Privacy

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>

Assembly speaker taps campaign funds for expensive meals, hotels

October 5, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica-based consumer group, said Nunez should provide more information about why the spending was justified. "How much political, legislative and governmental work does Fabian Núñez have to do in Barcelona?" Heller asked. "If they're legitimate, you've got to explain it."</p>

Stem cell chief a top scientist;

October 5, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Australian will head $3 billion California research institute.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>Trounson said he had not intended to mislead, and apologized. The episode appears to be an anomaly, said John Simpson, a spokesman for the watchdog group Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "From what I've seen, he's been one who speaks of the science accurately," Simpson said.</p>

California Stem-Cell Institute Takes Back $3 Million in Grants

October 5, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Wired Magazine</p> <p>John M. Simpson, stem-cell project director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights of Santa Monica, California, told directors that withdrawal of the application "spoke very well of the staff and their diligence," and that it showed CIRM was "serious about standards."</p>

Campaign cash gives Nunez rich travel style

October 5, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source"> Los Angeles Times </p> <p> Luxurious living is incompatible with Núñez's image as a champion of working people, said Doug Heller with FTCR. "Here's a guy who gives a lot of lip service to speaking for the little guy, but he's living like a Goliath. And when his campaigns are funding it, you have to wonder: Who does he owe for this lifestyle? That's the problem," said Heller. </p>

State pulls Burnham’s stem cell seed grant

October 4, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>A member of a taxpayer advocacy group said that the denial of the Burnham application and the withdrawal of the CHA application was a good sign. "It shows CIRM has standards and procedures and that they are being followed, and these applications are being fully vetted," said John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica.</p>

Calif. stem cell agency back on track?

October 4, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Agency won't award two grants, and sells more bonds than expected in first public sale</h3><p class="source">The Scientist Magazine</p> <p>"What people don't realize is that the litigation turned out to be a blessing in disguise," John Simpson, director of the stem cell group at the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, told The Scientist. "The silver lining was that it gave them 2.5 years to get all the necessary procedures in places to responsibility put out money."</p>

Disputed stem cell patents amended;

October 4, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Changes to challenged stem cell patents are not a step-back from their claims, says WARF</h3><p class="source">The Scientist Magazine</p> <p>The patents are under reexamination by the US Patent Office following a challenge by the Public Patent Foundation in New York and the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Los Angeles. In April, the patent office issued a preliminary ruling that the patents were not valid. WARF is now challenging that ruling.</p>

Lab founded by fertility scientist pulls its request for stem cell grant

October 4, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jean Yi, the CHA Institute's chief executive, said the institute backed out because of criticism that it was not a true nonprofit. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights had complained that the research institute was tied too closely to a for-profit fertility center.</p>

Funding for lawmakers’ overseas travel questioned

September 24, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"Private companies and organizations have no business sending politicians on luxury vacations, and if they are not vacations but legitimate policy trips, then taxpayers should be footing the bill," said Carmen Balber, a consumer advocate for the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "It's simply another way for private interests to gain access and curry favor with politicians."</p>

CONSUMER ADVOCATES WANT MOBILE FIRMS REGULATED

September 17, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">TECHNOLOGY DAILY</p> <p>"I can't think of another industry except the insurance industry back in the early 1980s that begs for regulation as much as the cell-phone industry does," consumer advocate Harvey Rosenfield said.</p>

Stem cell pioneer to lead state’s institute;

September 15, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Australian biologist Alan Trounson will aid California's $3-billion effort to find cures for diseases through human embryonic research.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"This is an excellent move," said John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer Rights, a watchdog group that can be one of the institute's toughest critics. "I am wonderfully impressed and completely surprised."</p>