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State political watchdog fines former PUC commissioner

January 23, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Monterey County Herald (California)</p> <p>FTCR, which originally challenged Duque's investments, said the group is happy that the FPPC got Duque to concede he broke state law. But they are still unhappy that the PUC paid most of his legal fees, which they estimated to be close to $100,000.</p>

Stem cell holdings criticized

January 21, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Ten of the 29 directors of California's new stem cell program serve on biotech or pharmaceutical firms' boards of directors or have extensive holdings in those industries, leading critics to challenge their ability to fairly represent taxpayers in dolin</p>

A Man of the People… People Who Pay

January 19, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Even as he rails against special interests, the governor is grabbing special interest money with the unstoppable force of a crack addict smashing car windows for loose change.</p>

Governor’s call to arms causing deep divisions;

January 9, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Dem, union 'special interests' are seen as enemies of his state</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Doug Heller, a spokesman for the nonprofit FTCR -- a watchdog group that runs a Web site called Arnoldwatch.org -- said he's concerned that the governor is using the dreaded "special interest" label to disarm legitimate critics and public protest of his p</p>

Scene Set for Ballot Battles;

January 8, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Schwarzenegger's plan for a special election this fall has scores of interest groups scrambling to put their own agendas before the voters too.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"The question is whether issues like prescription drug reform drowns out these more archaic measures like redistricting, which is not immediately obvious as to its effect on the state," said Jerry Flanagan of FTCR, a nonprofit group based in Santa Monica.</p>

Regulator revamp plan raises concerns in California

January 7, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Contra Costa Times</p> <p>Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the boards have benefited consumers and professionals by weeding out problem practitioners who reflect poorly on the industries.</p>

A slap for taxpayers

January 6, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Ventura County Star (California)</p> <p>Doug Heller, a spokesman for FTCR, could have been reflecting the reaction of many Californians when he said, "To actually be giving a gift to companies that paid no taxes is a slap in the face of every taxpaying citizen in the state."</p>

Alhambra councilman to keep city vending contracts, not profit

January 6, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Gabriel Valley Tribune (California)</p> <p>Even if a technicality legally absolves him, it might be best for Yamauchi to terminate the contracts and avoid any appearance of a conflict, said consumer advocate Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights.</p>

Good Government Resolutions

January 6, 2005  ·  Doug Heller

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Here are a few New Year resolutions ArnoldWatch would like to hear from the Governor as he talks about reforming state government and cleaning up politics in tonight's State of the State speech....</font>

Bush’s tort reform efforts to start at ‘judicial hellhole’;

January 3, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Speech in an Illinois county infamous for litigation will begin push to cap damage awards in lawsuits</h3><p class="source">Chicago Tribune</p> <p>"At the end of the day, [legal reform] is a way to take money from people's pockets," said Doug Heller, director of the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights.</p>

Stop Junk Faxes

January 2, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<P>If you have an active fax machine, you've probably received annoying ads that you didn't ask for. Like junk mail and spam e-mail, "junk faxes" are another way businesses waste our time and invade our privacy at home and the office. Some...</P>

Prop. 71 financier debuts as chairman;

December 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>29-member board sworn in; biotech exec is vice chair</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>A Los Angeles nonprofit, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, issued a news release charging that the newly named stem-cell board was rife with conflicts of interest.</p>