California insurance commissioner hits Anthem’s rate hike on small businesses
by Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee
Commissioner Dave Jones ripped Anthem for raising rates 5.2 percent on small businesses. He said Anthem’s rates on those customers have jumped 10.5 percent in the past year, which he called “excessive and unreasonable.” Read More ›
Right to Know Act would let consumers find out who has their data, get a copy of it
AB 1291 (Lowenthal) would require a company to give users access to personal data the company has on them, and a list of companies the users’ personal data was shared with. Read More ›
California lawmakers look to regulate, attract drone industry to state
by Tory Van Oot, Sacramento Bee
A technology long deployed on the battlefield could be coming to a farm, newspaper or police station near you. Read More ›
Courts toss homeowners’ insurance regulation
by John Howard, Capitol Weekly
A judge has thrown out a regulation that allows the insurance commissioner to decide what is an unfair business practice, which can carry penalties for companies and their agents. Read More ›
California law requires new warning after breast exam
by Laura Olson, Sacramento Bee
California women who have dense breast tissue will get more information following their routine examinations under a state law that took effect on April 1. Read More ›
Sales taxes to rise in many California cities
by Claudia Buck, Sacramento Bee
For money-minded shoppers, it could have been a great weekend to buy big-ticket items. Starting April 1, a blizzard of sales tax hikes kicks in for more than 20 cities and counties statewide. Read More ›
Is your car spying on you?
Consumer Watchdog on the various ways current and upcoming vehicle electronics are collecting and possibly selling your information, including driving habits, frequently used routes, and what radio stations you listen to. Read More ›
Middle class to pay more for health insurance, state study shows
by Jim Sanders, Sacramento Bee
Middle class Californians counting on federal health-care reform to lower their insurance premiums are in for a double-digit shock next year, a new state study shows.
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Insurers eager to maintain authority over healthcare premiums
by Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times
A 2014 initiative would let the insurance commissioner reject health premium hikes deemed excessive. Insurers have begun their campaign against it in earnest.
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Regulators roll out streamlined mortgage modification program
by E. Scott Reckard, Los Angeles Times
The streamlined mortgage modification program doesn’t require troubled borrowers to prove a hardship, but it won’t include principal reductions. Read More ›
California pushes rule banning toxic flame retardants
by Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune
California officials vowed to move forward on a new fire safety rule that could eliminate the use of toxic flame retardants in household furniture and baby products sold nationwide. Read More ›
Fire-retardant chemicals in furniture challenged in California
by Jeremy White, Sacramento Bee
Jim Doucette served the Sacramento Fire Department for more than 30 years, and he understood the perils of the job when he accepted it. But there was one hazard he did not anticipate: the effects of burning toxic chemicals embedded in furniture.
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CFC part of working group to stop elder abuse
Consumer Federation of California is part of a coalition of advocates working to enact a package of bills regarding abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older persons. Read More ›