578 on ?index=25 /find.dyn/news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091214/bs_nm/us_xto_exxon?index=25 25 2010-03-16T03:03:36.180-07:00 story 33279 Google's arrogant, self-righteous executives http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=33279 2010-03-15T17:01:00.000-07:00 Posted by John M. Simpson 5264575 Google <a href="http://www.google.com/corporate/execs.html#eric" target="_blank">CEO Eric Schmidt's</a> recent speech to the <a href="http://www.ameinfo.com/222534.html" target="_blank">Abu Dhabi Media Summit</a> offers a revealing glimpse...</a> 9877 Blog Post On the blog 9916 Corporateering 9918 Privacy 10097 Corporateering Campaign Fighting Corporateering 11589 Google published 1222 0 Google <a href="http://www.google.com/corporate/execs.html#eric" target="_blank">CEO Eric Schmidt's</a> recent speech to the <a href="http://www.ameinfo.com/222534.html" target="_blank">Abu Dhabi Media Summit</a> offers a revealing glimpse...</a> false false 2010-03-15T11:27:44.836-07:00 story 33275 Blaming Big Oil http://www.oilwatchdog.org/?storyId=33275 2010-03-15T11:26:00.000-07:00 By Editorial, LATimes 4563274

Some refineries already have been closed, such as a Delaware facility owned by Valero Energy and a New Jersey plant owned by Sunoco. Industry analysts say there is little choice because of excess capacity, but consumer advocates such as Public Citizen and Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog think refiners are just trying to keep the price of gas artificially high by constraining supplies. Some advocates are calling on regulators to probe whether the companies are violating antitrust laws.

]]> 8065 Media Coverage published 881 0

Some refineries already have been closed, such as a Delaware facility owned by Valero Energy and a New Jersey plant owned by Sunoco. Industry analysts say there is little choice because of excess capacity, but consumer advocates such as Public Citizen and Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog think refiners are just trying to keep the price of gas artificially high by constraining supplies. Some advocates are calling on regulators to probe whether the companies are violating antitrust laws.

]]> false false 2010-03-15T11:21:27.980-07:00 story 33274 Blaming Big Oil http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/energy/articles/?storyId=33274 2010-03-15T11:12:00.000-07:00 By Editorial, <font size="3">THE LOS ANGELES TIMES</font> 4563274 Critics see price-gouging as refinery capacity is cut; the industry says it's just business.

Today's problem isn't so much high prices, which have fallen since 2008. It's that actions by oil companies may be preventing them from dropping as much as they should. The combination of the recession and improved fuel efficiency has greatly reduced demand, and major refiners are considering cutbacks, according to a report by Times staff writer Ronald D. White. Some refineries already have been closed, such as a Delaware facility owned by Valero Energy and a New Jersey plant owned by Sunoco. Industry analysts say there is little choice because of excess capacity, but consumer advocates such as Public Citizen and Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog think refiners are just trying to keep the price of gas artificially high by constraining supplies. Some advocates are calling on regulators to probe whether the companies are violating antitrust laws.]]> 9872 News Clipping In the media 9878 Energy Campaign Cleaner, Cheaper, Energy 10082 Oil Watchdog 10267 Gas Prices published 1222 0 Critics see price-gouging as refinery capacity is cut; the industry says it's just business.

