consumer federation of am
<div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">legit?</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">https://www.alternet.org/2019/12/they-loan-you-money-then-they-get-a-warrant-for-your-arrest/</font></div><div>
</div><div><b>They loan you money. Then they get a warrant for your arrest</b></div><div>Written by Anjali Tsui / ProPublica December 3, 2019</div><div>
</div><div>Cecila Avila was finishing a work shift at a Walmart. David Gordon was at church. Darrell Reese was watching his granddaughter at home. Jessica Albritton had pulled into the parking lot at her job, where she packed and shipped bike parts.</div><div>
</div><div><b>All four were arrested by an armed constable, handcuffed and booked into jail. They spent anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days behind bars before being released after paying a few hundred dollars in bail or promising to appear in court.</b></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">None of the four, who live in northern Utah and were detained last year, had committed a crime. They had each borrowed money at high interest rates from a local lender called Loans for Less and were sued for owing sums that ranged from $800 to $3,600. When they missed a court date, the company obtained a warrant for their arrest.</span></div><div>
</div><div>Avila was handcuffed and marched down the main aisle in the Walmart in front of customers and co-workers. “It was the most embarrassing thing,” said Avila, 30, who has worked at the store for eight years. At the time of the arrest, Loans for Less had applied to garnish her wages. “It just didn’t make any sense to me,” she said. “Why am I being arrested for it?”</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">It’s against the law to jail someone because of an unpaid debt. Congress banned debtors prisons in 1833. Yet, across the country, debtors are routinely threatened with arrest and sometimes jailed, and the practices are particularly aggressive in Utah. (ProPublica recently chronicled how medical debt collectors are wielding similar powers in Kansas.)</span></div><div>
</div><div><b>Technically, debtors are arrested for not responding to a court summons requested by the creditor. But for many low-income people, who are not familiar with court proceedings, lack access to transportation, child care options or time off, or move frequently and thus may not receive notifications, it’s a distinction without a difference.</b></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Reese, a 70-year-old Vietnam veteran, said he missed a hearing because he couldn’t afford to put gas in his car. </span>Gordon, 46, said he was never personally notified of the court date. Avila and Albritton, 32, said they couldn’t take time off work.</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In Utah, payday lenders and similar companies that offer high-interest, small-dollar loans dominate small claims court. <b>Loans for Less, for example, filed 95% of the small claims cases in South Ogden,</b> a suburban city of 17,000 about a half-hour north of Salt Lake City on the interstate, in fiscal year 2018, according to state data.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Across Utah, high-interest lenders filed 66% of all small claims cases heard between September 2017 and September 2018, according to a new analysis of court records conducted by a team led by Christopher Peterson, a law professor at the University of Utah and the financial services director at the </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><b style="">Consumer Federation of America</b>,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> and David McNeill, a legal data consultant and CEO of Docket Reminder.</span></div><div>
</div><div>Companies can sue for up to $11,000 in Utah’s small claims courts, which are stripped of certain formalities: There are rarely lawyers, judges are not always legally trained and the rules of evidence don’t apply.</div><div>
</div><div>Lenders file thousands of cases every year. When defendants don’t show up — and they often don’t — the lenders win by default. Once a judgment is entered, companies can garnish borrowers’ paychecks and seize their property. If borrowers fail to attend a supplemental hearing to answer questions about their income and assets, companies can ask the court to issue a bench warrant for their arrest.</div><div>
</div><div><b>Arrest warrants were issued in an estimated 3,100 small claims cases during the period studied by Peterson’s team. Almost all of the warrants — 91% — were issued in cases filed by payday, auto title or other high-interest lenders</b>. The number of people who are jailed appears to be small. The state does not track the information, but ProPublica examined a sampling of court records and identified at least 17 people who were jailed over the course of 12 months.</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Most people scramble to meet bail to avoid being incarcerated. Others, like Avila, Gordon and Albritton, are booked into jail and held until they pay. They often borrow from friends, family, bail bonds companies and even take on new payday loans.</span></div><div>
</div><div><b>“Bail” has a different meaning in Utah than it does in other states — one that tilts the power even more in the direction of lenders and other creditors. </b>In 2014, state legislators passed a law that made it possible for creditors to get access to bail money posted in civil cases. Prior to that, bail money would return to the defendant. Now, it is routinely transferred to high-interest lenders. The law has transformed the state’s power to incarcerate into a powerful tool to guarantee that loan companies get paid.</div></div></div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div></div><div>
</div><div><div id="mw-content-text" lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The <b>Consumer Federation of America</b> (CFA), which was founded in 1968, is a consumer organization based in Washington, DC. It describes itself as an "advocacy, research, education, and service organization" on issues affecting consumers and "looks out for those who have the greatest needs, especially the least affluent." CFA's membership comprises approximately 280 nonprofit consumer organizations from around the U.S.<sup id="cite_ref-About_1-0" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#cite_note-About-1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[1]</a></sup></p><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><div id="toc" class="toc" style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 7px; font-size: 12px; display: table; zoom: 1; background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249);"><div id="toctitle" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center;"><h2 style="margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border: none; font-size: 12px; display: inline; background: none;">Contents</h2> <span class="toctoggle" style="-webkit-user-select: none; font-size: 11px;"> [<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#" class="internal" id="togglelink" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">hide</a>] </span></div><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#Structure" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Structure</span></a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#Funding" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Funding</span></a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#Personnel" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Personnel</span></a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#Affiliations" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Affiliations</span></a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#Contact_Information" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Contact