Consumer Protection Bills Going into Effect on January 1, 2010
“These are a few bright spots in a pretty dismal year for consumers. The most far reaching, pro-consumer legislation failed to even pass the legislature,” said Richard Holober, Executive Director of the CFC. “Of the 14 bills we identified as most important that did reach the Governor’s desk, he took the side of the consumer in only six instances…” Read More ›
PG&E ballot measure is a stealthy power play
What are the chances that PG&E ginned up this innocuous-sounding initiative, shrouding its own involvement behind a scrim of public relations and law firms, largely to preserve its monopoly against competition from public power agencies? Read More ›
Senate Bill Proclaims Health Care Is Not a Right; It’s a Business Where the Customer Gets Fleeced
by Richard Holober, Consumer Federation of California, California Progress Report
Wall Street knows a gold mine when it sees one, and it likes what it saw in the Senate health care bill. Health insurance company stocks soared to an 18 month high the day the Democrats reached the magic 60 votes needed for passage of its overhaul bill. Read More ›
CFC’s Richard Holober is interviewed by Michael Finney of KGO Radio on health care
by Michael Finney, KGO- Radio
Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California gave a status update on the health care legislation currently being debated in the United States Senate. Read More ›
Steinberg Stands With SRO Tenants Against AT&T
It was the first time that all three major consumer rights groups in the state (TURN, UCAN and Consumer Federation of California) worked together to oppose a CPUC Commissioner. Read More ›
Steinberg Stands With SRO Tenants Against AT&T
by Paul Hogarth, Beyond Chron
It was the first time that all three major consumer rights groups in the state (TURN, UCAN and Consumer Federation of California) worked together to oppose a CPUC Commissioner. Read More ›
Calif. consumer group gives Republicans low marks; AG candidate swipes back
by Chris Rizzo, Legal Newsline
The Consumer Federation of California ranked officials on their support for what the group called key consumer rights bills on…financial privacy protection, health care reform, food safety, household toxics, false advertising, deceptive insurance industry practices and real estate lending reform.
Read More ›
How did your legislator vote on consumer issues?
Legislators representing astern areas in San Diego County got mixed scores from Consumer Federation of California’s 2009 scorecard for California lawmakers…Topping the list locally is Assemblymember Lori Salda Read More ›
2009 Consumer Scorecard for State Legislators Issued
“The scorecard should help Californians evaluate how their lawmakers voted on consumer protection bills that affect our pocketbooks, our privacy, and our health and safety, but often get little news coverage,” said Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California. Read More ›
73 our of California’s 120 lawmakers get a failing grade
by Troy Anderson, Staff Writer, Contra Costa Times
…the Consumer Federation of California also released its scorecard for state lawmakers on Tuesday rating legislators on their votes on key consumer rights bills. That organization offered nearly opposite assessments from the Jarvis group, giving more Democrats higher ratings for consumer-friendly votes. Read More ›
Janitors seek ban on toxic cleaners used by supermarkets
by Alex Salkever, AOL Daily Finance
The service workers contend that toxic chemicals used in cleaning supplies are environmental and health hazards. The SEIU is pushing hard on this issue in California, where the state government is perceived to be among the most responsive to green issues. Read More ›
Going for Green: Calif. Janitors Keep Pushing for Safety Standards
by R.M. Arrieta, In These Times
Legislation introduced by California State Senator Fran Pavley controls exposure to toxic chemicals. Sponsored by Service Employees International Union and the Consumer Federation of California, the bill would require environmental health regulators to assess health risks associated with the use of commercial cleaning products in supermarkets. Read More ›
Governator does consumers a disservice with SB-20 veto
by Dan Kaplan, SC Magazine
Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California stated: “We are disappointed that the governor sided with big business interests and against consumers on the majority of bills that reached his desk.” Read More ›