Today's problem isn't so much high prices, which have fallen since 2008. It's that actions by oil companies may be preventing them from dropping as much as they should. The combination of the recession and improved fuel efficiency has greatly reduced demand, and major refiners are considering cutbacks, according to a report by Times staff writer Ronald D. White. Some refineries already have been closed, such as a Delaware facility owned by Valero Energy and a New Jersey plant owned by Sunoco. Industry analysts say there is little choice because of excess capacity, but consumer advocates such as Public Citizen and Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog think refiners are just trying to keep the price of gas artificially high by constraining supplies. Some advocates are calling on regulators to probe whether the companies are violating antitrust laws.]]> false false 2010-03-15T12:32:25.692-07:00 story 33277 Insurance Ballot Fight Warms Up In Court http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/articles/?storyId=33277 2010-03-13T12:27:00.000-08:00 By Dale Kasler, <font size="3">THE SACRAMENTO BEE</font> 4563274 <p> Lawsuits ensued over just how that impact would be described in the voter pamphlets, landing all three parties in court: Attoney General Jerry Brown, Harvey Rosenfield and the backers of Proposition 17. Brown, for instance, insisted on language saying the initiative &quot;will allow insurance companies to increase cost of insurance to drivers who do not have a history of continuous insurance coverage.&quot; Backers of Proposition 17 wanted that language stricken, but the judge disagreed. </p> 9872 News Clipping In the media 9879 legislation 9881 Insurance Campaign Affordable Car & Home Insurance 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9884 Courts Campaign Going to Court 9905 Litigation 9909 Auto Insurance 9911 Prop 103 10085 Enforcing Prop. 103 10228 vs. Insurers 10259 Insurance Reform 10260 Ballot Initiatives 10264 Sacramento published 1222 0 <p> Lawsuits ensued over just how that impact would be described in the voter pamphlets, landing all three parties in court: Attoney General Jerry Brown, Harvey Rosenfield and the backers of Proposition 17. Brown, for instance, insisted on language saying the initiative &quot;will allow insurance companies to increase cost of insurance to drivers who do not have a history of continuous insurance coverage.&quot; Backers of Proposition 17 wanted that language stricken, but the judge disagreed. </p> false false 2010-03-15T12:01:45.550-07:00 story 33272 Judges Review Language Of State Ballot Measures http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/articles/?storyId=33272 2010-03-13T10:32:00.000-08:00 By Carol J. Williams, <font size="3">THE LOS ANGELES TIMES</font> 4563274 A teachers union's effort to change wording in Prop. 14, which would allow open primaries, was largely rejected. Measures on car insurance and public financing got only minimal adjustments.

"All Proposition 17 does is allow people to take it with them when they move to a new insurance company and get the lower rate," argued Richard Martland, an attorney for the supporters. But Consumer Watchdog founder Harvey Rosenfield said the measure is a thinly disguised attempt by Mercury to be allowed to charge higher rates for those it doesn't want to insure. Rosenfield's attorney, Fredric Woocher, said the proposition is being misleadingly cast as an opportunity for drivers to retain their loyalty discounts even if they switch insurers. "You can't take it with you," Woocher said. "You are taking away the one thing that makes persistency persistent. It would be like taking a good student discount and extending it to people who fail."]]> 9872 News Clipping In the media 9879 legislation 9881 Insurance Campaign Affordable Car & Home Insurance 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9884 Courts Campaign Going to Court 9905 Litigation 9909 Auto Insurance 10085 Enforcing Prop. 103 10228 vs. Insurers 10259 Insurance Reform 10260 Ballot Initiatives 10264 Sacramento published 1222 0 A teachers union's effort to change wording in Prop. 14, which would allow open primaries, was largely rejected. Measures on car insurance and public financing got only minimal adjustments.

"All Proposition 17 does is allow people to take it with them when they move to a new insurance company and get the lower rate," argued Richard Martland, an attorney for the supporters. But Consumer Watchdog founder Harvey Rosenfield said the measure is a thinly disguised attempt by Mercury to be allowed to charge higher rates for those it doesn't want to insure. Rosenfield's attorney, Fredric Woocher, said the proposition is being misleadingly cast as an opportunity for drivers to retain their loyalty discounts even if they switch insurers. "You can't take it with you," Woocher said. "You are taking away the one thing that makes persistency persistent. It would be like taking a good student discount and extending it to people who fail."]]> false false 2010-03-15T11:34:45.569-07:00 story 33276 Judge Rules On Proposition 17 Ballot Measure http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/articles/?storyId=33276 2010-03-12T11:27:00.000-08:00 By Nannette Miranda, <font size="3">KGO-TV ABC-7 SAN FRANCISCO, CA</font> 4563274 Consumer Watchdog argues Prop 17 also allows insurance companies to charge a severe penalty to customers who do not have a history of coverage, therefore, the voter pamphlet should say the initiative will raise rates. “It allows insurance companies to surcharge people just because they didn’t have previous insurance, maybe they didn’t even have a car, or they were in the military serving stateside, or they missed a single payment on their insurance,” said Harvey Rosenfield with Consumer Watchdog.

