Privacy

Tobacco Helps Fund Anti-Tobacco Ad;

June 2, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The flier accuses tax board hopeful Judy Chu, a staunch foe of the industry, of being soft on the issue. Rival says he has no tie to the attack.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the nonprofit Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, said Horton's "close relationship with tobacco companies makes that explanation hard to believe... "If voters knew who paid for this, they would tear it up in heartbeat."</p>

Initiative’s creator keeps tinkering;

June 2, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Senator, oversight panel often at odds</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>While the senator should get credit for influencing institute policy, there have been a lot of other people pushing for change, said John Simpson, of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. </p>

Cellular mutation;

June 2, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Initiative czar morphs into a critic</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>By our measure, Ortiz's bill doesn't go far enough. It doesn't require scientists reviewing multimillion-dollar grants to disclose publicly any interest in companies that could benefit from those grants. Such a requirement should be the bottom line for any changes in Proposition 71. Fortunately, there is time to improve this legislation before it comes before the Assembly.</p>

Lawmakers OK Minimum Wage Bills;

June 2, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Legislators ignore the governor's warning on automatic increases. The measures are passed amid a flurry of votes cast before deadline.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The votes were among hundreds cast in the last two days to meet a legislative deadline. The Democratic agenda includes bills to reshape how Californians get cable TV service, further penalize sex offenders and test residents for chemical buildup in their bodies.</p>

Assembly approves bill to broaden the cable business

June 1, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Consumer rights groups said the bill's unanimous passage should serve as a warning sign. "A bipartisan late night deregulation effort should warrant serious concern by the public because it was not crafted for consumers but by, for and of the telecom giants," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights."</p>

California group says ruling weakens WARF’s stem cell patent;

May 22, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>WARF spokesman calls the assertion "much ado about nothing"</h3><p class="source">Wisconsin Technology Network</p> <p>John M. Simpson, FTCR's stem cell project director, said the Supreme Court ruling means that patent holders like WARF will find it more difficult to prove that an injunction is necessary. "Anything that weakens WARF's stranglehold on research is a good thing," said Simpson, FTCR's stem cell project director. "But these over-reaching patents really need to be broken."</p>

Wary of Backlash, Cancer-Drug Makers Weigh Price Limits

May 10, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Wall Street Journal</p> <p>Medicare reimbursements are in line with drugs' actual selling prices, and physicians and hospitals can no longer afford to forgive co-payments. As a result, many elderly cancer patients without supplemental prescription-drug insurance end up on the hook for thousands of dollars. "There's a groundswell of patients who are outraged," says Jerry Flanagan, health-care policy director for the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, a Los Angeles watchdog group.</p>

As bond issue is set, big bucks rolling in to Schwarzenegger

May 9, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said he believes that car dealers are concerned about how the Schwarzenegger administration plans to oversee key parts of the new "Car Buyers Bill of Rights" that limits interest on dealer car loans and sets higher used car standards. </p>

Car Dealers Rev Up the Contributions

May 2, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">After Arnold whittled down car buyers' protections in the "Car Buyers Bill of Rights" law last year, you might think that the $500K he has received from car dealers and auto...</font> </p>

Judge Upholds Stem Cell Initiative;

April 22, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Religious and taxpayer groups that sued vow to appeal, but institute's plans may proceed.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights cautioned Friday that the institute must continue to act in a transparent fashion if it is to prevail "in the court of public opinion." While he applauded Sabraw's ruling, he said the legal delay's "silver lining" was to slow down the process and ensure that key regulations over issues such as state ownership rights to any discoveries are put in place.</p>

UPDATE: STEM CELL ADVOCATES DELIGHTED WITH RULING

April 21, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CBS TV-5 (Hayward, CA)</p> <p>John Simpson, the director of the stem cell project for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the oversight committee headed by Klein "must use the time during inevitable appeals to implement rules governing ownership of research discoveries that ensure the full public benefit promises of Proposition 71 are met."</p>

For $10,000, you get…

April 16, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>What is wrong with this picture? Plenty, if you think that public stewards of taxpayer money should keep at arm's length from those seeking that money. By agreeing to participate in the fundraiser, Hall, Klein and Penhoet have flunked this test. "It smacks of selling access and influence to well-heeled donors," said John Simpson of the watchdog group, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>