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Gearing up for a discount drug card;

April 5, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The new Medicare program begins in June. Deciding which card to choose will take analysis, guesswork -- and luck.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The cards will not control actual prices, only discounts, says Jamie Court, president of the FTCR, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group. "The card states what discount you'll get, but it doesn't talk about the base cost of the drug," he says.</p>

Governor’s pitches take hit

April 2, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Schwarzenegger says he's selling state; critics say he's promoting big donors</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Doug Heller, advocate with FTCR, said he understands Schwarzenegger's desire to reward big businesses that choose California but said Schwarzenegger's promise not to engage in special-interest politics means he must be held to a higher standard.</p>

Pay for Placement

April 1, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Once again Arnold will be touting his message of job growth for California. And once again, the backdrop will be the corporate logo of one of Arnold's campaign contributors. Tomorrow, the Gov....</font>

By punting on protection racket, Democrats shot selves in foot

March 29, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>FTCR issued a rhetorical broadside against the Governor's for taking up the cause of tort reform. It cited the fact that many of the same business interests that contributed to Arnold's campaign committees are also major financial backers of the proposed</p>

GAS PRICES FAIL TO STOP DRIVERS

March 27, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>"The signs are not good, because the market will be anticipating a shortage, so if there's any problems, there will be another price spike," Jamie Court of FTCR said after appearing before the Gas Pricing Commission.</p>

Teflon Don has history of fines over finances

March 8, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>He is the target of a state Senate ethics probe that stems from a complaint that he violated campaign finance laws or conflict-of-interest rules by receiving consulting fees from a college friend.</p>

Schwarzenegger flexes his fund-raising muscles

March 7, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>As for individual contributors, a list provided to us by the nonpartisan Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights shows Stockton developer and San Diego Chargers owner Alex Spanos at the top, with $609,700 in donations.</p>

Governor to Be Executive Editor of 2 Fitness Magazines;

March 6, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The publications will use Schwarzenegger's name, and he will receive $250,000 a year for his Council on Physical Fitness. Aide sees 'nominal' time commitment</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which runs the website arnoldwatch.org, suggested this week that interests that sponsor the Arnold Fitness Weekend could provide undue influence.</p>

Governor signs on with two magazines Schwarzenegger won’t do muchheavy lifting, but extra job spurs criticism.

March 6, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>One critic of Schwarzenegger's political fund-raising activities called it "just inappropriate for the governor to take another job." "Doesn't the governor have enough to do running the state of California?" asked Doug Heller of FTCR.</p>

Classic Arnold

March 6, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">After victory at the polls on Tuesday, Governor Schwarzenegger promised California action and got straight to it. This weekend, the governor will preside over the Arnold Classic, a Columbus,...</font>

Big, better, best? Even as some insurers gain national size through mergers and acquisitions, competition is still a local battle

March 1, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Bests Review</p> <p>Some consumer groups fear that fewer players in the marketplace will lead to fewer consumer choices and higher costs for all. Providers fear growing health insurers will gain greater negotiating muscle.</p>

Governor OKs loan conversion

February 28, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>He agrees to give up $4.5 million rather than let campaign donors cover it.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"It's a good thing that he listened to the court and didn't try to challenge what the court said," said Carmen Balber of the Santa Monica-based FTCR. "It's regrettable that he waited until the court forced his hand."</p>