Privacy

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  ·  Jamie Court

<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>

Roaming charges often haunt unaware wireless phone users in Savannah, Ga.

January 7, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Savannah Morning News</p> <p>"It's like the Wild West," he said. Based in California -- the only state to pass a consumer Telecommunications Bill of Rights -- Rosenfeld said he thought national regulation will be the inevitable result of the Golden State legislation passed in May.</p>

Governor’s Vow: ‘The State of Our State Will Soon Be Strong’;

January 7, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Schwarzenegger again assures that the fiscal crisis can be resolved without raising taxes. Citing March ballot, he asks for public's help.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"If you want to lower rates for businesses, you have to regulate the insurers," said Doug Heller, a spokesman for the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Governor’s fund-raising gambit draws ire;

January 3, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>One of new committees isn't covered by contribution caps, has nearly $200,000</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"In a way, what he is doing is more deceptive than what (former Gov.) Gray Davis ever did," said Doug Heller, consumer advocate for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "That's what is so shocking -- he said he would be cleaning house...</p>

Donor watchdog seeking donations

January 2, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Fund-raising letters tout Arnold Watch</h3><p class="source">RecordNet.com</p> <p>"Keeping an eye on a governor with a personal fortune of more than $200 million requires resources," according to a fund-raising letter from the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, soliciting donations for its ArnoldWatch operation.</p>

Governor Will Raise More Funds;

January 1, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>By creating committees to back ballot measures and to lobby legislators, Schwarzenegger would be extending his power, observers say.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"It is another tool for Schwarzenegger to dominate the Legislature," said Douglas Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, which tracks the governor's fundraising.</p>

INSIDE POLITICS; New Cards Are Dealt on the Political Table

December 29, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>San Francisco fared better than Los Angeles in the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights' rating of the arm wrestling between corporate and consumer interests in the nation's major cities.</p>

THE TICKER

December 24, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Boston Herald</p> <p>Boston ranked fourth of seven cities in its ability to force corporations to respect community and individual rights, a survey by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said. San Francisco ranked first.</p>

Schwarzenegger outpacing Davis in fund raising

December 24, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Orange County Register (California)</p> <p>"You can't ride a wave of populist anger into the governor's office and then ignore the source of that anger," said Doug Heller of the watchdog group Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "You can't ignore that with flip comments...</p>

He’s Not the King, But is Arnold Earning Royalties?

December 24, 2003  ·  Doug Heller

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">On supermarket racks, 7-eleven shelves and news stands across the state, Californians are being urged to pony up $4.95 a pop for a piece of California history - the Official Collector's Edition...</font>

The Year of the Consumer

December 22, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">RCR Wireless News</p> <p>Our choice for 2003 is the consumer, the collective 150 million wireless subscribers who are changing the wireless industry with both their praises and their complaints.</p>