent for almost half of the state's residents.</p>