Sacramento Bee - March 11, 2008 Editorial: Piecemeal reform won't do for stem cell institute
Legislature is reduced to small measures as need for fundamental change grows Associated Press - March 11, 2008 U.S. Upholds Two More Stem Cell Patents Held By Wisconsin Group John Simpson, a spokesman for the California group, denied the claim that Californians are trying to avoid paying royalties to Wisconsin for future projects developed there. "This is a serious scientific challenge," he said, "based on the science and on the need for these fundamental basic patents that essentially serve to thwart research in the field to be removed."...read more Capitol Weekly (California) - March 6, 2008 Proposal could lift fee limits imposed on HMOs by state Some consumer advocates say the urge to limit fines is an overreaction and unnecessary. "That seems really unfair," said Jamie Court of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "I can see why they originally didn't want to have an incentive for a regulator to come in and build up their budget with big fines. But with all the scrutiny, it's hard to see in this day and age why and how a regulator would do that."...read more The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin) - February 29, 2008 UW Group's Stem Cell Patent Upheld: Federal Ruling Helps in Commercialization of Work The groups that filed the re-examination request -- the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, Calif., and the Public Patent Foundation in New York City -- intend to appeal the decision with the patent office's board of appeals, said John Simpson, stem cell project director for the California group. "We still believe we have a very good case here and intend to carry on," Simpson said. "These are key, overarching patents that affect the whole field, so that's one reason to stay focused on them. And you need to see it through to the end."...read more The Wall Street Journal - February 26, 2008 States Draw Fire for Pitching Citizens On Private Long-Term Care Insurance "These policies are very difficult to use, and the payouts and benefits are difficult to get," says Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, Calif. He calls the partnerships "sort of an unholy alliance between the state and these corporate titans to sell products that will supposedly save the state money on health care later."...read more The San Francisco Examiner - February 26, 2008 Stem cell forum attracts international field, shows state's influence "They kind of got everything up and running under very difficult challenges with the lawsuits," said John Simpson, with the nonprofit Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a watchdog group closely following the San Francisco-based institute. "Now the real problem is they've got to settle in for the long term."...read more San Diego Business Journal - February 25, 2008 Stem Cell Agency Might Offer Loans John Simpson, stem cell project director for the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumers Rights, cautions the 26-member board against taking on too many responsibilities. "There may be a danger of developing too much, too fast," he said. Board members generally agree that they are limited in their capacity....read more San Diego Union-Tribune - February 23, 2008 Elimination of conflicts of interest at stem cell institute target of bill The proposed legislation was applauded by at least one taxpayer advocacy group that has often criticized the institute board for its potential for conflicts of interest. "An outside analysis by unbiased observers can only be good," said John Simpson, of the nonprofit Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "A hard-nosed look by the Little Hoover Commission is just what's needed."...read more San Francisco Business Times - February 22, 2008 Bill takes aim at CIRM governance, stem cell research payback One of CIRM's watchdogs, John Simpson, stem cell project director for the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, welcomed Kuehl's legislation. "The stem cell agency's oversight board was designed with built-in conflicts of interest and it's too big to be effective," Simpson said in a prepared statement....read more Los Angeles Business Journal - February 18, 2008 Independent Insurer Health Net Grows By Staying Small "As HR directors get pissed off at Pacificare, they may turn to Health Net, particularly as Blue Cross has gotten so much bad press," said Jerry Flanagan, health care advocate for the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "They also benefit from the perception -- which Health Net is encouraging -- that they're the smaller, hometown HMO, even though they have the same pressure as the other public insurers to put profits over patients."...read more |