]]> 9872 News Clipping In the media 9879 legislation 9881 Insurance Campaign Affordable Car & Home Insurance 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9884 Courts Campaign Going to Court 9905 Litigation 9909 Auto Insurance 9911 Prop 103 10085 Enforcing Prop. 103 10228 vs. Insurers 10259 Insurance Reform 10260 Ballot Initiatives 10264 Sacramento published 1222 0 Consumer Watchdog argues Prop 17 also allows insurance companies to charge a severe penalty to customers who do not have a history of coverage, therefore, the voter pamphlet should say the initiative will raise rates. “It allows insurance companies to surcharge people just because they didn’t have previous insurance, maybe they didn’t even have a car, or they were in the military serving stateside, or they missed a single payment on their insurance,” said Harvey Rosenfield with Consumer Watchdog.

]]> false false 2010-03-11T15:44:43.886-08:00 story 33199 Assembly Bill Would Slash Coverage Mandates For Health Insurers http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=33199 2010-03-11T15:44:23.000-08:00 By Kenny Goldberg, <font size="3">KPBS 89.5 FM (SAN DIEGO, CA)</font> 4563274 Consumer Watchdog. "If you take those laws away, insurance companies can still charge as much as they want, but provide far less health care," Flanagan argues. "That's really good for the insurance company, because they can keep more of our money for themselves; it's the last thing you want to do for patients."]]> 9872 News Clipping In the media 9879 legislation 9880 lobbying 9882 Protecting Patients Campaign Protecting Patients 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 10077 Action on Medical Care 10079 HMO/PPO Abuse 10219 Health Insurer Accountability 10261 Campaign Finance 10264 Sacramento 10321 deregulation published 1222 0 Consumer Watchdog. "If you take those laws away, insurance companies can still charge as much as they want, but provide far less health care," Flanagan argues. "That's really good for the insurance company, because they can keep more of our money for themselves; it's the last thing you want to do for patients."]]> false false 2010-03-11T11:19:45.220-08:00 story 33194 Insurers Test Health Plans That Stress Patient Choices http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=33194 2010-03-11T11:16:00.000-08:00 By Julie Appleby, <font size="3">USA TODAY</font> 4563274 Workers at a Portland, Ore., steel mill soon will be able to pick a new type of insurance that offers free care for some illnesses, such as diabetes or depression, but requires hefty extra fees for treatments deemed overused, including knee replacements, hysterectomies and heart bypass surgery. The policies are among the first to apply financial incentives on both sides of one important factor driving up the nation's health care tab: The underuse of proven treatments and overuse of certain surgeries and diagnostic tests that may be less valuable. But efforts to charge workers more for some treatments put employers in the position of "playing doctor" and are well into a "danger zone of... limiting access to medical care," says Jerry Flanagan of the Santa Monica, Calif.-based advocacy group Consumer Watchdog.

 

]]> 9872 News Clipping In the media 9882 Protecting Patients Campaign Protecting Patients 10077 Action on Medical Care 10079 HMO/PPO Abuse 10219 Health Insurer Accountability published 1222 0 Workers at a Portland, Ore., steel mill soon will be able to pick a new type of insurance that offers free care for some illnesses, such as diabetes or depression, but requires hefty extra fees for treatments deemed overused, including knee replacements, hysterectomies and heart bypass surgery. The policies are among the first to apply financial incentives on both sides of one important factor driving up the nation's health care tab: The underuse of proven treatments and overuse of certain surgeries and diagnostic tests that may be less valuable. But efforts to charge workers more for some treatments put employers in the position of "playing doctor" and are well into a "danger zone of... limiting access to medical care," says Jerry Flanagan of the Santa Monica, Calif.-based advocacy group Consumer Watchdog.

