The Federal Trade Commission announced yesterday that the operators of a telemarketing scheme charged with bilking millions of dollars from consumers, many of whom are seniors or military veterans on fixed income, will pay approximately $7.5 million in consumer redress under a settlement with the FTC. The stipulated final order also prohibits the defendants – […]
Author Archives: Allison Zieve
The Hill reports: President Trump will sign an order Wednesday to formally evaluate the Obama administration’s landmark greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars. The action, a top request from the automaker lobby to the new president, is the first step toward potentially weakening the aggressive standards that set a goal of a 54.5 mile-per-gallon auto […]
Volkswagen has pleaded guilty to three felonies and agreed to pay some fines in connection with its emissions cheating. A few stories on the plea deal are here, here, and here.
In connection with the health care legislation moving through the House of representatives, Stat News reports: A little-noticed bill moving through Congress would allow companies to require employees to undergo genetic testing or risk paying a penalty of thousands of dollars, and would let employers see that genetic and other health information. Giving employers such power is […]
The Hill reports: "The Senate is taking a hammer to a pair of Obama-era education rules. Senators voted 50-49 on Thursday to roll back a regulation that placed tougher accountability measures on schools. The rule detailed how public schools must carry out laws meant to ensure they are meeting the needs of all students. Republicans […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has announced plans to delay the effective date of its prepaid card rule for six months, to April 1, 2018. The CFPB's press release stated: "The CFPB’s prepaid accounts rule will provide strong consumer protections and we want the rule to become effective as soon as possible. However, through our […]
Responding to Rep. Chaffetz's statement suggesting that poor people cannot afford health care because they choose to buy iPhones, an op-ed by Stephen in the Washington Post explains that "the real reasons people suffer poverty don't reflect well on the United States." The op-ed is here.
The Department of Education announced on Monday that it will delay implementing new rules designed to punish career-training schools that leave students with high levels of debt but weak job prospects. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) explains: The move delays new rules known as “gainful employment” that formed a key piece of former President […]
In January, a company calling itself "Company Doe" filed suit against the CFPB to challenge its constitutionality. The theory of the complaint was that, in light of the DC Circuit's (now vacated) decision in PHH v. CFPB finding the structure of the CFPB unconstitutional, the agency should be enjoined from taking any action against Company […]
The New York Times, in a story called "How Uber Deceives the Authorities Worldwide," reported on Friday: Uber has for years engaged in a worldwide program to deceive the authorities in markets where its low-cost ride-hailing service was resisted by law enforcement or, in some instances, had been banned. The program, involving a tool called […]