Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California, thinks Toyota can do something positive."One way it can repair its relationship with consumers would be to say, 'We're going to keep the good, successful, high-quality plant open,' and I think then consumers will feel a little bit better."

Consumer Federation of California explains: If you believed a certain baby formula would make your child smarter, would you buy it? Infant formula manufacturers are banking that you would.

The group, appointed by State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, will also look into options for keeping the New United Motor Manufacturing plant open past its planned March 31 closure date.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would prohibit the sale of any private health insurance policy in the state and establish a new California Healthcare System as the primary payer for health care services in California.

A South Bay lawmaker introduced legislation Tuesday that would stop California retailers from charging customers extra fees for using debit cards. Sen. Jenny Oropeza...said she introduced SB 933 to protect consumers during difficult economic times.

"The corrosive influence of corporate money in the state capitol undermines every piece of legislation consumers care about..." said Zack Kaldveer, spokesperson for the Consumer Federation of California.

California Treasurer Bill Lockyer has named Richard Holober, Consumer Federation of California Executive Director, to serve on a Blue Ribbon Commission to study the impact of the planned closing of the Fremont NUMMI plant on the state’s economy.

John Perez is a superb choice for Speaker of the California State Assembly. John is a staunch advocate for justice and opportunity for all Californians, on the job, in the marketplace and in the community.

"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..."

Bungling Democrats should acknowledge they lost the fight for the support of the people on health care reform. The sooner they flee this field of battle, and move on to issues that re-connect them with the mood of America, the better their chances to salvage the mid-term elections.

Before we...willfully give up our civil liberties and freedoms, support wars on countries that did nothing to us, and sign off on wasting HUGE amounts of money on ineffectual security systems, consider this: Your chances of getting hit by lightning in one year is 500,000 to 1 while the odds you'll be killed by a terrorist on a plane over 10 years is 10 million to 1.

Each year Californians are treated to a Governor Schwarzenegger makeover when he gives his State of the State address. Schwarzenegger version 7.0 used a quaint story about a pig and a pony to emphasize the need for lawmakers of both parties to work together to solve the horrific budget disaster over which he has presided.

In addition to reforming our pay-to-play campaign finance system, we progressives must redouble our efforts if we expect to pose any kind of challenge to the moneyed interests that dominate the state capitol.

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.