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Chandler mayor’s posh travel detailed;

September 12, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Charged city $11,000 for travels</h3><p class="source">East Valley Tribune (Mesa, Arizona)</p> <p>Some advocacy groups warned that even trips taken on official business can sometimes be a waste of taxpayer money. Jaime Court, president of the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said publicly financed trips need to be watched closely to make sure they are not abused. "Treating the taxpayers' money like a line of credit is just wrong," said Court, who is a nationally recognized consumer advocate and author of several books.</p>

FTC head feels heat over hot fuel misstatement

September 7, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Kansas City Star (Missouri)</p> <p>The FTC's hot fuel letter was seen by some as the latest evidence that the agency routinely sides with industry, this time without even a formal study. "A letter like this seals the reputation of the FTC as the defense department for Big Oil," said Judy Dugan, research director for The Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights.</p>

Answers elusive in food-safety issues at onion plant

September 5, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Ventura County Star (California)</p> <p>Given all the contamination scares that have arisen lately, compounded by yet another spinach recall last week, consumers want answers, said Judy Dugan, research director for the Foundation of Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "We want to know where this is coming from, why foods normally regarded as simply safe and healthy are making people sick," she said. "And what can be done to make the system far more safe?"</p>

Arnold’s Chief of Staff Joins the Fundraising Frenzy

September 4, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The flurry of <a href="http://www.dirtymoneywatch.org/article/?storyId=6878">end-of-session fundraising</a> and favor-currying isn't confined to the four block radius of the Capitol building. It's...</font>

Apple & AT&T Sued For Third Time Over iPhone Battery

August 30, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The class-action suit charges that the companies violated California law by failing to inform iPhone purchasers that it costs $100 to replace the phone's battery.</h3><p class="source">TECHWEB</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights sent a letter to Apple and AT&T complaining about the iPhone battery. Harvey Rosenfield, founder of the FTCR, told InformationWeek that he would like to see consumers get battery replacements free of charge.</p>

State says time needed for health plan rules: Consumer group accuses regulator of stalling on changes.

August 29, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>A consumer group has accused the state's managed health care regulator of stalling on new regulations that would police California insurers. "Why the delay? They're obligated to move in a responsible manner," Jerry Flanagan, spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said of the Department of Managed Health Care. "Nothing explains the delay. There was a flurry of activity, then nothing."</p>

The Gifts that Keep on Giving

August 27, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2"><a href="http://nctimes.com/articles/2007/08/25/news/coastal/encinitas/23_47_378_24_07.txt">The governor's office has announced</a> appointing another donor to a political post.<br/> <br/> Samuel...</font>

PUC knew of fine problem in 1999

August 27, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, California)</p> <p>Californians should not accept the energy crisis as an excuse for a lack of action on the recommendations, said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a watchdog group. "They had 10 months before the energy crisis and years afterward," he said. "They didn't lift a finger. They knew exactly where they had problems, and they chose to do nothing about it, and the consumers of California suffered for it. They've screwed up a vital responsibility. It's hard to have any confidence in the commission."</p>

Audit: PUC cost state;

August 22, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Audit confirms PUC's faulty system</h3><p class="source">Inside Bay Area (California)</p> <p>The controllers audit of debt collection raises serious questions about the commissions management, said Douglas Heller, executive director of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "You have to ask if this is just the tip of the iceberg," Heller said. "It's appalling that an organization of this size has gone for a decade and half without an audit of itself. This situation is moving toward a code red situation."</p>

Some fair board members generous to politicians

August 18, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The North County Times (Del Mar/San Diego, CA)</p> <p>It wasn't any recent appointments that caught the attention of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, but the alleged misdeeds of one of the fair board's former members, Balber said. She said she began examining donations from fair board members when authorities tied Poway defense contractor Brent Wilkes to the corruption scandal of former Rep. Randy Cunningham. Today, Cunningham is serving a prison term and Wilkes is awaiting trial on fraud and conspiracy charges.</p>

UC President announces he’s stepping down next summer

August 14, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>A consumer watchdog group spoke against Dynes' effort to straighten ties with industry, saying this results in the commercialization of the educational system. "Under the Dynes watch, we've already seen UC Berkeley transformed into 'UC-BP' with the planned $500 million research deal with oil giant BP," said John M. Simpson, consumer advocate with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "We've already got Big Oil U. What's next? Tobacco U and UC Pharma?"</p>

Lawmakers seek changes in campaign finance reporting;

August 13, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Open-government groups oppose the efforts, saying that the bills would allow special interests to overwhelm elections.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"Politicians are whittling away at the laws meant to deny special interests a stranglehold on California politics," said Carmen Balber, a spokeswoman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "But the details of campaign laws are as important as their core; shave off the edges and the whole campaign finance structure crumbles."</p>