 

]]> false false 2010-03-15T10:35:25.121-07:00 story 33193 Insurance rate curbs continue to gain steam http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=33193 2010-03-11T10:59:00.000-08:00 Posted by Carmen Balber 4529835 <p> The latest round of exhorbitant rate increases nationally has helped more and more people recognize what Consumer Watchdog has been arguing for the last year: Congress cannot require all Americans to purchase insurance from the for-profit insurance industry without real oversight of what they charge ... </p> 9877 Blog Post On the blog 9882 Protecting Patients Campaign Protecting Patients 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9911 Prop 103 9914 Affordable Medicine 10077 Action on Medical Care 10079 HMO/PPO Abuse 10219 Health Insurer Accountability 10259 Insurance Reform 10262 Health Insurance Mandate 10265 Washington DC published 1222 0 <p> The latest round of exhorbitant rate increases nationally has helped more and more people recognize what Consumer Watchdog has been arguing for the last year: Congress cannot require all Americans to purchase insurance from the for-profit insurance industry without real oversight of what they charge ... </p> false false 2010-03-15T10:20:25.332-07:00 story 33271 FTC May Put Kibosh On Google's AdMob Deal http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=33271 2010-03-11T10:14:00.000-08:00 By Erika Morphy, <font size="3">E-COMMERCE TIMES</font> 4563274 Google's Public Policy blog. Shortly thereafter, two consumer groups -- Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy -- asked the Federal Trade Commission to block the deal, arguing that it would lessen competition and harm consumers, advertisers and application developers, among others.]]> 9872 News Clipping In the media 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9916 Corporateering 9918 Privacy 10097 Corporateering Campaign Fighting Corporateering 10265 Washington DC 11589 Google published 1222 0 Google's Public Policy blog. Shortly thereafter, two consumer groups -- Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy -- asked the Federal Trade Commission to block the deal, arguing that it would lessen competition and harm consumers, advertisers and application developers, among others.]]> false false 2010-03-10T17:20:53.195-08:00 story 33176 FTC reportedly seeking sworn statements in Google-AdMob deal http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=33176 2010-03-10T17:12:00.000-08:00 Posted by John M. Simpson 5264575 Antitrust regulators are reported by Bloomberg news service to be seeking sworn statements from Google's competitors and advertisers as they continue to investigate the the Internet giant's proposed $750 million deal to buy AdMob.

]]> 9877 Blog Post On the blog 9916 Corporateering 9918 Privacy 10097 Corporateering Campaign Fighting Corporateering 11589 Google published 1222 0 Antitrust regulators are reported by Bloomberg news service to be seeking sworn statements from Google's competitors and advertisers as they continue to investigate the the Internet giant's proposed $750 million deal to buy AdMob.

]]> false false 2010-03-11T09:47:45.032-08:00 story 33175 Health insurance premium curbs are catching on http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=33175 2010-03-10T17:00:00.000-08:00 Posted by Judy Dugan 5448270 Consumer Watchdog's calls for tough and open health insurance rate regulation are being echoed and amplified. The latest instance is in Connecticut, the home state of insurance companies, where Attorney General Earl Blumenthal recently proposed major reforms that would require the state to review and reject, modify or allow a rate change before it goes into effect. No more shrugging and letting it happen without a public review.

]]> 9877 Blog Post On the blog 9879 legislation 9881 Insurance Campaign Affordable Car & Home Insurance 9882 Protecting Patients Campaign Protecting Patients 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9911 Prop 103 9914 Affordable Medicine 10077 Action on Medical Care 10079 HMO/PPO Abuse 10219 Health Insurer Accountability 10265 Washington DC published 1222 0 Consumer Watchdog's calls for tough and open health insurance rate regulation are being echoed and amplified. The latest instance is in Connecticut, the home state of insurance companies, where Attorney General Earl Blumenthal recently proposed major reforms that would require the state to review and reject, modify or allow a rate change before it goes into effect. No more shrugging and letting it happen without a public review.

