SACRAMENTO–The Consumer Federation of California (CFC) announced recently that Assembly Member Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) earned 100 percent on its 2007 Consumer Scorecard for California Legislators. The scorecard grades legislators for their votes on consumer rights and safety legislation.

“The CFC has done such great work for so many decades,” said DeSaulnier. “CFC has been a strong voice for the rights of consumers. And it is a great honor to support its work with my votes in the Assembly.”  

The CFC, a nonprofit that has advocated for stronger laws and regulations on consumer rights since 1960, graded key votes on issues such as truth in advertising, health care reform, consumer product safety standards, and cell phone consumer protections. Average scores were 60 percent in the Senate and 61 percent in the Assembly.

"The scorecard should help Californians evaluate how their lawmakers voted on consumer protection bills that affect our pocketbooks but get little news coverage," said CFC Executive Director Richard Holober.

Among the bills were SB 840 (Kuehl), which would create a single-payer healthcare system for the State; and AB 583 (Hancock), the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act, which would reduce the influence of money and special interests in politics by providing a public financing option for candidates who have demonstrated a sufficient base of support.

Assembly Member DeSaulnier is a co-author for both SB 840 and AB 583.The Legislature will continue to debate these bills during 2008.