Privacy

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>

Proposed health care mega-merger gets OK from nation’s regulators

February 27, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>The FTC's decision "is more bad news for patients," said Jerry Flanagan, health care reform advocate with FTCR. "Although HMOs argue that consolidation in the industry means greater efficiency, we've only seen premiums increase because of this."</p>

Hey Voters, Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

February 27, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"Are we such a malleable electorate that a celebrity gets a bunch of special interests to give him $10 million, and suddenly we can be convinced of anything we see on TV?" asks Jamie Court of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Show Us the Money

February 27, 2004  ·  Carmen Balber

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold's disclosure reports show $3/4 million in contributions over the last two days while the California governor was on his East Coast swing. More than half a million of this large sum went...</font>

Manhattan elite lining up for pricey Schwarzenegger fund-raiser tonight

February 25, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<!-- excerpt --><p>Schwarzenegger isn't in politics at all; he's in business. And tonight, Schwarzenegger will be selling California to New York.</p>

Manhattan elite lining up for pricey Schwarzenegger fund-raiser tonight

February 24, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Marketplace - Minnesota Public Radio</p> <p>Schwarzenegger isn't in politics at all; he's in business. And tonight, Schwarzenegger will be selling California to New York.</p>

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first 100 days in office

February 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">National Public Radio (NPR) Morning Edition</p> <p>Mr. DOUG HELLER (Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights): He's taking money from insurance companies, HMOs, he's taking money from the biggest developers in the state. We're talking about some of the most sizable donations in the history of California</p>

Ethical lapse

February 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Governor's high-priced event is wrong tactic</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>The worthy cause of resolving California's budget crisis should not be compromised by the corrosive perception that Schwarzenegger is using his office to put the arm on Wall Street officials eager to cash in on the mega-sale of state bonds.</p>

Governor’s charm playing well in Capitol;

February 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Schwarzenegger makes inroads despite some broken promises</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>"It's worse than Gray Davis because Gray Davis didn't tell people he wasn't going to raise money," said Jamie Court, who heads the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Perata campaigns paid pal $313,000;

February 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Long-standing ties earned both men substantial fees</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Business ties between state Sen. Don Perata and a longtime friend -- already under scrutiny by a Senate ethics panel -- are far more extensive and lucrative than previously reported, state documents and interviews show.</p>

Op-Ed Commentary: Feasting on an Ailing California

February 18, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>If the who's who of Wall Street comes out Tuesday night to Arnold's fundraiser at Johnson's, we'll know exactly what our governor is selling: California to New Yorkers.</p>

Medicine’s northern exposure;

February 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Government begins campaign against drugs from Canada</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, with FTCR, said the California Pharmacists Association stands to lose business from online pharmacies. "Seniors need to know that the pharmacies have a financial interest in the outcome of this debate."</p>