]]> false false 2010-03-11T13:07:42.701-08:00 story 33197 California Group Urges National Freeze On Health Insurance Rates http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=33197 2010-03-10T13:03:00.000-08:00 By John Reichard, <font size="3">CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY HEALTHBEAT</font> 4563274 President Obama should include a provision freezing health insurance rates in the package of revisions Democrats are drafting for the Senate-passed health care overhaul bill (HR 3590), a California-based consumer group said Wednesday. Other provisions that the Consumer Watchdog group wants to see included are a requirement that state regulators approve rate increases before they go into effect, and that federal grants be made available to states for developing these &quot;prior approval&quot; regulations. &quot;Given the audacity of health insurance rate increases last year and this year, and with the economy in deep recession, only federal legislation can curb the spiral of unaffordability,&quot; said Carmen Balber, the Washington director for the group. 9872 News Clipping In the media 9879 legislation 9881 Insurance Campaign Affordable Car & Home Insurance 9882 Protecting Patients Campaign Protecting Patients 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9911 Prop 103 10077 Action on Medical Care 10079 HMO/PPO Abuse 10219 Health Insurer Accountability 10265 Washington DC published 1222 0 President Obama should include a provision freezing health insurance rates in the package of revisions Democrats are drafting for the Senate-passed health care overhaul bill (HR 3590), a California-based consumer group said Wednesday. Other provisions that the Consumer Watchdog group wants to see included are a requirement that state regulators approve rate increases before they go into effect, and that federal grants be made available to states for developing these &quot;prior approval&quot; regulations. &quot;Given the audacity of health insurance rate increases last year and this year, and with the economy in deep recession, only federal legislation can curb the spiral of unaffordability,&quot; said Carmen Balber, the Washington director for the group. false false 2010-03-10T12:35:16.051-08:00 story 33170 Put corporate political spending to a vote http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/politicians/articles/?storyId=33170 2010-03-10T12:34:51.000-08:00 Posted by Carmen Balber 4529835 <p> When the US Supreme Court decided to allow corporations to spend money directly on campaign advertising, they opened the floodgates to excessive spending by companies to change the outcome of elections. The long-term solution is a... </p> 9877 Blog Post On the blog 9879 legislation 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9907 DirtyMoneyWatch 10088 Reforming Politics 10261 Campaign Finance 10265 Washington DC published 1222 0 <p> When the US Supreme Court decided to allow corporations to spend money directly on campaign advertising, they opened the floodgates to excessive spending by companies to change the outcome of elections. The long-term solution is a... </p> false false 2010-03-10T12:42:34.612-08:00 story 33169 Oil Co's Look At Refinery Cuts http://www.oilwatchdog.org/?storyId=33169 2010-03-10T12:02:00.000-08:00 Ron D. White, LA Times 4563274

The response to slumping gasoline use would likely mean higher prices for drivers. Judy Dugan, research director for the Santa Monica-based advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, said that "closing or selling refineries to others who would limit production would be a serious case of corporate irresponsibility."

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The response to slumping gasoline use would likely mean higher prices for drivers. Judy Dugan, research director for the Santa Monica-based advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, said that "closing or selling refineries to others who would limit production would be a serious case of corporate irresponsibility."

]]> false false 2010-03-10T12:41:13.292-08:00 story 33168 Oil Companies Look At Permanent Refinery Cutbacks http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/energy/articles/?storyId=33168 2010-03-10T11:53:00.000-08:00 By Ronald D. White, <font size="3">THE LOS ANGELES TIMES</font> 4563274 The response to slumping gasoline use would likely mean higher prices for drivers. Consumer advocates want regulators to examine the firms' plans.

Consumer advocates want regulators to probe refinery closures or consolidations that slash supply. Judy Dugan, research director for the Santa Monica-based advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, said that "closing or selling refineries to others who would limit production would be a serious case of corporate irresponsibility."

]]> 9872 News Clipping In the media 9878 Energy Campaign Cleaner, Cheaper, Energy 10082 Oil Watchdog 10267 Gas Prices published 1222 0 The response to slumping gasoline use would likely mean higher prices for drivers. Consumer advocates want regulators to examine the firms' plans.