Information</span></a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#Articles_and_Resources" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Articles and Resources</span></a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#Related_SourceWatch_articles" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;"><span class="tocnumber">6.1</span> <span class="toctext">Related SourceWatch articles</span></a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#References" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;"><span class="tocnumber">6.2</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#External_links" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;"><span class="tocnumber">6.3</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li></ul></li></ul></div><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); font-size: 19px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Structure">Structure</span></h2><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">On its website the CFGA states that "non-profit, pro-consumer organizations that support the mission of CFA qualify for membership. While annual dues payments range as high as $20,000, most organizations contribute between $75 and $1,000 annually. Membership entitles them to elect the Board of Directors, develop and vote on organizational policies, receive CFA News and other regular CFA publications, and qualify for discounted conference registrations."<sup id="cite_ref-About_1-1" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#cite_note-About-1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[1]</a></sup></p><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); font-size: 19px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Funding">Funding</span></h2><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">CFA takes money from unions and corporations, and Foreman's return signals a new direction as it seeks to become a major player in biotechnology issues with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation.</p><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">However, it has accepted funding from the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Rockefeller_Foundation" title="Rockefeller Foundation" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Rockefeller Foundation</a> to "develop an optimum regulatory regime" for genetically engineered foods.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In April 2000 its National Food Policy Conference was sponsored by the </span><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Feed_Industry_Association" title="American Feed Industry Association" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">American Feed Industry Association</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> and the</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Olsson,Frank%26_Weeda&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Olsson, Frank & Weeda (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Olsson, Frank & Weeda</a> law firm, both of which have been driving forces behind the passage of "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Food_disparagement&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Food disparagement (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">food disparagement</a>" laws that gut free speech rights on food safety controversies.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Other agribusiness funders of CFA's conference included the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/International_Food_Information_Council" title="International Food Information Council" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">International Food Information Council</a> (IFIC), the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Food_Processors_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="National Food Processors Association (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background: none;">National Food Processors Association</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Kraft" title="Kraft" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Kraft</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Procter%26_Gamble" title="Procter & Gamble" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Procter & Gamble</a>,<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Archer_Daniels_Midland" title="Archer Daniels Midland" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Archer Daniels Midland</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/General_Mills" title="General Mills" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">General Mills</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=IBP&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="IBP (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background: none;">IBP</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Safeway" title="Safeway" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Safeway</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/International_Dairy_Foods_Association" title="International Dairy Foods Association" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">International Dairy Foods Association</a> and many more companies.<a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2000Q2/foreman.html" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">[1]</a></p><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); font-size: 19px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Personnel">Personnel</span></h2><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Carol_Tucker_Foreman" title="Carol Tucker Foreman" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Carol Tucker Foreman</a>, CFA's former director, previously worked for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Monsanto" title="Monsanto" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Monsanto</a> company, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Lobbying" title="Lobbying" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">lobbying</a> in support of the company's campaign to win approval for Monsanto's genetically-engineered recombinant bovine growth hormone (<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/RBGH" title="RBGH" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">rBGH</a>).</p><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANAQMAAABb8jbLAAAABlBMVEX///8AUow5QSOjAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAABNJREFUCB1jYEABBQw/wLCAgQEAGpIDyT0IVcsAAAAASUVORK5CYII=); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">President: Kenneth McEldowney</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Executive Director: Stephen Brobeck</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Research Director: Mark Cooper</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Public Affairs Director: Jack Gillis</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Director of Financial Services: Jean Ann Fox</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Legislative Director: Travis Plunkett</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Associate Director: Nancy Register</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Director of International Issues: Mark Silbergeld</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Director of Financial Education: George Barany</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Senior Counsel: Rachel Weintraub</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Director of Consumer Protection: