Privacy

Cox’s Past Ties to Con Man Raise Questions

June 9, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>In 1985, when Cox assured state securities regulators that a new Cooper investment scheme would be "low risk" and an absolute boon to small investors trying to save for retirement, he was apparently unaware that the scheme was really designed to hide the losses already incurred by Cooper's investors and to keep the scam alive. In 1991, when Cooper hosted a fundraiser for Cox at his Villa Park home, Cox thought of him as merely "an upstanding member of the community." </p>

FUROR OVER SALARY BOOST;

May 31, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>HIKE FOR LAWMAKERS REKINDLES CRITICISM</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of FTCR, said his organization's research shows legislators fail to vote on a third of the bills that come before them, especially the controversial ones that stand to affect Californians the most. He suggested paying lawmakers according to how often they show up and vote.</p>

Subtle product plugs seen in governor’s TV ad;

May 29, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Cafeteria table is set for controversy, some analysts say</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>"The governor of California should not be selling corporate products, especially for his corporate donors," said Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, whose ArnoldWatch.org Web site is a compendium of outrages that the group attributes to the governor.</p>

Chicken Arnold

May 25, 2005  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<font face="Verdana,helvetica,Arial"> <br/> </font> <!-- body text starts --><!-- startbodytext --> <font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">48 hours is not much notice for a graduation day speaker to give to students on whether...</font>

Arrowhead’s Water Boy

May 24, 2005  ·  Carmen Balber

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">An eagle-eyed ArnoldWatch tipster discovered some subliminal messaging in the Gov's latest TV ad blitz. Well, he didn't need 20-20 vision to catch this one.<br/> <br/> The ad features Arnold in...</font>

Commission hikes California lawmakers’ pay to $110,000 a year

May 24, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, called the wage increase excessive, in part, he said, because many lawmakers do not have good voting records.</p>

Court Gives Campaign Finance Laws a Green Light;

May 22, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Ruling means strict limits on donations in three cities may finally take effect.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Simply because politicians dislike a law, that does not mean they can spend public money to fight it, particularly when those measures were put on the ballot by the public and voted by the public.</p>

Court Gives Campaign Finance Laws a Green Light;

May 21, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Ruling means strict limits on donations in three cities may finally take effect.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"This is a court saying that when the voters speak at the ballot, they must be heard," said Carmen Balber, with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, which sponsored the ballot initiatives. </p>

Council unhappy about ordinance

May 19, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Pasadena Star-News (Pasadena, CA)</p> <p>"Pasadena does now have to accept what the voters said in 2001: That city officials shouldn't be able to take money from people they award public benefits,' said Carmen Balber, consumer advocate for the initiative's sponsor, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Council unhappy about ordinance

May 19, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Pasadena Star-News (Pasadena, CA)</p> <p>"Pasadena does now have to accept what the voters said in 2001: That city officials shouldn't be able to take money from people they award public benefits,' said Carmen Balber, consumer advocate for the initiative's sponsor, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

City’s Lawsuit Against Self Dies

May 13, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Councilman not surprised about high court's decision</h3><p class="source">Santa Monica Daily Press</p> <p>City Hall suffered a third strike last month when the state Supreme Court refused to hear a case that involved the city suing itself, losing, appealing and losing again, over an initiative approved by voters more than four years ago.</p>

City’s Lawsuit Against Self Dies

May 13, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Councilman not surprised about high court's decision</h3><p class="source">Santa Monica Daily Press</p> <p>City Hall suffered a third strike last month when the state Supreme Court refused to hear a case that involved the city suing itself, losing, appealing and losing again, over an initiative approved by voters more than four years ago.</p>