By Anastaciah Ondieki – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution A watchdog group has lodged a formal complaint with the state against a Public Service Commissioner, claiming he deleted text messages in violation of Georgia’s Open Records Act. In the...
More infoGeorgia Financial Protection and Economic Opportunity Summit a Success
On March 8, Georgia Watch, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, Prosperity Now, and Center for Responsible Lending hosted the first-ever Georgia Financial Protection and Economic Opportunity Summit. Nearly 50 partners from across the state and nation met...
More infoNew Legislation Would Undermine the CFPB’s Effectiveness
A bill introduced on Tuesday, HR 5266, co-sponsored by Georgia Representative David Scott (D – GA 13th District), would restructure the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from an agency led by a single director to one headed by a five-member...
More infoDodd-Frank de-toothing looks like an Equifax win
By Michael E. Kanell and Tamar Hallerman – Atlanta Journal-Constitution Less than seven months after revealing a massive data breach, Equifax appears to be poised for a big win in Washington. A financial regulatory bill on the verge of Senate passage...
More infoPublic hospitals in Ga. could seize your tax refund to pay debt, if this bill passes
By Scott Berson – Macon Telegraph Medical debt is one of the most common forms of household debt in the country. At least one in every five Americans had trouble paying off medical debt in 2016, according to Becker’s Hospital Review, and USA Today...
More infoSome State Lawmakers Look To Tax Refunds To Help Rural Hospitals
By Miranda Hawkins – WABE (Listen) Some lawmakers from rural Georgia are trying to get a bill passed this year aimed at helping struggling, rural hospitals. House Bill 81 would let the state take people’s state income tax refunds to pay off their...
More infoGeorgia Watch challenges Plant Vogtle decision
By J. Scott Trubey – Atlanta Journal-Constitution Consumer group Georgia Watch filed a legal challenge to the December decision by the Georgia Public Service Commission to allow Georgia Power and partners to complete two unfinished nuclear reactors...
More infoPublic hospitals in Ga. could seize your tax refund to pay debt, if this bill passes
By Scott Berson – Columbus Ledger Inquirer Medical debt is one of the most common forms of household debt in the country. At least one in every five Americans had trouble paying off medical debt in 2016, according to Becker’s Hospital Review, and USA...
More infoGeorgia Watch going to court over Plant Vogtle vote
By Dave Williams – Atlanta Business Chronicle A consumer advocacy group is going to court to challenge the Georgia Public Service Commission’s (PSC) decision to let Georgia Power Co. finish the $25 billion nuclear expansion at Plant Vogtle...
More infoConsumer group sues Ga. regulators over Vogtle
By Kristi E. Swartz – E&E News A consumer group is taking Georgia utility regulators to court over a decision to greenlight Georgia Power Co.’s nuclear expansion project, which is years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget...
More infoGeorgia Watch Challenges Public Service Commission Decision on Plant Vogtle
ATLANTA, GA, March 8, 2018 – On behalf of Georgia Watch, Barnes Law Group has filed a petition to contest in court a decision of the Georgia Public Service Commission approving the continuation of the Vogtle nuclear expansion project despite a near...
More infoBill would let public hospitals seize Georgians’ tax refunds
By Ariel Hart – Atlanta Journal-Constitution A bill that has already passed the state House of Representatives would allow Georgia’s public hospitals to seize their patients’ state income tax refunds for unpaid debt. Nationwide, rising medical costs...
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