Privacy

Former Poway assemblywoman one step closer to Consumer Affairs post

August 11, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Copley News Service</p> <p>Some consumer advocates attacked her record, claiming she fought financial privacy safeguards, beefing up car lemon laws and reining in lenders who prey on the poor.</p>

DMV comes out against rules for auto dealers;

August 11, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Critics see link to governor's campaign cash</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"This is the way campaign contributions influence politics," said Doug Heller, with FTCR. "You've got your agency coming in, opposing a bill for, at best, kind of weak reasons, after you've received almost a million bucks from the folks who care so much."</p>

Committee approves Schwarzenegger’s consumer affairs pick

August 11, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>A Senate committee Wednesday approved Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger choice of former legislator Charlene Zettel to be the state's top consumer advocate despite protests from consumer groups that she had favored businesses over consumer interests.</p>

Questions Jay Leno Should Ask Arnold Tonight

August 7, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Jay Leno has a tradition of using viewer-contributed material on the air. In honor of Governor Schwarzenegger's return to Leno tonight to mark the one year anniversary of his historic...</font>

ARNOLD’S FIRST YEAR GARNERS MIXED REVIEWS

August 5, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Critics say Schwarzenegger's promise to sweep out the special interests in Sacramento essentially amounted to sweeping out Democratic special interests such as unions and attorneys in favor of Republican interests.</p>

Hiram Johnson He is Not

August 5, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Ever the audacious governor, Arnold compared himself yesterday to California's most important Constitutional reformer, Governor Hiram Johnson. "Johnson did not call the lobbyists or the...</font>

Schwarzenegger ‘slush fund’ hides political spending

August 4, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>In May, the nonprofit FTCR filed an appeal with the IRS challenging the corporation's tax exempt status, noting that it is controlled by Schwarzenegger, run by his staff, and is used for political purposes. The fund was incorporated as a social welfare or</p>

HMO-ing Government

August 4, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The plan submitted by the Governor's California Performance Review will not streamline government, but in many cases decapitate it.<br/> <br/> Case in point is the recommendation to allow the...</font>

Governor raises $17 million in 6 months

August 1, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Figures provided to us by the nonpartisan Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights -- which tracked $14.8 million in contributions reported since Schwarzenegger presented the state's new budget Jan. 10 -- pretty much turned up the usual list of specia</p>

Kaiser: Profit up, members are flat

July 31, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Alameda Times-Star (Alameda, CA)</p> <p>"Patients don't want an advertising campaign, they want lower premiums," said Jerry Flanagan with FTCR, adding that the $40 million is enough money to insure 4,500 California families,</p>

No end is in sight for state budget;

July 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Parties' standoff may result in repercussions</h3><p class="source">The Oakland Tribune</p> <p>And Schwarzenegger critics, such as the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, say the governor is raising funds at a swift pace from business groups after pledging to sweep special interests' influence from the Capitol.</p>

CHECKS AND BALANCES;

July 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY ARE MAKING FRAUD EASIER TO COMMIT, EASIER TO DISCOVER</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Daily News</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, a lead advocate at FTCR, said people will likely find a way to intercept the electronic images. "And all Check 21 does is eliminate a paper trail. What's so good about that? Sounds like the law just saves banks a bunch of money."</p>