Privacy

Dinners, Trips, Concerts Are Perks Of The Capitol

March 15, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

No elected official should be allowed to accept gifts of any kind from lobbyists, interest groups, trade groups, corporations or labor unions, because there is no public purpose to them, said Doug Heller, executive director with Consumer Watchdog. "Gifts are insidious because they're pervasive and subtle," Heller said. "When politicians are willing to accept gifts, they start to tread on the muck and that's when things get dirty." It's illegal to trade gifts for legislative action, but the "dirty gray area," Heller said, is how much that gift - and the relationship that's built through acts of friendship - affects a lawmaker's decisions even when there's no direct quid pro quo.

Googlebuster fights back against behavioral advertising

March 13, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

One of the editors of Adbusters magazine <a href="http://www.adbusters.org/blogs/blackspot_blog/unclick_google.html">has a populist strategy</a> to create an online revolt against Google's latest forray into targeted online advertising, a tactic that Congress Quarterly reports, from behind its subscription wall, caught the eye of federal lawmakers Wednesday.

A Split Decision On No. 2 Stem Cell Post

March 13, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>Outgoing state Democratic Party chief Art Torres and a Republican biotech executive, Duane Roth, are chosen by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine's governing board.</strong> </p> <p> Some biotech analysts have questioned the board's move. "I won't be joining you in singing 'Kumbaya,' " said John Simpson of the Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog nonprofit group. "I don't think it's the way to go." Simpson said later that the move seemed a political gesture so the governor, who had bucked the Bush administration to become a champion of stem cell research, could "save face." </p>

State Stem Cell Program Poised To Prosper

March 12, 2009  ·  John M. Simpson

CIRM was created in response to President George W. Bush's unwillingness to fund vital research. Four years after the agency was created, the scientific, economic and political landscapes have drastically changed. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine must adjust quickly on all three fronts if it is to serve the state and science well.

Corrupt, corrupt, corruption!

March 11, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

LA Times reporter Paul Pringle took another bite out of corruption at another SEIU California local today. Here's his <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-union11-2009mar11,0,1928028.story?page=1">latest.</a>

DC politicians party down

March 11, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Check out my favorite blog discovery this week: <a href="http://politicalpartytime.org/">Party Time – Documenting the Political Party Circuit.</a>

Beer Keg, Lakers Tickets, Wine Lodge Trip Among Gifts To OC Lawmakers

March 11, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> According to economic disclosure forms filed last week with state <a href="http://www.fppc.ca.gov/">Fair Political Practices Commission</a>, Orange County’s 14 lawmakers in the State Legislature received nearly $20,000 in gifts last year alone, most from special interest groups like the California Building Industry Association or the Civil Justice Association of California or businesses like the Walt Disney Company or the Irvine Company. <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/politicians/articles/?storyId=25387">You can view disclosure forms here</a>, courtesy of Consumer Watchdog. </p>

Lobbyists Paid For A $14,000 Getaway To Wine Country During Budget Talks, As Well As Pricey Trips Abroad

March 9, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

SACRAMENTO, CA -- In the midst of intense state budget negotiations, Democratic lawmakers stole away to an elegant wine-country lodge where the gourmet meals, rooms and cocktails were provided by a trio of interests with much at stake in the Capitol. Soon after the trial lawyers and the unions representing firefighters and carpenters covered the $14,000 tab, their agendas advanced in Sacramento. "This is an unending problem in Sacramento, where lobbying groups bring politicians somewhere to wine and dine them," said Doug Heller, executive director of the group Consumer Watchdog. "No matter who they represent, groups think that's the way you play the game."

California’s Stem Cell Agency Is Running Out Of Cash

March 9, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

John M. Simpson, stem cell project director of Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit group in Santa Monica, CA, is a longtime participant in California stem cell matters. He was there for the January finance briefing. Simpson says that potential buyers of CIRM bonds "are feeling the pinch like all the rest of us--perhaps in some cases even more so."

Health Sector Has Donated Millions To Lawmakers

March 9, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Health insurers and drug makers have showered members of the 111th Congress with millions in campaign contributions over the last four years, with a special focus on leaders who will play major roles in shaping health-care legislation, according to a new study to be released tomorrow. "The concern here is that money is buying influence and policy changes that help the industry but hurt the American people," said Jerry Flanagan, Consumer Watchdog's health-care advocate, "They want a policy that requires Americans to buy their product."

OTS admits fault in AIG oversight

March 6, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> The Office of Thrift Supervision took responsibility for its failure as AIG's primary regulator to prevent the company's accumulation of extreme risk in the years before its collapse. </p>

Gov’s cabinet member resigns due to conflict of interest

March 6, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

To follow up on <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/politicians/articles/?storyId=25216">my post from earlier this week</a>, one of the Gov’s cabinet members resigned due to inquiries about income she received from companies who lobby her agency.