Consumer advocates want regulators to probe refinery closures or consolidations that slash supply. Judy Dugan, research director for the Santa Monica-based advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, said that "closing or selling refineries to others who would limit production would be a serious case of corporate irresponsibility."

]]> false false 2010-03-11T11:23:06.527-08:00 story 33195 Calif. Regulators Defend Dropped Insurance Deals http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=33195 2010-03-10T11:19:00.000-08:00 By Shaya Tayefe Mohajer, <font size="3">ASSOCIATED PRESS</font> 4563274 LOS ANGELES, CA (AP) &#8213; State insurance regulators on Wednesday defended their actions against health insurers after a report showed few consumers who complained that their coverage was canceled after they took ill actually benefited from state-negotiated settlements. The settlements may not have appealed to many consumers because they were &quot;very stilted towards insurance companies,&quot; said Jerry Flanagan, a health advocate for Consumer Watchdog. Consumers weren't allowed to hire lawyers for arbitration, and had to prove all their past medical bills were &quot;medically necessary, which is a hard legal standard to meet&quot; without a lawyer's help. Additionally, the coverage that was offered through arbitration was usually a policy with a lower benefit than the wrongfully rescinded policy, said Flanagan. 9872 News Clipping In the media 9882 Protecting Patients Campaign Protecting Patients 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9884 Courts Campaign Going to Court 9905 Litigation 10077 Action on Medical Care 10079 HMO/PPO Abuse 10219 Health Insurer Accountability 10228 vs. Insurers 10230 Access to Justice 10264 Sacramento 10342 Unfair Billing published 1222 0 LOS ANGELES, CA (AP) &#8213; State insurance regulators on Wednesday defended their actions against health insurers after a report showed few consumers who complained that their coverage was canceled after they took ill actually benefited from state-negotiated settlements. The settlements may not have appealed to many consumers because they were &quot;very stilted towards insurance companies,&quot; said Jerry Flanagan, a health advocate for Consumer Watchdog. Consumers weren't allowed to hire lawyers for arbitration, and had to prove all their past medical bills were &quot;medically necessary, which is a hard legal standard to meet&quot; without a lawyer's help. Additionally, the coverage that was offered through arbitration was usually a policy with a lower benefit than the wrongfully rescinded policy, said Flanagan. false false 2010-03-10T10:34:58.240-08:00 story 33167 Profiting From Collusion: Why Californians Can't Afford Health Insurance http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=33167 2010-03-10T10:33:00.000-08:00 By Don Monkerud, <font size="3">COUNTERPUNCH.ORG</font> 4563274 California's Consumer Watchdog group is suing Anthem Blue Cross after they raised health care insurance premiums 39 percent, but the company isn't budging. Meanwhile Goldman Sachs recommended buying health insurance company stock because competition is decreasing and prices are going up. The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College estimates that &quot;the typical married couple at age 65 should expect to spend&quot; a whopping $197,000 on uninsured medical expenses. Obama urges action on a watered-down health care bill, but the Republicans and conservative Democrats just say no and collect money from the private health care lobby. Will we continue to tolerate skyrocketing health care costs? 9872 News Clipping In the media 9879 legislation 9880 lobbying 9882 Protecting Patients Campaign Protecting Patients 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9884 Courts Campaign Going to Court 9905 Litigation 10077 Action on Medical Care 10079 HMO/PPO Abuse 10219 Health Insurer Accountability 10222 Universal Health Care 10264 Sacramento 10265 Washington DC 10342 Unfair Billing published 1222 0 California's Consumer Watchdog group is suing Anthem Blue Cross after they raised health care insurance premiums 39 percent, but the company isn't budging. Meanwhile Goldman Sachs recommended buying health insurance company stock because competition is decreasing and prices are going up. The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College estimates that &quot;the typical married couple at age 65 should expect to spend&quot; a whopping $197,000 on uninsured medical expenses. Obama urges action on a watered-down health care bill, but the Republicans and conservative Democrats just say no and collect money from the private health care lobby. Will we continue to tolerate skyrocketing health care costs? false false 2010-03-10T09:14:15.838-08:00 story 33166 Insurance Regulation Expert Calls For Freeze Of Health Rates Until 'Prior Approval' Regulation Is Adopted http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=33166 2010-03-10T09:13:54.000-08:00 CONTACT: Jerry Flanagan, (310) 889-4912; or Carmen Balber, (202) 629-3043 4563274 <p> Washington, DC -- Harvey Rosenfield, author of California&rsquo;s landmark insurance regulation Proposition 103&mdash;recognized as the most successful insurance regulation in the country&mdash;was joined today by people struggling to pay for health insurance in calling on President Obama and Congress to impose a national freeze on health insurance rates as part of the final round of votes on reform. Consumers must have a breather from yearly premium hikes like the 39% increase planned by Anthem Blue Cross, said Consumer Watchdog, which Rosenfield founded. </p> 9871 Press Release Breaking news 9879 legislation 9881 Insurance Campaign Affordable Car & Home Insurance 9882 Protecting Patients Campaign Protecting Patients 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9911 Prop 103 10077 Action on Medical Care 10079 HMO/PPO Abuse 10219 Health Insurer Accountability 10222 Universal Health Care 10259 Insurance Reform 10264 Sacramento 10265 Washington DC 10321 deregulation 10342 Unfair Billing published 1222 0 <p> Washington, DC -- Harvey Rosenfield, author of California&rsquo;s landmark insurance regulation Proposition 103&mdash;recognized as the most successful insurance regulation in the country&mdash;was joined today by people struggling to pay for health insurance in calling on President Obama and Congress to impose a national freeze on health insurance rates as part of the final round of votes on reform. Consumers must have a breather from yearly premium hikes like the 39% increase planned by Anthem Blue Cross, said Consumer Watchdog, which Rosenfield founded. </p> false false 2010-03-09T16:05:20.753-08:00 story 33161 Australian news video calls Google "a company on steroids" http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=33161 2010-03-09T15:53:00.000-08:00 Posted by John M. Simpson 5264575 <p> A video produced by <a href="http://hungrybeast.abc.net.au/well-here-we-are-then" target="_blank">Hungry Beast</a>, a weekly news show on Australian television puts Internet giant ... </p> 9877 Blog Post On the blog 9916 Corporateering 9918 Privacy 10097 Corporateering Campaign Fighting Corporateering 11589 Google published 1222 0 <p> A video produced by <a href="http://hungrybeast.abc.net.au/well-here-we-are-then" target="_blank">Hungry Beast</a>, a weekly news show on Australian television puts Internet giant ... </p> false false 2010-03-09T14:38:42.472-08:00 story 33160 Slide show features companies Google calls competition http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=33160 2010-03-09T13:56:00.000-08:00 Posted by John M. Simpson 5264575 I recently <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=33077" target="_blank">delved into Google's 10-K filing</a> covering 2009 with the <a href="http://sec.gov/" target="_blank">Securities and Exchange...</a> 9877 Blog Post On the blog 9916 Corporateering 9918 Privacy 10097 Corporateering Campaign Fighting Corporateering 11589 Google published 1222 0 I recently <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=33077" target="_blank">delved into Google's 10-K filing</a> covering 2009 with the <a href="http://sec.gov/" target="_blank">Securities and Exchange...</a> false false 2010-03-09T12:43:34.656-08:00 story 33157 Google Identifies Competitors http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporateering/articles/?storyId=33157 2010-03-09T12:42:56.000-08:00 By Mike Swift, <font size="3">THE SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS</font> 4563274 9872 News Clipping In the media 9916 Corporateering 9918 Privacy 10097 Corporateering Campaign Fighting Corporateering 11589 Google published 1222 0 false false 2010-03-09T13:02:38.352-08:00 story 33156 Sarah Palin wasn't the only Alaskan border-hopping for health care http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=33156 2010-03-09T11:31:00.000-08:00 Posted by Judy Dugan 5448270 <p> Sarah