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 BestWire - March 10, 2008 Calif. Court Upholds Rules on Insurers Repaying Advocates The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which joined Poizner's office in defending the regulations, praised the ruling for keeping insurance companies accountable. "The court upheld the principle that consumers should be encouraged to participate in the rate-setting process to force companies to justify their rates. By upholding the rules, the court ensured that consumer groups can continue to fight for and win lower rates by being compensated when they make a substantial contribution," FTCR Litigation Director Pam Pressley said in a statement....read more City News Service - March 7, 2008 Judge Upholds Insurance Commissioner's Awarding of Fees to Advocacy Groups The regulations were supported by the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which was founded by Proposition 103 author Harvey Rosenfield and intervened as a defendant with the insurance commissioner to keep the amended rules in place. Proposition 103 was enacted by voters in November 1988 to reduce and control insurance rates. Pamela Pressley, an attorney for the foundation, said the advocacy fees can cover anything from travel expenses for consumer groups to expert witness fees. She said the groups that want to have a say in rate-setting procedures must prove they are acting in behalf of consumers....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 States News Service - March 6, 2008 MCCASKILL REQUESTS HEARING ON BILL TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AT GAS PUMP The F.A.I.R. Fuel Act has received praise as common-sense consumer protection legislation. Groups such as Public Citizen, Owner-Operator Independent Drives Association (OOIDA), Consumers Union, Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR), Consumer Federation of America and U.S. Public Interest Research Groups (USPIRG) have endorsed the legislation....read more Contra Costa Times (California) - March 6, 2008 Not always as green as they claim
Companies, governments accused of exaggerating eco-friendliness Sacramento Bee (California) - March 4, 2008 The Giving Is Easy In State Capitol, 2007 List Shows State law allows politicians to receive gifts totaling up to $390 annually from a single source. Not all politicians accept gifts, however. "In what other job in America do people get gifts just for having the job?" said Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "I think there's a real problem when people consider their job a perpetual birthday party."...read more San Gabriel Valley Tribune (California) - March 4, 2008 A Matter of Degrees: Drivers Get Less in Tank as Temperature of Fuel Rises "This was not a huge issue when gas was $1 a gallon," said Judy Dugan, research director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "Now there's talk about gas reaching $4 a gallon... that's money you can feel coming out of your pocket."...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 |
