“Early state action can prevent a local problem from becoming a national one,” AGs tell Congress

 OLYMPIA -- Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna is leading a group of 40 state attorneys general in urging Congress to uphold the role of the states in enforcing consumer protection laws.

SEATTLE – The Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office today recommended that the state Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) not approve the sale of Verizon Northwest’s local and long distance telephone services in Washington to Frontier Communications because the transaction, as proposed, is not in the public interest.

OLYMPIA—Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today that his Medicaid Fraud Unit participated in a settlement agreement that has generated a substantial payout from four drug companies accused of gaming a government health care program.

By Rob McKenna and Eléna Perez

Teresa* was a teenager when her father applied for petitions to bring his children from Mexico to the U.S. Her father filed the papers with assistance from Juan*, a man who had helped prepare his taxes, said he was a notary public and provided immigration services.

A few years later, Teresa entered the U.S. illegally. Then last year, Juan advised Teresa and her siblings to waste no time in filing applications for green cards. Teresa, now in her 30’s, paid Juan more than $350 to help her fill out new paperwork.

Attorneys general negotiate settlement to partially erase student loan debt

SEATTLE – A year after Silver State Helicopters declared bankruptcy – leaving its former students with sky-high loan debt  – a group of attorneys general has handed over a golden parachute.

“We can finally see the silver lining for Silver State Helicopters students who were left in the lurch,” Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna said.

Washington Attorney General sues two more businesses as part of industry crackdown

VANCOUVER, Wash. –The Attorney General’s announced today that it is suing RGH Marketing, Inc., and the general manager of Interstate Auto Liquidators, as part of an ongoing crackdown on deceptive practices by some dealers and marketers.

“Deceptive advertising by some auto dealers and marketers has accelerated in the down economy,” Attorney General Rob McKenna said.

McKenna said that’s unfair for auto businesses that are playing by the rules and for consumers.

Pageant competitor returns home to advocate new protections for victims of chronic batterers

SEATTLE – She was crowned Miss Washington in 2007. A year later, the young woman from Wapato, Wash., placed third in the 2008 Miss America Pageant. Yet, Elyse Umemoto felt defeated.

That’s because, like tens of thousands of Washington residents every year, Elyse’s successes were marred by a recent episode of domestic violence.

OLYMPIA… The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today reversed and granted an immediate stay of a lower court’s preliminary injunction blocking the release of Referendum 71 petitions containing the names and addresses of those who signed the measure.

Illegal sales practices are widespread in the industry

SEATTLE – Window sellers need to be transparent in their marketing. Roofers need to stay on top of the law. And home siding installers shouldn’t sidle up to consumers with inappropriately high-pressure sales pitches.

OLYMPIA…Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced Sharyl Kammerzell as the new Division Chief of the Washington State University Division of the Attorney General’s Office.

Kammerzell, who will assume her new role on Nov.16, has served as Senior Associate General Counsel in the Office of General Counsel at the University of Idaho since 2002.