Consumer issues

May 9, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in response to the passage of the FDA Revitalization Act.    » read more »

Senators Call for Stepped-Up Investigation After USDA’s Delayed Announcement of Serious Errors in Reported Prices of Nonfat Dry Milk

May 9, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is leading calls for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to step up its investigation into the bad reporting of nonfat dry milk prices, which led to financial losses for dairy farmers. In a letter to the USDA Secretary and the USDA Inspector General, Feingold led a group of Senators in calling for a quick investigation into the effects of the bad price reporting.    » read more »

Calls on Senate Committee to Examine the Cause of Refinery Shutdowns and Whether any Price Gouging is Taking Place when the Committee Holds a Hearing on Gas Prices on Tuesday; Says Oil Companies Should Fix their Damaged Refineries without Passing Cost on to Consumers; Underscores Need for Federal Government to Ensure Refineries are Maintained and Inspected

May 9, 2007 -- Washington, DC - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today called on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine the cause of refinery shutdowns and whether any price gouging is taking place when the Commit    » read more »

May 9, 2007 - Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell urged Vermonters today to be on the alert for men driving door-to-door, offering to do paving work. In the past, some of these pavers have falsely claimed that they have just finished a road job and have asphalt left in the truck that they are willing to offer at a discount; they then pave a larger area than agreed upon or otherwise inflate the price far beyond what was originally quoted.

According to Attorney General Sorrell, consumers can save themselves a lot of money by taking a few simple precautions:    » read more »

Agencies Make Recommendations to Maintain Competition and Protect Consumers from Anticompetitive Conduct

May 8, 2007 -- WASHINGTON — The U.S.    » read more »

May 8, 2007 -- Washington, DC - "Yesterday, the Senate voted to add the provisions of Senator Dorgan and Snowe's Pharmaceutical Access and Drug Safety Act, legislation I am proud to cosponsor, to S. 1082, the Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act. The amendment would establish the framework through which we could reimport drugs from other nations where regulatory authority is similar to that in our country, allowing millions of Americans to safely obtain medically necessary drugs at lower cost. I voted for this amendment, and was disappointed to see its provisions undermined.    » read more »

U.S. Department of Energy Releases Energy Price Forecast

May 08, 2007 -- Following the release of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-Energy Information Administration’s short-term energy price forecast today, Governor Doyle made the following statement:

“If these predictions from the federal government hold true, big oil companies will be squeezing Wisconsin families this summer just as they have for years.    » read more »

05/08/2007 -- California Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Belshé issued the following statement regarding the Health Affairs journal study which shows the uninsured often pay more than two and a half times more than what health insurers pay for the same services:    » read more »

May 7, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that she is calling on all 49 of her fellow Governors to co-sign a letter to the congressional leaders of both parties asking for federal hearings and an investigation into the rising price of gasoline.

“It is time we demanded answers on the gas price spikes that are hurting our consumers and our economies,” Governor Rell said. “This is a national issue and it is time we as governors ramp up the pressure on Congress to act. We can accomplish that by speaking in a unified voice.”    » read more »

May 7, 2007 -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. today announced the maker of the "Cocaine" energy drink has agreed to withdraw the product from Connecticut.

Under the agreement, Redux Beverages, LLC, of Las Vegas, Nev. will no longer market or sell the beverage in the state. Connecticut distributors and retailers can return unsold cans for credits.

Redux negotiated the agreement under threat of legal action by DCP and the Attorney General's Office.    » read more »

Need to Act Fast

May 04, 2007 -- SEATTLE – You may be owed money if you paid for a video subscription service from Movieland.com, bought Spyware Cleaner software or a Sony BMG music CD, or were billed for a shopping service or travel club you didn’t want. The Washington Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Division says thousands of Washington consumers are potentially eligible for refunds for products and services as a result of government settlements. But with deadlines rapidly approaching, those consumers need to submit their claims soon in order to receive payment.    » read more »

18,000 Iowans will be allowed to get checkups closer to home

May 03, 2007 -- (DES MOINES)— Today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver announced that regular physical checkups will soon be available for adults covered by Medicaid and a Medicaid expansion program known as IowaCare in Iowa. This change in policy will allow 18,000 Iowans to get physical checkups closer to home. Children are already covered.    » read more »

May 4, 2007 -- Chicago – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced the successful results of a demand to have all Illinois marketing and sales of the “Cocaine” energy drink immediately cease.

Attorney General Madigan and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Eric E. Whitaker made the demand on Wednesday, May 2, to the California-based Redux Beverages, LLC, the manufacturer and distributor of the product.    » read more »

Attorney General praises Legislature for commitment to public safety

May 4, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today extended his thanks to state lawmakers for passing a wide range of bills that greatly enhance public safety for Floridians throughout the state.

"I am appreciative of the great efforts made by our House and Senate members to improve the quality of living here in Florida," Attorney General McCollum said. "They have clearly demonstrated that the safety and security of Floridians is a top priority.”    » read more »

Columbia Restaurant has taken steps to safeguard patrons

May 4, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today commended the Columbia Restaurant for taking a proactive approach towards protecting consumers from deceptive marketing. The president of the Columbia restaurant group issued a statement assuring consumers that Columbia restaurants would serve grouper only if they could ensure the fish was in fact grouper and not a less-expensive substitute.    » read more »