CFC in the News

Jones and the Consumer Federation of California claim insurance companies are working behind the scenes at the capitol to weaken consumer protection laws at the last minute of the legislative session.

Richard Holober of the Consumer Federation of California commented on DirecTV and their auto-renew policies. "It's a very sleazy way that products are sold...If they get one extra year out of you that you didn’t plan to pay for, they’ve made a lot of money off that."

SB 1161 is actually the most anti-consumer bill ever introduced in California because it permits the telecom industry to dictate the terms of its own regulation, or as the case would have it, deregulation.

CFC's Richard Holober talks with Michael Finney about the chemical flame retardant deception and the Chicago Tribune's recent investigative bombshell.

"SB 1161 is a stealth vehicle for the gradual deregulation of telecommunications in California," the Consumer Federation of California declared on their website. "Consumers need the CPUC to have the power to investigate complaints of bad service or unfair charges on bills, regardless of the technology used to provide phone service."

"An obsolete CA. regulation...de facto forces companies to use toxic chemicals in their products..." comments Richard Holober of Consumer Federation of California.

...Fletcher has racked up a predictably Republican voting record, scoring low ratings in recent years from the Sierra Club Foundation (30%)...the Consumer Federation of California (18%), and Planned Parenthood (0%).

SB 1208 is supported by Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment; Consumer Federation of California; California Labor Federation; California Nurses Association; California Professional Firefighters; and California School Employees Association.

"Financial commitments made to top corporate executives when they retire are not just one-time payments, they literally continue for a lifetime," said Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California.

Backers include consumer organizations - including the Center for Responsible Lending, Consumer Federation of California, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, and Consumer Attorneys of California.

Major telecommunications corporations, including AT&T and Verizon, have supported the bill, and would stand to benefit the most from its passage.

"We see this as a withering away and the elimination of PUC regulation over telecommunication," said Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California. "We think that would be bad public policy."

...Carfax data are limited and questionable given the company reveals few details about its gathering due to proprietary rights. Others opposed include...the Consumer Federation of California and Consumer Watchdog.

Debt buyers will be prohibited from getting a legal judgment against consumers -- or sending any written material to consumers -- unless they can document that they've matched the right person to the debt.

SB 890 is supported by the AFSCME (American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees), Consumer Federation of California, Consumers Union, Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, and various community legal, labor and civil rights organizations. It will be heard in the Assembly this spring.

Like other interest groups - such as gun owners, property rights advocates and environmentalists - the Consumer Federation of California tracks legislation that affects its particular concerns.

Consumer Watchdog Campaign and Consumer Federation of California were joined by Sharada Polavarapu, a San Francisco resident who relies solely on mass transit, to call on the Republican Party to oppose this ballot initiative as an attack on the middle class.

The labels are "beneficial to consumers who care where their products are made to have truthful information when determining what to buy," Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California, said in an interview. "The federal law is weaker so we are better off not changing a good standard."

Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California, opposes the bill because his group sees it as an opportunity to overturn a state Supreme Court decision in January 2011 that ruled consumers could claim harm was done if they were deceived into buying a product because it was purported to be “Made in the USA.”

The Consumer Federation of California named Senator Pavley as its "Senator of the Year" for her tireless work to ban toxins such as lead, cadmium and BPA from children's products; passing legislation to protect consumers from mortgage fraud; and efforts to crack down on elder abuse.

The Consumer Federation of California (CFC) stated that energy storage systems must be cost competitive. "California ratepayers are stakeholders in this investment and need assurances that energy storage will result in lower utility bills and better energy management and efficiency."

The labels are "beneficial to consumers who care where their products are made to have truthful information when determining what to buy," Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California...The federal law is weaker so we are better off not changing a good standard.”

SB 810 would eliminate private health insurance entirely. All Californians' healthcare costs would be paid for from one big pool. It's just like the way people get insurance coverage now, except much much simpler, everyone would be covered, and the profit motive would be removed.

"As we have seen in the past, just having coverage does not demonstrate driving performance," Holober said. "This measure would have a similar effect to how pre-existing conditions affect people who purchase health insurance."

Supporters, such as the Consumer Federation of California, say the proposal will reduce health care costs for families.

Consumer Federation of California says the initiative isn't good for people who have been uninsured for a time, even if because they gave up their car. The cost of getting reinsured will jump. Coverage doesn't determine whether you're a good driver.

