Insurance

State Orders Mercury To Cut Homeowners Insurance Rates 8.2%

March 5, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Mercury, which had sought a 7.3% increase, responds by filing a lawsuit seeking to block Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones' ruling.</b></p> <p>SACRAMENTO — State regulators have ordered Mercury General Corp. to cut its homeowners insurance rates by 8.2%, instead of the increase in premiums that the company had sought.</p> <p>As a result, the Los Angeles insurer is contesting the ruling in court.</p> <p>The rate cut was announced by California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.</p>

Gasoline Price Going Up; ARCO Sale Could Lift It More

March 4, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Are you ready for $6-per-gallon gasoline? Then $7 a little later?</p> <p>Premium grades of gasoline already go for more than $5 per gallon in some parts of California; regular has been above $4.50 for a month at hundreds of service stations.</p> <p>There is no promise these near-record price levels will drop anytime soon, especially with summer approaching and refiners making more expensive California-specific blends for the next few months.</p>

Obama Asks Health Plans to Report Rising Rates

March 3, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>WASHINGTON — The Obama administration says it will require <a class="meta-classifier" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/health_insurance_and_managed_care/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="Recent and archival health news about health insurance and managed care.">health insurance</a> companies to report all price increases, no matter how small, to the federal government so officials can monitor the impact of the new <a class="meta-classifier" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/health_in

When In Doubt, Speak Out

February 28, 2013  ·  Jamie Court

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2466" alt="" class="insert right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jamiepic-new1.jpg" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; float: right;" width="133" height="200" />A pro-consumer candidate to the Federal Trade Commission, who had the backing of the entire public interest community, really wanted the job. But this candidate didn’t want allies to go public for fear of alienating the White House. What happened?  Today <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/edith-ramirez-to-lead-ftc-88225.html?hp=f3">POTUS hosed us and gave the keys to the FTC to corporate attorney Edith Ramirez.</a><br /> <br />

California ‘Fails to Enforce Toxic Waste Laws’

February 25, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>California lawmakers are calling for an investigation following two reports that say the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control refuses to revoke the permits of companies that repeatedly violate environmental laws, and lets hazardous waste polluters operate on expired permits for years at a time.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">The reports found that the DTSC has consistently failed to protect communities and the environment from harms posed by toxic waste in the state’s soil, water and air.</span></p>

iSun Investigation: Report Faults State For Stink In Mecca

February 24, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Regulators failed to prevent Mecca's misery, agency says</strong></p> <p>Early and more vigilant monitoring by the state Department of Toxic Substances Control could have helped stem noxious odors from Western Environmental Inc.’s recycling plant in Mecca, according to a new report slamming the agency for a pattern of lax enforcement efforts, bias toward industry and wrist-slap fines at similar sites across California.</p>

Evergreen Oil a Repeat Violator of Environmental Laws, Officials Say

February 22, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Evergreen Oil has been named by sources inside the Department of Toxic Substances Control as an example of a business that continues to operate despite continuous violations, according to media reports.</p>

Probe Of California Agency That Regulates Hazardous Waste Is Urged

February 22, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Two state senators call for an investigation after a Consumer Watchdog report accuses the Department of Toxic Substances Control of failing to protect residents and the environment.</b></p> <p>Two state senators have called for an investigation into the state agency responsible for protecting people and the environment from hazardous chemicals after a consumer group released a report Thursday criticizing the agency for failing to do its job.</p>

Group Demands Probe Of Soil at Autumnwood

February 21, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A California consumer advocacy group is demanding a state investigation of a Wildomar housing tract where residents have abandoned houses that they blame for making them sick.<br /> <br /> "This case clearly calls for an investigation of the soil in Wildomar, including tests for heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and other toxins," said a report by the Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog.<br /> <br />

Report Slams California’s Toxics Watchdog

February 21, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201302210850/a">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p>California's standards for hazardous waste management are the most stringent in the nation. But a new report expected out this morning claims the state agency charged with going after toxic polluters is biased toward industry.</p>

Consumer Watchdog Claims State Failed Wildomar Residents

February 21, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>The 68-page Consumer Watchdog report titled “Golden Wasteland” cites case studies alleging the DTSC consistently failed to protect communities – including the Autumnwood development in Wildomar – from health harms posed by toxic waste</strong></p> <p>The California Department of Toxic Substances Control fell down on the job when it refused to test a Wildomar neighborhood for pollutants that some local residents say are killing them, <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/golden-wasteland-report">a report out today from Consumer Watchdog alleges.</a></p>

Anthem Blue Cross Backs Off On Controversial Policy

February 20, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/feb/20/anthem-blue-cross-backs-controversial-policy/">Click here to listen to the audio of this broadcast segment</a>.</p>