Privacy

Governor now says he never intended to repay loan with campaign

January 28, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Must quit taking campaign contributions to repay the large loan to his campaign.</h3><p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p> <p>Nevertheless, the explanation drew fire from one of the governor's chief critics, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. Jamie Court, the group's president, said Schwarzenegger owes the public an apology.</p>

Governor broke law, judge rules;

January 27, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Schwarzenegger's $4 million loan made in good faith, campaign treasurer says.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register (California)</p> <p>The loan, which Arnold intended to pay back with donations collected after the recall, constituted a $4 million campaign contribution shielded from public disclosure, since voters would not know until after the election who helped pay it back.</p>

Gov.’s Loan for Recall Ruled Illegal;

January 27, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Borrowing $4.5 million broke campaign law, a judge says. Aides blame error on ethics panel and say Schwarzenegger won't appeal.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Schwarzenegger critic Jamie Court of the Foundations for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica added: "He ran to clean up Sacramento and did it basically by violating campaign finance."</p>

Bill Would Open Door for Drugs;

January 23, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Senate leader Burton will offer legislation requiring the state to consider buying cheaper pharmaceuticals from Canada.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Consumer advocates welcomed Burton's proposal. "It's the right proposal at the right time, but the state needs to look at health insurance rates and hospital costs as well," said Jerry Flanagan of FTCR in San Francisco.</p>

Work under way on tort-reform plan

January 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Backers say they want to curtail frivolous lawsuits against businesses.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register</p> <p>Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's aides are laying the groundwork for legislation that would dramatically scale back the right of private attorneys and citizens' groups to sue businesses for unfair or fraudulent practices.</p>

WAL-MART SETTLES LAWSUIT ON ITEM-PRICING FOR $7.35M

January 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>SEVERAL GROUPS TO RECEIVE GRANTS</h3><p class="source">The Boston Globe</p> <p>Dorchester resident Colman Herman has reached a multimillion-dollar legal settlement in a class-action suit with Wal-Mart Corp. over the chain's alleged failure to comply with the state's item-pricing regulation.</p>

Fundraising while Budgeting

January 21, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">When he wanted to be Governor, Arnold said, "It is no coincidence that the budget season is also the political fundraising season. It is inherently suspect for politicians to be taking...</font>

Kennedy backs off cell-phone users alternate bill of rights

January 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>FTCR v Nextel suit moves forward</h3><p class="source">RCR Wireless News</p> <p>FTCR said Nextel's policy of no longer issuing itemized bills -begun Oct. 1- makes it impossible to detect billing errors, including charges for four phony text messages the company sent every customer in September.</p>

Clock runs for debt bond initiative

January 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Governor launches a drive for funds - and his critics are buzzing.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>While Arnold's just starting to ask for the cash, a well-known Los Angeles consumer group has stepped up its attacks on Schwarzenegger's fund-raising approach, calling him a hypocrite who is far worse than deposed Gov. Gray Davis when it comes to trolling</p>

Timber…

January 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">When Schwarzenegger promised to clear up politics as usual in Sacramento, environmentalists couldn't imagine that meant appointing lumber industry lobbyists intent on clear cutting the state's...</font>

Bill to Update State’s Unfair Competition Law Fails

January 14, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>A consumer group says big business, not small, is behind an initiative aimed at making similar changes.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Daily Journal</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights insist the push to change the law is coming from big corporations seeking to "buy immunity" for themselves.</p>

HMO Gives to Get

January 9, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold has just logged in the maximum $21,200 from the big HMO Health Net, which is a state contractor for public assistance programs like Healthy Families. This should mean Health Net meets...</font>