California's Next Lead Pollution Scandal

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Mon, 12/28/2015 - 08:49
One would think the Exide lead pollution scandal would have taught our top toxics regulator what never to do again. Instead, the agency is poised to repeat the same mistakes; this time with Exide’s rival lead battery recycler, Quemetco. 
 

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California Laws You Should Know That Start Jan. 1, 2016

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Sat, 12/26/2015 - 14:06
In 2015, Californians wanted bold, progressive action on gas prices, toxics regulation and ratepayer protection against back room dealings with regulated utilities. But instead, the public too often saw meaningful reform watered down or dumped.

Proposals such as reducing the state's petroleum use by 50% by 2030, protecting groundwater from fracking waste, demanding transparency from oil companies manipulating the price and supply of oil, and shutting down polluting facilities operating for decades without permits failed to be approved.

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Capitol Watchdog: Upcoming Meetings to Watch

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Fri, 12/25/2015 - 10:33

The best time to have a hearing on another health insurance merger in California is when few in the media are around to prepare for it. So, obviously, California plans another health insurance merger hearing on the Monday after New Year's. Let's hope it is more informative than the last one, though we have our doubts. But the holiday season is also, in political terms, the calm before the legislative storm. The Legislature begins its next session on Jan. 4. 

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Taking the Public Out of the Public Utilities Commission

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Tue, 12/22/2015 - 08:44
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.  
 

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Big Pharma Fattening Coffers to Stop Drug Price Reduction Initiative

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Fri, 12/18/2015 - 14:03
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.
 

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New DMV Robot Car Rules Prioritize Safety

Submitted by John Simpson on Thu, 12/17/2015 - 14:49

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.

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