Wine & Beverage Industry Stops Bill To Overhaul and Expand Bottle Deposit System On Senate Floor
Los Angeles, CA — A major reform bill to fix California’s broken bottle deposit system and get consumers back hundreds of millions in unredeemed deposits failed in the California Senate today after the wine and liquor industry joined with the beverage industry to unleash their lobbyists against the proposal. The bill is now on the inactive file after failing on the floor last night with 17 votes in favor.
Our New Year's Resolutions
We lost a lot in 2020 — loved ones, time, momentum — and Consumer Watchdog’s ambitious plans for 2021 try to capitalize on what we’ve learned.
Below are some of our 2021 resolutions -- which you can help us realize with a year-end, tax-deductible contribution:
Opinion: Gavin Newsom’s cronyism threatens families like mine
French Laundry debacle, appointment of top aide raise serious questions about who the governor really represents
Op-Ed commentary by Charles Johnson, MERCURY NEWS
December 17, 2020
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/12/17/opinion-gavin-newsoms-cronyism-threatens-families-like-mine/
Gov Dined Unmasked With Head of Doctors Lobby And Lobbyist At French Laundry
Los Angeles, CA -- Charles Johnson, husband of a black woman who died in childbirth and a patients’ rights leader, was terribly disappointed at pictures showing Governor Gavin Newsom at the infamous
Can the Ballot Be Used to Hold Local Government Accountable?
By Max Pringle, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC PRESS
November 2, 2020
https://www.sfpublicpress.org/can-the-ballot-be-used-to-hold-local-gove…
San Francisco has faced many scandals in which public officials abused their power for personal, political or organizational gain. Most recently, the Department of Public Works was rocked by an FBI investigation into alleged kickbacks, slush funds and illicit permitting influence.
What's on your ballot? My take on the 2020 California propositions
Wondering what the story is with the dozen statewide propositions on your ballot? We've had so many requests that, while Consumer Watchdog hasn't weighed in on every measure, I'm sharing my personal recommendations below.
Prop 14 – LEANING NO
Allows the state stem cell research institute, CIRM, created 15 years ago by a prior ballot measure, to raise another $5.5 billion through bond sales to fund stem cell research.