Palin, the Cruella DeVille of anti-government-health care, caught everyone's attention with the story of her family hopping the border from Skagway, Alaska, into the Yukon Territory for Canadian government health care when Palin was a child. <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/03/08/13158001.html">Canadian newspapers</a> noted cattily that Palin previously described going to Juneau, Alaska, for the same treatment for her brother's burned foot. Whatever. I wanted to know whether other Alaskans went to Canada for medical care--and still do. </p> 9877 Blog Post On the blog 9882 Protecting Patients Campaign Protecting Patients 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9914 Affordable Medicine 10079 HMO/PPO Abuse 10088 Reforming Politics 10219 Health Insurer Accountability 10222 Universal Health Care 10262 Health Insurance Mandate 10265 Washington DC published 1222 0 <p> Sarah Palin, the Cruella DeVille of anti-government-health care, caught everyone's attention with the story of her family hopping the border from Skagway, Alaska, into the Yukon Territory for Canadian government health care when Palin was a child. <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/03/08/13158001.html">Canadian newspapers</a> noted cattily that Palin previously described going to Juneau, Alaska, for the same treatment for her brother's burned foot. Whatever. I wanted to know whether other Alaskans went to Canada for medical care--and still do. </p> false false 2010-03-09T12:59:01.531-08:00 story 33155 The no. 1 cure for Anthem Blue Cross greed: Here's the plan, from the expert http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=33155 2010-03-09T10:32:00.000-08:00 Posted by Judy Dugan 5448270 Harvey Rosenfield, the founder of Consumer Watchdog and the author of California's landmark insurance regulation, is the original expert on making insurance companies friendlier to consumers. So when he outlines a plan to make health insurance more affordable--and combat price spikes like the recent 39% annual increase by Anthem Blue Cross--he's got 20 years in the trenches making insurance companies toe the line, to back him up. 9877 Blog Post On the blog 9882 Protecting Patients Campaign Protecting Patients 9883 Politicians Campaign Keeping Politicians Honest 9914 Affordable Medicine 9916 Corporateering 10077 Action on Medical Care 10079 HMO/PPO Abuse 10219 Health Insurer Accountability 10264 Sacramento 10265 Washington DC 10342 Unfair Billing published 1222 0 Harvey Rosenfield, the founder of Consumer Watchdog and the author of California's landmark insurance regulation, is the original expert on making insurance companies friendlier to consumers. So when he outlines a plan to make health insurance more affordable--and combat price spikes like the recent 39% annual increase by Anthem Blue Cross--he's got 20 years in the trenches making insurance companies toe the line, to back him up. false false 2010-03-08T18:36:44.173-08:00 story 33150 Auto Insurer Revs Measure's Motor http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/articles/?storyId=33150 2010-03-08T18:33:00.000-08:00 By Howard Fine, <font size="3">THE LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL</font> 4563274 Opponents, including Doug Heller, who works with Proposition 103 author Harvey Rosenfield at Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog, said the real aim of Mercury is to lift the ban on surcharges for drivers who need to reinstate coverage after letting their auto insurance policies lapse. &ldquo;This would allow Mercury to jack up prices for customers they don&rsquo;t really want,&rdquo; said Heller, spokesman for Campaign for Consumer Rights, the main opposition group to Proposition 17. 9872 News Clipping In the media 9880 lobbying 9881 Insurance Campaign Affordable Car & Home Insurance 9909 Auto Insurance 9911 Prop 103 10088 Reforming Politics 10259 Insurance Reform 10260 Ballot Initiatives 10261 Campaign Finance published 1222 0 Opponents, including Doug Heller, who works with Proposition 103 author Harvey Rosenfield at Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog, said the real aim of Mercury is to lift the ban on surcharges for drivers who need to reinstate coverage after letting their auto insurance policies lapse. &ldquo;This would allow Mercury to jack up prices for customers they don&rsquo;t really want,&rdquo; said Heller, spokesman for Campaign for Consumer Rights, the main opposition group to Proposition 17. false false