Susan Grant</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Project Director: Mel Hall-Crawford</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Director of Insurance: J. Robert Hunter</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Life Insurance Actuary: James H. Hunt</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">CFA’s Food Policy Institute Distinguished Fellow: <b>Carol Tucker Foreman</b></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Director of Food Policy Institute: Chris Waldrop</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">CFA’s Center for Housing Director: Barry Zigas</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Director of Investor Protection: Barbara Roper</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Senator <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Howard_Metzenbaum&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Howard Metzenbaum (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background: none;">Howard Metzenbaum</a></li></ul><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); font-size: 19px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Affiliations">Affiliations</span></h2><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANAQMAAABb8jbLAAAABlBMVEX///8AUow5QSOjAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAABNJREFUCB1jYEABBQw/wLCAgQEAGpIDyT0IVcsAAAAASUVORK5CYII=); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">NGO Advisory Council, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Fair_Labor_Association" title="Fair Labor Association" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Fair Labor Association</a></li></ul><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); font-size: 19px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Contact_Information">Contact Information</span></h2><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">1620 I Street, N.W., Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
phone: 202-387-6121
Website: <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.consumerfed.org/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">http://www.consumerfed.org/</a>
Facebook page: <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Consumer-Federation-of-America/95864855975?ref=share/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Consumer-Federation-of-America/95864855975?ref=share/</a></p><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); font-size: 19px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Articles_and_Resources">Articles and Resources</span></h2><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; font-size: 17px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Related_SourceWatch_articles">Related SourceWatch articles</span></h3><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANAQMAAABb8jbLAAAABlBMVEX///8AUow5QSOjAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAABNJREFUCB1jYEABBQw/wLCAgQEAGpIDyT0IVcsAAAAASUVORK5CYII=); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/David_A.Swankin" title="David A. Swankin" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">David A. Swankin</a></li></ul><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; font-size: 17px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span></h3><ol class="references" style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 3.2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li id="cite_note-About-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">↑ <sup style="line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#cite_ref-About_1-0" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style="top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up to:</span>1.0</a></sup> <sup style="line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumer_Federation_of_America#cite_ref-About_1-1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">1.1</a></sup></span> <span class="reference-text">Consumer Federation of America, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.consumerfed.org/about.cfm" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"About CFA"</a>, Consumer Federation of America website, accessed April 2009.</span></li></ol><h3 style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; font-size: 17px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span class="mw-headline" id="External_links">External links</span></h3><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANAQMAAABb8jbLAAAABlBMVEX///8AUow5QSOjAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAABNJREFUCB1jYEABBQw/wLCAgQEAGpIDyT0IVcsAAAAASUVORK5CYII=); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2000Q2/foreman.html" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Will CFA Save GM Foods?</a>", <i>PR Watch</i>, volume 7, number 2, Second Quarter 2000.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Eric D. Gerst, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://books.google.com/books?id=MMC84x7ek7YC&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=Robert+Hunter,+Consumer+Federation+of+America&source=bl&ots=oM81JZyTKy&sig=HeKXKYB4ktTVYIulBEhknu1TGG0&hl=en&ei=v-P0Sai5EImjtgfy4em1Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPA103,M1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;"><i>Vulture Culture: Dirty Deals, Unpaid Claims, and the Coming Collapse of the Insurance Industry</i></a>, AMACOM Div American Management Association, 2008.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Special:BookSources/0814400264" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">ISBN 0814400264</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Special:BookSources/9780814400265" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">ISBN 9780814400265</a> (An excerpt of this book, available via Google Books, refers to some of CFA's work.)</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ConsumerFederation" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">CFA on Youtube</a></li></ul></div><div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 5px; margin-top: 1em; clear: both; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249);"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Categories</a>: <ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style: none none; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><li style="margin: 0.125em 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: 1.25em; border-left-style: none; padding: 0px 0.5em 0px 0.25em; zoom: 1;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:Non-Government_Organizations" title="Category:Non-Government Organizations" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Non-Government Organizations</a></li><li style="margin: 0.125em 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: 1.25em; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0px 0.5em; zoom: 1;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:United_States" title="Category:United States" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">United States</a></li><li style="margin: 0.125em 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: 1.25em; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0px 0.5em; zoom: 1;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:Genetic_engineering" title="Category:Genetic engineering" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Genetic engineering</a></li><li style="margin: 0.125em 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: 1.25em; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0px 0.5em; zoom: 1;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:Food" title="Category:Food" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Food</a></li></ul></div></div></div><div></div>