Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna issued the following statement today:

OLYMPIA — As shoppers prepare to head to big-box stores and shopping malls on Black Friday, Attorney General Rob McKenna today offered money-saving tips for holiday shoppers.

“You’ll have yourself a merrier little Christmas if you don’t wait on rebates, read the fine print on return policies, and follow a few other common-sense suggestions,” McKenna said.

McKenna says current disclosures aren’t sufficient to protect consumers

OLYMPIA -- Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna took a leading role in encouraging Congress to get tough on companies that engage in deceptive online sales tactics. McKenna was the only attorney general to testify in connection with Tuesday’s hearing by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

SEATTLE – The Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office today challenged electric and gas rate increases proposed by Puget Sound Energy (PSE).

If granted in full, PSE’s request will generate an additional $183 million in revenues. Simon ffitch, chief of the Public Counsel Section, which represents residential and small business customers in utility rate cases, called the request excessive and unsupported.

Internet phone company to refund customers who complained about unauthorized charges

OLYMPIA – Attorneys general in 32 states are calling on Vonage to change its marketing practices. The company, one of the nation’s largest providers of Internet-based phone service, will refund eligible customers and pay $3 million to the states to resolve concerns about its billing and cancellation policies.

 Applauds federal inquiry into boozy, caffeinated concoctions 
 

Care providers in Spokane, Okanogan charged with cheating public health program

SPOKANE — Assistant Attorney General Dannette Allen and a team of investigators and support staff spend their days combing through bank records, computer records, sworn statements and tips from whistleblowers. Their goal: To find those fraudulently using the state’s Medicaid program as an income source.  

Ruling reverses lower court’s decision regarding funding formulas

OLYMPIA -- The Washington Supreme Court today unanimously ruled that variations on the way teachers and school staff are paid across districts does not violate Washington’s Constitution.

“The Supreme Court upheld the state’s formula for funding Washington school districts,” said Attorney General Rob McKenna. “Our attorneys pointed out, and the court agreed, that school funding decisions should be made by elected legislators, not litigators.”

“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.