Privacy

New Bill Could Provide Whistleblower Hotline

May 16, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Tri-Valley Herald</p> <p>Senate Bill 1452, introduced by state Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Montebello, would provide a "Whistleblower Hotline" within the office of the Attorney General to receive reports on employers' violations of state or federal rules and regulations.</p>

Unlimited campaign money mean likely record spending this year

May 13, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>California's politicians are expected to break campaign finance records this year as they enjoy - for what may be their last election season - running for office in a state with absolutely no campaign contribution limits.</p>

Premiere Screening of “Damaged Care” Starring Laura Dern on May 13th, 2002 in Sacamento, CA

May 6, 2002  ·  Mark Reback

<!-- excerpt --><p>The premiere screening of the Showtime film "Damaged Care" starring Laura Dern, will be on May 13th, 2002 @ 6:30pm at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, CA.</p>

Insurer’s success evolves from “WellPoint Way”;

April 21, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The insurer that wants to buy CareFirst is praised for its acumen by business analysts but not by doctors.</h3><p class="source">The Baltimore Sun</p> <p>"The WellPoint Way" began the moment Leonard D. Schaeffer saw the shrimp and the ice sculpture. It was 1986, his first day as chief executive of Blue Cross of California, a company that was on its way to losing $157 million that year.</p>

Calif. PUC Republican asks court to stay dismissal

April 17, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Megawatt Daily</p> <p>Henry Duque, the sole Republican on the five-member California Public Utilities Commission, said he would appeal a San Francisco Superior Court ruling that found him in violation of the state's conflict-of-interest laws and ordered him to leave the PUC.</p>

CA Court Orders Ouster of PUC Commissioner Duque, Appeal Probable

April 12, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CA State Telephone Regulation Report</p> <p>A California court ruled PUC Commissioner Henry Duque must be removed from office for financial conflict of interest.</p>

Judge Orders Removal of PUC Member

April 5, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Court: Henry Duque bought stock in phone firm with business before panel. He denies wrongdoing.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>A judge ruled Thursday that Henry M. Duque, the lone Republican on the California Public Utilities Commission, should be removed from office because he violated conflict-of-interest laws by buying stock in a telecommunications company regulated by the com</p>

When HMO’s Attack

April 1, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>HMOs aim to stop even modest reform in its tracks</h3><p class="source">In These Times (Institute for Public Affairs)</p> <p>California's HMO reform laws, in force since mid-2000, make up the toughest patients' bill of rights in the nation. They allow bigger fines and send more types of challenged HMO decisions to independent review boards than in any of the other 40 states wi</p>

Activist sues city officials over initiative

March 19, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Pasadena Star News</p> <p>Amy sued Mayor Bill Bogaard, City Clerk Jane Rodriguez and other city officials on Friday, alleging they have "nullif(ied) the will of the people" by failing to file a voter-approved, anti-corruption initiative with the Secretary of State's office.</p>

Council dilutes watchdog group’s reforms

March 14, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Oaks Project of Santa Monica sought tougher conflict-of-interest law</h3><p class="source">Irvine World News</p> <p>"Where's the beef," Oaks volunteer Paul Bunch said. "This report does not represent the conflict of interest reform that voters want. All there is is a suggestion. There's no teeth. A recommendation is not reform."</p>

Officials Stress Need for Prop 41 to Fix Voting Machine Problems

February 24, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Luis Obispo Tribune</p> <p>The push to replace aging voting equipment was born in Florida, but long before the now-infamous 2000 election, the experts who spend their days thinking about elections knew there were potential problems with punch-card voting machines.</p>

Closer Look at Complaints on HMOs Urged

February 15, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Regulation: State wants to review arbitration cases involving patients, while industry representatives say it would be an undue invasion of privacy.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>California HMO regulators are seeking to expand their review of arbitration cases involving patients, citing concerns about the fairness of the process.</p>