Thanks to the historic agreement to update California's medical malpractice cap in May, the measure that was Consumer Watchdog's election priority this year - the Fairness for Injured Patients Act - did not have to go to the ballot. In fact, there are only 7 initiatives on the ballot this November - on the low side for recent years. Still, after hundreds of millions of dollars in record spending for and against a pair of this year's initiatives, and some very familiar ads that have voters experiencing deja vu, I share this initiative guide to shine a light through the confusion.

Sacramento, CA – Senator Anthony Portantino’s Senate Appropriations Committee killed good government legislation today using one of the Legislature’s most undemocratic tactics, the “suspense file,” which legislative leadership uses to bury bills without public debate or a vote.
 
AB 2370 (Levine) would have required all state agencies to retain public records for a minimum of two years. The bill had previously passed through the Assembly and through Senate Judicary with overwhelming bipartisan support, and without a single No vote. 
 

Los Angeles, CA - Today, the California State Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill 11-0 that would require agencies to retain all public records for a minimum of two years. Yesterday, the Senate Elections Committee voted 4-0 to close a loophole in state law that allowed former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to influence decision-making at the Department of Insurance without registering as a lobbyist. 
 

Los Angeles, CA - Today, the California State Assembly passed a bill 65-0 that would close a loophole in state law that allowed Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to influence decision-making at the Department of Insurance without registering as a lobbyist.  On Monday, the Assembly voted 73-0 to pass another bill to require agencies to retain all public records for a minimum of two years.
 

Los Angeles, CA -- City Attorney Mike Feuer should resign following a bombshell KNBC-TV report revealing Feuer was calendared for a meeting in which his office okayed an extortion scheme to keep the DWP billing debacle from becoming public.

Watch the report here.

Assembly Committee Approves Bill to Preserve Public Records

2022 promises to be a seminal year for consumer protection.
 
We can only make the landmark changes on our list with your generous support.

Consumer Watchdog’s ambitious list for the new year includes:
 

“Why do you trust Harvey?” an angry insurance company flack asked a newspaper reporter a few weeks ago. 
 
They’ve been asking that question for thirty-three years, ever since California voters defied the odds and stunned the American political establishment by passing Proposition 103. 103 rolled back auto, home and business insurance rates, required insurance companies to open their books and justify their rates, and gave consumers powerful new rights that have saved motorists an estimated $154 billion since 1989.
 

Despite the pandemic, Consumer Watchdog scored some significant victories for the public interest in 2021. 

Now’s the time of the year that we ask you to consider making a tax deductible donation so that we can do even more in ’22. 

Among Consumer Watchdog’s 2021 successes:

Tesla recently fired its entire Northern American public relations staff.  Who needs to talk to the press when you are Elon Musk? Tesla was supposed to be above interacting with the media.

We lost a lot in 2020 — loved ones, time, momentum — and Consumer Watchdog’s ambitious plans for 2021 try to capitalize on what we’ve learned.

Below are some of our 2021 resolutions -- which you can help us realize with a year-end, tax-deductible contribution:

Wondering what the story is with the dozen statewide propositions on your ballot? We've had so many requests that, while Consumer Watchdog hasn't weighed in on every measure, I'm sharing my personal recommendations below.

Prop 14 – LEANING NO
Allows the state stem cell research institute, CIRM, created 15 years ago by a prior ballot measure, to raise another $5.5 billion through bond sales to fund stem cell research.

Los Angeles, CA – The cost to qualify an initiative measure for the November 2020 ballot averaged a record-high $7.22 per valid signature, a prohibitive cost that locks average Californians out of the initiative process, according to a new report released by Consumer Watchdog today.

Whether the US Senate acknowledges it or not, we must never forget the raw deal behind Trump's corruption.

Mick Malvaney may be out as White House Chief of Staff, but he will always be the 9 of Clubs on in the Trump's Raw Deal Playing Card deck.

That's why acclaimed LA artist Charles Lynn “Chick” Bragg has teamed up with Consumer Watchdog Campaign (CW's campaign affilate) to offer a 54 face card, special-edition playing card deck featuring searing, satirical portraits of Trump's accomplices.