Opposition to SB 1161 – The Worst Telecom Bill Ever in California
by Mark Toney, Executive Director of TURN, California Progress Report
SB 1161 is actually the most anti-consumer bill ever introduced in California because it permits the telecom industry to dictate the terms of its own regulation, or as the case would have it, deregulation. Read More ›
Mercury News editorial: Ratepayers should never pay PG&E bonuses
by Editorial, San Jose Mercury News
Peninsula Assemblyman Jerry Hill…has advanced AB 1861, which would prohibit the utility from charging bonuses to ratepayers and allow bonuses to be taken back from bosses of utilities later fined by regulators. Read More ›
Lawmakers: State must crack down on diploma mills
by Jennifer Gollan, Bay Citizen
California has more diploma mills than any other state in the nation, but it is not doing enough to protect students from the unaccredited colleges and vocational schools that issue worthless degrees, state lawmakers said at hearing yesterday. Read More ›
Government lawyers oppose California VoIP deregulation proposal
by Chris Rizo , Fierce Enterprize Communications
“SB 1161 is a stealth vehicle for the gradual deregulation of telecommunications in California,” the Consumer Federation of California declared on their website. “Consumers need the CPUC to have the power to investigate complaints of bad service or unfair charges on bills, regardless of the technology used to provide phone service.” Read More ›
Consumer bureau to propose new rules for mortgage servicers
by Lew Sichelman, Los Angeles Times
Anyone who has ever fought with a lender over a lost or misapplied house payment should be heartened by the latest news from the new federal mortgage industry watchdog. Read More ›
Chicago Tribune Investigation Reveals Deceptive Chemical Industry Tactics Promoting Toxic Flame Retardant Chemicals
by Californians For Toxic Free Fire Safety , Digital Journal
“An obsolete CA. regulation…de facto forces companies to use toxic chemicals in their products…” comments Richard Holober of Consumer Federation of California. Read More ›
Wilson, Rove, Gingrich…and Fletcher
by Jess Durfee - Chair, San Diego County Democratic Party, San Diego Gay and Lesbian News
…Fletcher has racked up a predictably Republican voting record, scoring low ratings in recent years from the Sierra Club Foundation (30%)…the Consumer Federation of California (18%), and Planned Parenthood (0%). Read More ›
Google Street View privacy scandal broadens
by Jessica Guynn and David Sarno, Los Angeles Times
Reports cast doubt on Google’s assurances that it did not realize its street-mapping cars were snatching personal data from home Wi-Fi networks and that one lone engineer was to blame. Read More ›
California’s Fight to Stop Health Insurance Price Gouging and the Single Payer Solution
by Zack Kaldveer, CFC Communications Director, Consumer Federation of California
State regulators should have the power to veto health insurance industry attempts to unjustifiably gouge consumers. The California State legislature should immediately support this effort to rein in rising premiums costs ‘ a step already taken by 36 states. Read More ›
SB 1208 Requires Corporations to Disclose Top Retired Executive Compensation
The Corporate Executive Retirement Sunshine Act, SB 1208 (Leno), was approved by the Senate on May 30. Sponsored by the Consumer Federation of California, this bill requires publicly traded corporations to report the amount of money their top five highest paid retired executives receive in retirement compensation. Read More ›
California’s Made-in-USA bill involves small parts, but it’s no small matter
by Dan Walters, Sacramento Bee
…the bill is stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee due to opposition from the Consumer Federation of California, which says it would create “a vague standard that invites mislabeling,” and Consumer Attorneys of California, which contends that California is best served by having its own, higher standard. Read More ›
California May Be The First State To Require Corporations To Disclose Compensation Paid To Retired Executives
by Keith Paul Bishop, JD Supra
SB 1208 is supported by Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment; Consumer Federation of California; California Labor Federation; California Nurses Association; California Professional Firefighters; and California School Employees Association. Read More ›
PG&E’s pipeline maintenance should be more thoroughly scrutinized, advocates say
by Mike Taugher, Contra Costa Times
The flaws in PG&E’s high-pressure gas lines that led to the catastrophic explosion in San Bruno in 2010 may lurk elsewhere, and regulators should therefore launch a comprehensive review of the company’s pipeline maintenance, consumer advocates argued in regulatory filings Tuesday. Read More ›