Privacy

Gov’s Protocol Should Be To Pay His Own Way

November 6, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Just $25,000 will buy two people a seat at the table -- literally -- for dinner with Governor Schwarzenegger at a fundraiser scheduled for tomorrow at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. The...</font>

Groups Urge UC To Reject BP Deal

November 6, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily Californian</p> <p>John Simpson, consumer advocate for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said he is concerned the final contractual terms could let corporate interests taint UC Berkeley research. "We feel it was done with too much behind closed doors, when you have something like this which has the potential of completely altering the face of public education," Simpson said. "There's the notion that 50 BP scientists are going to be able to come onto campus and public facilities and do secret propriety research that they won't share with anybody."</p>

Núñez solicited Verizon money after bill passed

November 2, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California) </p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a public policy group often at odds with Nunez, said the Assembly leader's travel, luxury purchases and large charity solicitations create a disturbing pattern. "Here's a guy who really wants to fly like a high roller, live like a high roller -- and maybe he wants to give like a high roller," Court said. "But he's using his contributors' credit card."</p>

New schools may get bond funds;

October 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Voters approved the money in 2005 to modernize existing L.A. Unified campuses</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Van Ginkel added that the bond's wording allows for such a transfer. But the fine print of ballot resolutions is not enough, said Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights. "Politicians will try to use whatever money is on hand to fill any hole they have," Court said. "And in those cases they're often very flexible with 'the voter's intent' when the voter's intent wasn't that elastic. Politicians can't lawfully seize on the fine print to use money where that use was not made explicitly clear."</p>

Stem cell agency mulls big loans for biotechs

October 22, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Francisco Business Times</p> <p>John M. Simpson, stem cell project director for the watchdog Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said that if a company's therapy is so promising, it should be able to receive a regular bank loan. "If (CIRM is) a lender of last resort, that could mean that despite the best intentions, a number of these companies could burn through the money and default," Simpson said. "If that happens, there's not going to be this great stream of revenue."</p>

Arnold Vetoes in Line With Donor Desires

October 16, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">At the end of his first "post-partisan" year, Arnold Schwarzenegger stuck to a lot of his old guns as far as campaign donors go. The governor signed several pieces of donor-friendly...</font>

Drivers’ fee hikes signed by governor;

October 15, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Registration costs will increase $3 per year. Schwarzenegger also puts his signature on a bill banning the use of phthalates in some toys.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Some consumer advocates accused Núñez of slipping the bill through in the waning hours of the legislative session to let oil companies -- big campaign contributors in Sacramento -- off the hook financially for the cost of meeting clean-air and alternative fuel goals. "Instead of going to the deep pockets of big oil, this bill goes to the much shallower pockets of the average consumer," said Judy Dugan, research director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "It's business as usual in the Capitol."</p>

Gov. vetoes election day registration for new citizens;

October 12, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Also, he signs an immigration-related bill that prohibits cities from having landlords ask about the residency status of their tenants.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Meanwhile, with gasoline prices in California edging back up to around $3 a gallon, the governor has also signed a bill to study whether motorists are getting less than they pay for when they pump gas during hot weather. However, consumer advocates had urged the governor to veto the bill, saying the oil industry had convinced legislators to study, not solve, the problem. "The bottom line of our opposition is that the measure calls for politically tinged studies that will delay or block any resolution and add nothing to the science of hot fuel," said Judy Dugan, research director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Politicians living large under fire

October 9, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>After Vogel's article appeared, Núñez made a public appearance in Los Angeles but fled via a back corridor when reporters tried to question him about his lifestyle, with a bodyguard blocking questioners. A very embarrassing video clip of Núñez's flight was posted Monday on YouTube, including sharp criticism from Jamie Court, a consumer activist who opposes the health care plan that Núñez and Perata are promoting, saying it's too generous to insurance companies.</p>

Brash idealist at bat; Lawmaker tackles issues, even at risk of striking out

October 7, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, described Jones as effective and articulate but not necessarily the back-slapping, joke-telling type. "I think he's the type of guy you want when you go to war for a just cause," Court said. "He's not necessarily the guy you're going to sit down and have a steak with."</p>

Chittenden Bank’s planned owners seek hefty bonus with cuts looming

October 7, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Burlington Free Press (Vermont)</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a nonprofit consumer group based in Santa Monica, Calif., disagreed -- calling the bonuses "out of whack." The group's executive director, Douglas Heller, said "And you don't just give away $175 million and not feel it." Heller said People's United might cut costs or raise fees to make up for the giveaway. "I don't know what this bank might do, but they will look to recoup this money, these golden gifts, one way or another."</p>

Nunez middle class? Boy, that’s rich

October 7, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> If he crashes and burns in politics, California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez could have a great future as a travel agent.</p> <p> As my colleague Nancy Vogel laid out in a jaw-dropping exposé Friday, L.A.'s man of the people has not missed a trick while traveling extensively and luxuriously about the world, throwing campaign funds around like confetti.</p> <p> Italy. France. Spain.</p> <p> Our very own rascal in paradise has been there, and he's tasted the world's finest offerings.</p>