Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
declaration of this week as "California Consumer Protection Week" is
like George W. Bush declaring February "Give Peace A Chance" month.
Since taking office, the Gov has shelved important consumer protection
rules, frozen yet-to-be final regulations to see if they are too tough
on business and appointed a who’s who of big business to key posts in
government. He has yet to even sit down with consumer groups. Still, we
have asked Arnold to live up to the spirit of week by taking five steps
toward consumer protection. The full letter can be read at: http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/corporate/pr/pr003992.php3
The five steps are:
1. Return the force of law to consumer protection rules that have been
placed on "opinion-only" status under Executive Order 2.
2. Release a list of all frozen regulations under Executive Order 2 and your intent regarding them.
3. Commit to protect the integrity of California’s Unfair Business
Practices Act from attack by car dealers and other donors to your
campaigns.
4. Set your first meeting with consumer groups.
5. Provide the public with your definition of "Consumer Protection."
Among the consumer protection rules our Public Records Act request have
revealed as shelved are: a guide about appropriate cemetery and funeral
pricing, a real estate appraiser’s guide for sanctions, and a program
to informally mediate solutions to disputes between consumers and new
car dealers, manufacturers and distributors under lemon laws.
If Arnold cannot agree to immediately restore the force of law to such
rules and help widows, victims of real estate scams, and car buyers
sold lemons, then the next time he utters his familiar phrase
"fantastic," we’ll know it simply signifies fantasy.