"This is not about discounts, this is about surcharge," said Richard Holober from the Consumer Federation of California..."Simply the fact that you had a break in coverage in the last couple of years will be held against you and you will face massive surcharges of 40, 50 percent or more," said Holober.

The law was sponsored by California State Senator Darrell Steinberg and co-sponsored by the Coalition to Abolish Slavery (CAST), the Consumer Federation of California, the Alliance to Stop Slavery and End Trafficking (ASSET).

Corbett has been honored by the Consumer Federation of California, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, Consumer Attorneys of California, California Public Interest Research Group, Community Resources for Independence, Alameda Justice Center, Consumer Action and California Congress of Seniors.

Consumer Federation of California spokesman Zack Kaldveer told BNA in an e-mail the alliance is a positive step, and a direct contrast to the national talks that the two states rightfully left.

Pan authored AB 688 with the support of the Consumer Federation of California. The bill stated that any store selling expired baby food, formula or over-the-counter medication would be fined up to $10 a day for each item sold.

This bill had extensive support from disparate groups throughout the state, including MADD, Consumer Federation of California, California Police Chiefs, Alcohol Justice, California's Police Officers (PORAC), California Professional Firefighters, California Council on Alcohol Problems, California Narcotic Officers Association and many of the states religious leaders.

California Governor Jerry Brown finally signed a bill to ban alcohol sales through self-serve checkout machines in California.

The debate is over AB 52 by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-West Hollywood, which would give the state insurance commissioner and the state's HMO regulator the authority to approve insurers' rates to make sure they are not unfair, excessive or discriminatory.

The bill was backed by the American Civil Liberties Union of California (ACLU) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), as well as Google, TechNet, and the Consumer Federation of California.

Listen to Zack Kaldveer, Communications Director for the Consumer Federation of California visit the Rick Smith Show to talk about the movement, and California bill (AB 22 - Mendoza), to ban employers from using credit checks on job interviews.

Stores in California could soon have to keep a much closer watch on the expiration date of products if the governor signs a bill increasing fines for retailers who offer past due items for sale.

Zack Kaldveer, spokesperson for the Consumer Federation...noted Ammiano's commitment to consumer and privacy rights, stating, "Assemblymember Ammiano not only has a 100% lifetime record in the state legislature on issues that affect the rights of consumers, but in 2011 he was an ardent supporter of a host of critical privacy protection bills ranging from expanding medical record confidentiality, safeguarding reader privacy from government snooping, improving data breach protections and notifications, and prohibiting prospective employers from using consumer credit reports in the hiring process."

Today, for example, Assemblyman Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) summoned the Consumer Federation of California, the California Alliance of Retired Persons, and other groups to the Capitol to express support for a bill that would prevent stores from selling out-of-date baby formula and medications, like aspirin.

Outdated baby food and formula and expired over-the-counter medications could soon be pulled from store shelves if Gov. Brown signs a bill to make these items illegal.

There actually isn't a law that requires stores to make sure that doesn't happen. And grocer and retail groups believe one isn't necessary. They say existing enforcement efforts already work - and stores allow refunds or exchanges for expired products.

The Consumer Federation of California, sponsor of AB 688, will discuss major investigations by then-Attorney General Jerry Brown's office, News 10 San Diego and others that found major retailers throughout California have been selling these expired products.

A broad alliance of supporters for AB 183 includes MADD, Consumer Federation of California, California Council on Alcohol Problems (CalCap), Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California, California Police Chiefs, Alcohol Justice, California Narcotic Officers Association, Metro United Methodist Urban Ministry, California's Police Officers (PORAC), California Professional Firefighters, and other organizations throughout the state.

The legislation is supported by the Certified Automotive Parts Association, the Consumer Federation of California, Consumers Union, the Trauma Foundation, and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, among others.

Richard Holober, executive director for the Consumer Federation of California...wrote...that security breaches exposed at least 500 million personal records of Americans since 2005.

"We see this as sort of creeping Big Brother government, an invasion of people's privacy," said Richard Holober, executive director of the Sacramento-based Consumer Federation of California.

...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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A state Assembly bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey) that would increase the fines for financial crimes committed against elderly and dependent adults was unanimously passed Thursday and will head to the state Senate for consideration.

SB 869 - authored by Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco - would create a new crime with a penalty of a $5,000 fine and/or one year in prison for an automotive repair dealer who purports to replace a deployed airbag but who in fact fails to fully repair and restore it.

Wright's legislation received backing from Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of California, and Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, organizations that long have criticized the industry, justifiably so.

