AB 52 and the Fight to Stop Health Insurance Industry Price Gouging
by Richard Holober, Executive Director, Consumer Federation of California, California Progress Report
A bill to regulate health insurance rate hikes faces fierce industry opposition as it moves through the legislature. AB 52 (Feuer) would rein in health and HMO premium increases that soared 131% from 1999 to 2009 – nearly five times the rate of inflation. Read More ›
CFC Letter to Governor: Sign SB 24 (Data Breach Notification)
by Richard Holober, Executive Director, Consumer Federation of California
SB 24’s common sense changes to the current security breach notification statutes will enhance consumer knowledge about security breaches, and help equip Californians to limit or prevent the harm caused by identity theft. Read More ›
Gov. Jerry Brown (D) would consider AB 1062 if passes legislature
by Chris Rizo, Salem News
Among groups lobbying for passage of A.B. 1062 is the Congress of California Seniors, Consumer Federation of California, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform and the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center. Read More ›
Jose Solorio and Tony Mendoza, Assembly Democrats, Blasted for “Anti-Business” Bills
by Matt Coker , Orange County Register
…AB 22, could reach the Senate floor by next Monday. It would ban the use of credit reports when it comes to hiring with some exceptions such as with peace officers, employees of the State Department of Justice and managerial positions that require the handling of money. Read More ›
LA’s $750 Million Time Bomb
by City Watch, Jack Humphreville
On Monday, the California State Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, ruled that a class action lawsuit challenging the validity of the City’s Telephone Users’ Tax (“TUT”) could proceed, overruling previous lower court decisions.
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California Legislation Would Rein In Insurance Industry Price Gouging
Excessive health insurance rate increases have placed health care coverage out of the reach of 8.2 million Californians ‘ with millions more barely making ends meet due to industry profiteering. Read More ›
The Patriot Act and the Quiet Death of the US Bill of Rights
by Zack Kaldveer, Consumer Federation of California, California Progress Report
With the stroke of an autopen from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, the once articulate critic of the Patriot Act signed a four year extension of the most dangerous assault on American civil liberties in US history without a single additional privacy protection. Read More ›
NY Court Orders Youtube User Records Released
by Kelly O'Connell, Internet Business Law Services
Google informed its users of their position and privacy policy. This was motivated…by a…letter sent by a group of privacy advocates, including…Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, Consumer Federation of California, the World Privacy Forum, Consumer Action, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and ACLU of Northern California. Read More ›
PD Editorial: Taking a bite out of lawmaker paychecks
by Editorial, Press Democrat
When California voters erased the two-thirds majority rule for passing a state budget, they added teeth to the June 15 deadline for legislative approval. No budget, no pay.
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CFC supports SB 558 – Elder Abuse and Neglect
The Consumer Federation of California supports SB 558 (Simititan) because it would allow elder abuse to be enforced using a preponderance of the evidence standard. Read More ›
CFC Supports AB 1124 – Low Income Energy Efficiency Program
AB 1124 would state the intent of the legislature to allow the use of ratepayer energy efficiency funds for improvements to heating and water systems in multifamily rental apartment buildings. Read More ›
CFC Supports SB SB 761 (Lowenthal) – “Do Not Track Me”
SB 761 would offer consumers a “Do Not Track Me” mechanism, one of the most powerful tools available to protect consumers’ privacy on the web. The mechanism will allow anyone online to send Websites the message that they do not want their online activity monitored. Read More ›
EDITORIAL: For-profit colleges use their sway against bill
by The Editorial Board, Fresno Bee
The legislation is backed by the Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of California, and Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. The for-profit college industry mounted a lobby effort to kill the bill.
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