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February 22, 2010
"When almost every other industry colludes at the expense of consumers, we call it a crime. When the health insurance industry colludes, we call it business as usual," Congressman Garamendi said. "This legislation removes one of the most damaging weapons in the insurance industry’s arsenal: the ability to manipulate the market together behind closed doors. In my eight years regulating the insurance industry in California, what I learned above all else is that you can’t trust the insurance industry to regulate itself. Insurance company executives will scratch and claw their way to maximum profit, and they don’t care who gets hurt along the way."
Issues:
Healthcare
February 22, 2010
"The extraordinary greed of Anthem/WellPoint Blue Cross is a clear indication that this company has put profit before people," said Garamendi, who as California insurance commissioner presided over the merger. "People need to be able to get out of the shark pool with a public-option lifeboat."
February 22, 2010
"Standing here on these beautiful rolling hills, it’s encouraging to remember that the exhilarating breezes produced by nature here are capable of providing clean power to 74,000 Californians – nature providing opportunities to protect nature," said Congressman Garamendi, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee. "The Shiloh II project is precisely the type of clean technology project that Congress should promote. Environmental protection and job creation aren’t just compatible; with the coming climate change calamity, they’re intimately linked. Like Shiloh II, we must prioritize clean energy projects that green our planet and our wallets."
Issues:
Economy and Jobs
Housing
February 21, 2010
A blue sky late last week perfectly backlit a series of monolithic wind turbines in the Montezuma Hills, their unmoving blades casting long shadows that shaded slumbering cattle.
February 16, 2010
We have seen the defunding of schools, transportation infrastructure, research capabilities, and everything else that helps grow an economy. California's constitution should be re-examined. I believe that California will reach its full potential when majority rule is restored.
February 14, 2010
As pointed out in Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times, the only real authority the Commissioner has is on an related issue, which is whether Anthem Blue Cross was abiding by a 70% "medical loss ratio" requirement--whether 70% of premium dollars were going to patient care, rather than administration and profit.
February 13, 2010
Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, a rancher and former California lieutenant governor, donated a conservation easement on his Calaveras County land to the rangeland trust. ... "What do you do?" he said. "The land will be worth a lot of money, but do you keep it in ranching? ... Money isn't everything."
February 12, 2010
Rep. John Garamendi told the crowd of more than 700 that representatives in Congress are committed to delivering on jobs right away, providing relief to the millions in California and around the country who are without work during the Great Recession of the past two years.
February 12, 2010
"I am a district-focused representative and want to make sure that everyone in our district has an opportunity to take advantage of the resources and services available in my district offices," Congressman Garamendi said. "For the first time in the history of the 10th Congressional District, my staff will host regular office hours in the City of Livermore to make sure that all of our residents in Alameda County have an opportunity to conveniently meet with us to air their concerns related to federal agencies."
February 9, 2010
The state's former lieutenant governor, Democratic Rep. John Garamendi, said the state Senate vote "keeps the issue moving and the debate alive" by motivating the base to confront the issue of the uninsured.