Sparks fly in fight over health-care regulation
by John Howard, Capitol Weekly
The debate is over AB 52 by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-West Hollywood, which would give the state insurance commissioner and the state’s HMO regulator the authority to approve insurers’ rates to make sure they are not unfair, excessive or discriminatory. Read More ›
Stopping the Sale of Expired Infant Formula and Medications
by Richard Holober, CFC Executive Director, California Progress Report
When embarrassing exposes don’t get an industry’s attention, regulations become necessary. AB 688 is a logical companion to federal food and drug safety standards. It’s time that retailers got the message that it is not a’ceptable to sell expired food and medication. Read More ›
Consumer Federation of California Applauds Governor’s Signing of AB 1319 (Butler) – Banning Toxic BPA in Children’s Products
“Governor Brown’s signature confirms the overwhelming scientific evidence indicating BPA is not safe for human consumption, particularly for young, developing children.” Read More ›
Calif. Extends Library Privacy Laws to E-Books
by Chloe Albanesius, PC Magazine
The bill was backed by the American Civil Liberties Union of California (ACLU) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), as well as Google, TechNet, and the Consumer Federation of California. Read More ›
CFC’s Zack Kaldveer visits the Rick Smith Show to Discuss AB 22 (Mendoza)
by Rick Smith, The Rick Smith Show
Listen to Zack Kaldveer, Communications Director for the Consumer Federation of California visit the Rick Smith Show to talk about the movement, and California bill (AB 22 – Mendoza), to ban employers from using credit checks on job interviews. Read More ›
Poll: 74% support banning sale of expired baby food, formula and over the counter meds
“Californians across the political spectrum support AB 688 because it is a common sense regulation that protects our families’ health,” stated Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California. Read More ›
Feds fear for safety of PG&E’s gas system
by Jaxon Van Derbeken, San Francisco Chronicle
Much of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s natural-gas transmission system could be at risk of catastrophic failure, but the company’s record-keeping system is so flawed that the true danger is impossible to determine, federal investigators said Monday in their final report on last year’s San Bruno disaster.
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ConsumerWatch: Who’s Preventing The Sale Of Expired Products?
by Julie Watts reports, CBS Local
Stores in California could soon have to keep a much closer watch on the expiration date of products if the governor signs a bill increasing fines for retailers who offer past due items for sale. Read More ›
Plastic natural gas pipe failure data kept secret
by Jaxon Van Derbeken, San Francisco Chronicle
The type of plastic pipe that caused a natural gas explosion and fire in a Cupertino condominium last month has long been considered a potential threat to the public, but federal pipeline regulators have allowed companies to keep it in the ground and secretly gather limited information about its failings, a Chronicle investigation shows. Read More ›
A REALLY BAD Week for Electronic Health Record Privacy
by Zack Kaldveer, Communications Director, Consumer Federation of California
When it comes to the issue of e-health records certainly one question the consumers should ponder is “Where is my data and who has access to it and for what purposes?” Or perhaps even more importantly, “can my private data be traced back to me personally and sold to others?” Read More ›
Rep. Ammiano Honored as ACLU’s ‘Legislator of the Year’
by Dan Aiello, California Progress Report
Zack Kaldveer, spokesperson for the Consumer Federation…noted Ammiano’s commitment to consumer and privacy rights, stating, “Assemblymember Ammiano not only has a 100% lifetime record in the state legislature on issues that affect the rights of consumers, but in 2011 he was an ardent supporter of a host of critical privacy protection bills ranging from expanding medical record confidentiality, safeguarding reader privacy from government snooping, improving data breach protections and notifications, and prohibiting prospective employers from using consumer credit reports in the hiring process.” Read More ›
Bill would outlaw expired baby formula and food on shelves
by Darla Givens, News 10 San Diego
Outdated baby food and formula and expired over-the-counter medications could soon be pulled from store shelves if Gov. Brown signs a bill to make these items illegal. Read More ›
Brown Likely To Issue Record Vetoes
by Kevin Riggs, NBC News Bay Area
Today, for example, Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) summoned the Consumer Federation of California, the California Alliance of Retired Persons, and other groups to the Capitol to express support for a bill that would prevent stores from selling out-of-date baby formula and medications, like aspirin. Read More ›