Privacy

AIG Seeks $75 Billion in Loans to Stay Afloat

September 16, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>The insurer wins approval to use $20 billion in assets held by its subsidiaries.</strong><br /> American International Group Inc., the nation's largest insurer by assets, Monday scrambled to borrow money from its subsidiaries and searched for as much as $75 billion in new capital as it struggled to stay afloat financially. "Consumers were already hit once by the collapse of the mortgage house of cards in the form of record home foreclosures," said Carmen Balber of Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica advocacy group. "They should not have to pay again with higher insurance rates."

Approval ratings tank as politicians earn overtime

September 12, 2008  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> It’s time to cut off the cash flow for politicians who don’t do their jobs. California lawmakers should lose salaries and per diem for every day a budget isn’t passed on time. <br/> <br/> A new Field Poll found that...</p>

Session Wasn’t Complete Waste

September 5, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Given their sorry performance – the budget is now 67 days late – it's tempting to simply ignore any legislation that lawmakers passed this session that is headed toward the governor's desk. But there are bills deserving of the governor's signature. Here are some of the most notable: Health insurance: Assembly Bill 1945<strong> </strong>would make it harder for health insurance companies to rescind coverage for policyholders. This bill, by Hector De La Torre, D-South Gate, was a response to reports of insurance companies retroactively canceling coverage after people became ill and began drawing benefits.

Californians overestimate privacy policies protection

September 3, 2008  ·  John M. Simpson

<p> There's a real gap between the actual protection provided by online "privacy policies" and what Californians think they are getting. We're lulled into believing we're protected when it's not the case at all. </p>

Can you be incognito on Google’s Chrome?

September 2, 2008  ·  John M. Simpson

Google launched its <a href="http://www.google.com/chrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new internet browser, Chrome,</a> today taking on Microsoft's Internet Explorer 8, Mozilla's Firefox and Apple's Safari.  Does Google's Chrome allow a user to keep personal data private or does the browser enhance the company's ability to gather and store users' personal data?

Genentech doesn’t want to know

August 28, 2008  ·  John M. Simpson

Suppose you made two drugs that did the same thing, but one sold for $60 a month and the other for $2,000.  Wouldn't you want to know if they were equally effective?<br /> <br /> Not if you're Genentech.

Buffoonery and $130 Million – What do they have in common?

August 28, 2008  ·  Doug Heller

<p> The Sacramento Bee's Capitol columnist Dan Walters writes about Gov. Schwarzenegger <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/walters/story/1188546.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">today</a>: "He's rapidly approaching buffoonery." </p>

Some Cities Limit Campaign Contributions

August 27, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>Strict Standards: Lake Elsinore Heeds State Laws, But Tougher Rules Exist That Ban Developer Donations.</strong><br/> <p> While Lake Elsinore officials have been content with the state law that governs campaign contributions,...</p>

Calif. Commissioner Creates ‘Pay-As-You-Drive’ Regulations

August 27, 2008  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Representatives of Consumer Watchdog, which criticized Huffman's bill, spoke positively of the Poizner regulations. "Regulations that implement Proposition 103's mandate that insurance rates reflect a driver's mileage will lower auto insurance premiums, particularly when the high cost of gasoline is encouraging people to drive less," said Harvey Rosenfield, the author of Proposition 103 and founder of Consumer Watchdog. </p>

Stem cell agency pledges to keep secrets

August 26, 2008  ·  John M. Simpson

I recently <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=22130" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obtained a list of the companies</a> which filed letters of intent with the stem cell agency to apply for New Cell Line grants and Disease Planning Team grants. The agency says it regrets that I got it and published it.

Always ask for the supervisor

August 22, 2008  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> I'm getting sick and tired of fighting with corporations for what they owe me. This time, surprise surprise, it was a credit card company. </p> I opened a credit card bill this weekend to find out that the company had moved my due date up and the bill was already three days overdue...

Dash for cash 2008; Public financing to the rescue

August 19, 2008  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> <strong>"Legislators and lobbyists get ready for the fundraising dance"</strong> <em>Los Angeles Times, August 8, 2008</em> </p> <p> <strong>"While budget waits, California legislators collect campaign...</strong> </p>