Consumer Watchdog

Expose. Confront. Change.

Consumer Watchdog

Privacy

Consumer Watchdog investigations and advocacy on data privacy, surveillance, AI, and your right to control your personal information.
Hey Voters, Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

Hey Voters, Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

<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

Show Us the Money

<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>
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first 100 days in office

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first 100 days in office

<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

Ethical lapse

<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;

Governor’s charm playing well in Capitol;

<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;

Perata campaigns paid pal $313,000;

<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>
Medicine’s northern exposure;

Medicine’s northern exposure;

<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>
Feasting on an Ailing California

Feasting on an Ailing California

<!-- excerpt --><p>If the who's who of Wall Street comes out Tuesday night at Arnold's fundraiser at Johnson's, we'll know exactly what our governor is selling: California to New Yorkers.</p>
FDA: Drug research at risk

FDA: Drug research at risk

<h3>Importing prescriptions from Canada could curtail development of medicines</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>"You have to question why the FDA is siding with drug makers and pharmacists who have a huge financial interest in keeping drug imports illegal," said Jerry Flannagan with the Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights.</p>