The deeper we dig into the records of both Lt. Governor Candidate Tom McClintock and Controller Candidate Tony Strickland, the more we see their consistent approach of turning their backs on consumers to protect their big corporate sponsors.The records of these two are so shockingly devoid of any concern for the health and well-being of the community that we want to make sure you have all the information necessary to see just how dangerous these two stealth- radical- fringe candidates really are.
BUT BEFORE GOING INTO DETAIL ON THEIR CONSUMER POSITIONS, YOU MAY NEED GO NO FURTHER THAN TO KNOW THAT TOM McCLINTOCK HAS AN UNBROKEN RECORD OF OPPOSING STEM CELL RESEARCH.
As Lt. Governor, he would be empowered to appoint up to 5 members of the Committee that will oversee Prop 71-the bond measure passed overwhelmingly by the people of California to actively pursue stem-cell research here in California. This would give McClintock, as Lt. Gov. the opportunity to sabotage this important work!
For more on this story, check out the excellent article at the California Progress Reportwww.californiaprogressreport.com
Our own post today on McClintock and his clone,Strickland, comes from the Consumer Federation of California, one of our leading consumer watchdog groups in the state, and Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety—the go-to group for all car-related consumer issues.
Candidates in Neck-and Neck Lt. Gov. and Controller Races
Have extreme anti-consumer records on safety, consumer issues
Consumer groups warn that candidates McClintock and Strickland, who have received last-minute millions in their tightening races for Lt. Governor and Controller, have records of opposing consumer protections including popular mainstream auto safety and other pro-consumer measures enacted in California, often with overwhelming support.
“McClintock and Strickland are both out of step on issues that Californians overwhelmingly support,” said Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California. “On issues ranging from protecting the
public from defective products to stopping phone companies from ripping off
consumers, they consistently voted for big business and against consumers.”
On auto safety issues, McClintock voted against measures enacted in California to:
Require that kids be restrained in child safety seats
Establish graduated licensing for teenagers
Prohibit leaving children unattended in vehicles
Require that air bags that inflated in a crash be replaced with air bags that
meet federal safety standards
Tighten the lemon law regarding vehicles with life-threatening safety defects
Restrict hands-on cell phone use while driving
Establish the Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights
Both candidates also voted for legislation that would have increased access to “alcopops” among underage teenagers, that was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. Several of the most important auto safety/consumer protection bills McClintock opposed had passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support and were signed into law by Republican governors. Strickland, who has been in office a relatively short period of time, has a similar voting record, with a few exceptions. “Their records on auto safety issues are very troubling, because vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury among California’s children and adolescents, and they opposed laws that have been effective in reducing that toll,” said Rosemary Shahan, President of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety.
For specifics on McClintock’s extremist record on auto safety issues, click “more”

Sen. McClintock has distinguished himself by opposing virtually every major law enacted in California to reduce the enormous toll exacted by motor vehicle crashes and to enhance consumer protections for the state’s 23 million vehicle owners.
He has often been the sole vote, or one of a tiny minority, to oppose measures that passed overwhelmingly and were signed into law by governors of both political parties. He also opposed laws authored by his Republican colleagues and bills that had widespread support and little or no opposition.
Many of the laws he opposed have been proven to be effective in reducing fatalities and injuries, and are among the reasons California has a national reputation for promoting auto safety.
Among the mainstream auto safety/consumer protection laws McClintock has opposed are measures that:
· Require that kids be restrained in child safety seats
· Require proof of insurance
· Establish graduated licensing for teenagers
· Limit access to “alcopops” by underage teens
· Prohibit leaving children unattended in vehicles
· Require that air bags that inflated in a crash be replaced with air bags that meet federal safety standards
· Tighten the lemon law regarding vehicles with life-threatening safety defects
· Restrict hands-on cell phone use while driving
Specifically, the laws he opposed are:
SB 1329–Leslie, 1997. Requires teenagers to have provisional licenses for 6 months and impose other restrictions on beginning drivers. Signed by Gov. Wilson
AB 2410–Shelley, 1998. Prohibits “gag” agreements that kept lemon owners from telling others about the defects in their vehicles. Signed by Gov. Wilson
SB 974–Speier, 1999. Improves protections for consumers who purchase vehicles at auto auctions. Signed by Gov. Davis
SB 652–Speier, 1999. Deletes the sunset on requiring proof of insurance in order to drive. Signed by Gov. Davis
AB 1290– Davis, 1999. Expands the lemon law “presumption” period from 12 months/12,000 miles to 24 months/24,000 miles. Signed by Gov. Davis
SB 567– Speier, 2000. Proof of insurance. Signed by Gov. Davis
SB 180–Speier, 2000. Proof of insurance. Signed by Gov. Davis
SB 567– Speier, 2000. Requires child passenger restraint systems for kids. Signed by Gov. Davis
SB 1718– Sher, 2000. Tightens lemon law protections when vehicles have life-threatening safety defects, and expands lemon law to protect small business owners. Signed by Gov. Davis
SB 255– Speier, 2001. Makes it a crime to leave children unattended in vehicles. Signed by Gov. Davis
SB 481– Speier, 2001. Prohibits dealers from selling vehicles above advertised price. Signed by Gov. Davis
SB 1331– Speier, 2002. Tightens restrictions on the resales of total loss wrecked autos, including requiring that if the air bags have inflated they must be replaced with air bags that meet federal safety standards. Signed by Gov. Davis
SB 2076– Bowen, 2002. Tightens notice and disclosure requirements regarding total loss salvage vehicles. Signed by Gov. Davis
AB 68– Montanez, 2005. Car Buyers Bill of Rights. Signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger
SB 1613– Simitian, 2006. Restricts cell phone use while driving, if cell phone is hands-on. Signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger
Another bill McClintock voted against, AB 963, authored by Assemblymember Bonnie Garcia (R-Cathedral City), and supported by safety organizations and the federal National Transportation Safety Board would have:
· Restricted cell-phone use among teens while they are beginning drivers–several other states have already taken this step.
AB 963 had passed 70-0 in the Assembly, and needed one more vote to pass in the Senate Transportation Committee, where McClintock voted “no,” and the bill died.
Any way you slice it, these two are just too extreme for California!