In addition to the Center for Auto Safety, SB 869 is supported by Certified Automotive Parts Association, Consumer Federation of California, Consumers Union, Trauma Foundation, and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, among others.

The Consumer Federation of California has named Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) as its "Senator of the Year". Consumer Federation of California officials say Senator Pavley was chosen for her leadership in supporting consumer protection legislation.

Lowenthal will discuss the bill publicly for the first time today at a press conference in Sacramento. He'll be joined by representatives from groups backing the proposal, including...the California Consumer Federation.

Ignacio Hernandez, legislative director of the Consumer Federation of California, would also would have preferred Cal Grant caps for students attending for-profit institutions. Still, he said he appreciates the attention being paid to default rates.

Listen to KGO's Michael Finney and CFC's Richard Holober discuss the recent California Supreme Court ruling in favor of consumer privacy.

The Consumer Federation of California and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse weighed in on Pineda's behalf and were represented by Todd Atkins at Atkins & Davidson in San Diego.

Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California, hailed the ruling as "a great victory for consumer protection and common sense. It's nonsensical that a retailer can collect bits and pieces, turn them over to a data aggregation service and have a field day selling the information and otherwise using it for business purposes."

Peevey's announcement came a day after San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, state Senator Mark Leno, The Utility Reform Network, and the Consumer Federation of California said state investigators were operating largely in private.

Herrera's office -- along with state Sen. Mark Leno, The Utility Reform Network and the Consumer Federation of California -- made the appeal in motions filed with the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates PG&E.

The Consumer Federation of California attacked investor-owned utilities for trying to avoid regulatory liability for abuses of private consumer data taken from SmartMeters by non-utility third parties.

A list of supporters for the commissioner's campaign shows the Democrat garnered endorsements from organizations such as the Consumer Federation of California...who is known for his battles with insurers on behalf of consumers when he twice served as California insurance commissioner.

"Senator Simitian has been a steadfast advocate for California consumers," said Richard Holober, executive director of the CFC. "Both through the legislation he has authored and other bills he has supported, he has consistently fought for consumer rights."

Consumer groups are concerned the wireless smart meter grid will not be secure. In a recent regulatory filing, the Consumer Federation of California attacked the position of investor owned utilities seeking to avoid regulatory liability for abuses of private consumer data taken from smart meters by non-utility third parties.

Watch Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California,discuss the hidden costs of gift cards on CBS's ConsumerWatch.

But Richard Holober with Consumer Federation of California says that's not fair to consumers who just want to make a simple return. "When you see fees that range up to 25% percent that is a rip-off"...

The proposed rules, which could be approved early next year, would require wireless carriers to send customers a voice or text alert when they are about to exceed their voice, data or text limits. A similar warning would come when a user is about to incur hefty international roaming charges.

The Consumer Federation of California has given three area legislators a perfect ranking for voting on consumer-friendly legislation in 2010...According to the federation, the scores included legislation related to campaign finance reform, financial privacy protection, health care reform, drug safety, false advertising and other issues.

The Consumer Federation of California, a consumer rights organization, awarded state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, a 100 percent score for his legislative record. In addition, Simitian was one of four senators who were described by the group as "standout legislators that deserve special recognition as consumer champions."

San Diego's California legislators in the Democratic party favored consumer rights protections during the 2009-10 session, the Consumer Federation of California reported in its 2010 Consumer Scorecard released on Thursday, December 16.

"Not all Democratic lawmakers received high marks," the federation's spokesman, Zack Kaldveer, said. "An informal caucus of corporate-friendly Democrats often joined their Republican colleagues to kill consumer protection bills - particularly those targeted by corporate interests and their armies of lobbyists."

In its recent regulatory filing, the Consumer Federation of California attacks the arguments of investor owned utilities...seeking to avoid regulatory liability for abuses of private consumer data taken from smart meters by non-utility third parties.

By now most everyone has heard of, or been violated by, the latest anti-terror security "savior" called "Whole-Body-Imaging". To those that prefer a more accurate and informative description of the new technology, let's call them "digital strip search machines".

...Richard Holober...of the Consumer Federation of California, called any increase "intolerable at a time when we have high unemployment, declining incomes and declining values in retirement funds. People are at the breaking point and are no longer able to say, 'We'll just suck it up and pay what PG&E demands.'"

A former legal aid attorney with a Harvard law degree...Jones won endorsements from trial lawyers and leading consumer advocates, including the Consumer Federation of California. Large insurance companies shelled out millions of dollars to run ads on Villines' behalf.

