Articles

Taking the Public Out of the Public Utilities Commission

We know about Governor Jerry Brown's utility friends and the top staffers he handpicked from their ranks. We know about his protection of the secretive Public Utilities Commission (PUC) by vetoing reform bills. We know about the PUC’s protection of Brown himself in refusing to release more than 60 emails that might link him to the commission’s utility-brokered deal to put billions  on the backs of ratepayers to shut down a defective nuclear power plant.  
 

Big Pharma Fattening Coffers to Stop Drug Price Reduction Initiative

Big Pharma fears only one thing: a government regulator who will push back on drug prices and protect consumers. Its fears could be realized in a year if an initiative intended to lower drug prices is approved by voters, which is why the drug companies have already filled a campaign war chest with nearly $40 million.
 

New DMV Robot Car Rules Prioritize Safety

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has just issued draft rules covering the public use of self-driving robot cars that incorporate a key safety provision long advocated by Consumer Watchdog, sponsor of this website. The draft regulations require robot cars to have a steering wheel and pedals and be occupied by a licensed driver capable of taking control of the vehicle when necessary.

Lockyer Goes To Dark Side, Big Oil

Heading to Sacramento Wednesday to testify on California’s outrageous gasoline price spikes, I was looking for context to explain the $10 billion extra California drivers paid for their gasoline in 2015 compared to US drivers. Then I read the Star Wars series made $4.4 billion worldwide. 
 
An oil oligopoly, anchored by four California oil refiners, that control 78% of the gasoline market, raked in more extra dollars at the pump in one year than one of the most successful movie franchises in history.
 

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