The Consumer Federation of California called it a "sneak attack on environmental and health regulations." Like its companion on the ballot, Prop. 26 has enjoyed the support of big oil companies; Chevron has given $4 million to the effort to pass Prop 26, and ConocoPhillips and Occidental Petroleum have also contributed, as has tobacco company Phillip Morris.

Prop 26 is a sneak attack on environmental and health regulations that costs California’s general fund a billion dollars a year. Voters must reject this big oil and big tobacco hand out, and reject it they will.

Jones has repeatedly earned 100% pro-consumer ratings in the Consumer Federation of California's Legislative scorecard. Villines' voting record is the polar opposite. For years, on high-stakes issues ranging from the price of health care to whether insurers can discriminate on the basis of where you live, the vast majority of the time, Villines has voted for insurance industry giants, and against individuals and families.

Monning said he's been endorsed by nearly 500 groups and individuals, including the Consumer Federation of California, Sierra Club California, California League of Conservation Voters, California Labor Federation along with firefighters, law enforcement and the mayors he represents.

"It (2/3's budget rule) gives enormous power to a small minority of the legislature...so you get a budget that doesn't reflect what Californians actually want," said Zack Kaldveer, spokesperson for the Consumer Federation of California.

The Consumer Federation of California in San Mateo endorsed Jones. It gave him a 99% pro-consumer voting record on the group's "legislative scorecards" and gave Villines a 15% score.

Jones, a lawyer from Sacramento representing the 9th Assembly District for a third term, touts his 99 percent approval rating from the Consumer Federation of California, which endorsed him.

Lenny Goldberg, president of the California Tax Reform Association, argues that the option would give corporations the best of all worlds - the ability to use the formula that minimizes their taxes in good years, then to use the other formula to maximize their losses in bad years.

"At a time when California working families already face tough challenges making ends meet, they shouldn't bear penalties for simply how they choose to pay. Fair is fair, whether it's by cash, check, credit or debit card."

...the CTA submitted more than 800,000 signatures to place the repeal measure on the November ballot. Other supports include the California Nurses Association, Consumer Federation of California, California Tax Reform Association and Congress of California Seniors.

Unfortunately for California, June's election results have not served as the deterrent some may have hoped. November brings a new crop of initiatives bankrolled by some of our nation's most notorious polluters and corporate bad actors.

"The state's interest is in collecting tolls. Period." Said Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California. "that's all the data should be used for. I'm pleased to see the Legislature endorse this level of protection."

Consumer activists expressed anger that the amendment was even drafted so late in the session. Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California, said "these kind of last-minute moves are for things that won't hold up if exposed to sunlight. It is not a good way to govern."

Joining the CNA will be the California Teachers Association, California Professional Firefighters, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Consumer Federation of California, California 9-5, National Association of Working Women, California Alliance for Retired Americans, California Labor Federation, Equality California, California School Employees Association, and others.

A move to ban alcohol sales at market self-checkout counters in California is being fueled by two San Diego studies that suggest they make it easier for underaged buyers. Legislation to enact such a ban could come up on the state Senate floor as early as Wednesday.

People are tired of gridlock and are hungry for solutions that make sense-that don't make our state budget problems worse, that invest in our future and that build our economy. That's why I proposed a way to save our state parks and I support Proposition 21. It's a central dividing issue in this election.

The core question raised by Prop 26 is: who pays? Who pays to clean up air pollution, oil spills and toxic waste? Who pays for the health consequences of tobacco and alcohol addiction, of lead poisoning and diesel exhaust? Exxon, Phillip Morris and the other special interests behind Prop 26 want you, the taxpayers, to pay.

The case of San Mateo County's missing voter guides has been solved -- sort of. Some were apparently never sent, according to Secretary of State Debra Bowen, who heads the California agency that oversees elections.

Last year, a bill that would've outlawed selling expired baby food and formula in California passed the state Legislature, but it was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who argued that current laws were sufficient. Holober said the amount of expired food and formula that the I-Team found for sale shows that the current law is not sufficient.

In their shared comment submission, Consumer Federation of California, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and Margaret Reiter...voiced support for the proposed rules but offered up amendments aimed at tightening consumer protections.

The bill, SB 1237, would require hospitals and clinics to record radiation dose of CT scans. The bill would also require CT services to be accredited by an organization approved by CMS and calls for facilities to report any overdose to the patient, treating physician, and California Department of Public Health.