:: :: Tuesday, Sep 7th    
 


    Hello . . . Welcome to my narrative - thanks for making it this far!

    By now, I am sure by now that you are asking yourself ... "just what kind of person has a website like this, who is this "Michael Ross" guy, and what have I gotten myself into?"

    To start, I am 53 years old, divorced, love to read, am fascinated by politics (political theory) and have collected "things" ranging from trading cards and bobbin head dolls to art and books for as long as I can remember. And with lots of dedication, a few garage sales and a little bit of luck, I have created several very interesting collections - from Beatles and bobble heads to cards, glass and modern art.

    With politics in mind, I "got involved" early - I was 9 when I started handing out campaign buttons and bumperstickers for both presidential candidates in 1968. Then, just a few years later, I walked precincts for soon to be Governor Brown (That's before I realized that I was a Republican). The areas that attracted my attention usually involve an aspect of consumer protection - from class action suits and automobile safety to labeling and tort laws.

    As a fledgling consumer advocate, I faced my first "test" as an Administrative Assistant to an elected official in the California State Legislature. Thanks to this position, I was the driving force behind the design and passage of the "The Lemon Automobile Bill", the nation's first law that allows consumers to return defective cars. Since then, in almost 30 years, I have upheld the consumer traditions that bill encapsulates, while pushing the edges of the "Consumer Protection" envelope.

    As such, I have worked for and created PACs; led the charge to get legislation passed, enacted and defeated that affects consumer rights; been in a variety of multimedia situations; run political campaigns; sponsored, created, staged and managed community meetings and publicity events (including concerts, plays, fund-raisers and speaking engagements); assisted in the placement and design of a stadium, arena, and have assisted in attracting NBA sports to our city; Published 2 workbooks and one movie script; bought and sold internet domain names and websites; consulted with presidents, governors, mayors and a variety of other elected officials ranging from U. S. Senators to local governmental officials; owned property; and met a variety of people - many of whom added to the quality of people's lives.

    On the PR side, I have been nationally published over 150 times, was the Managing Editor for a small Sacramento newspaper whose budget when I left exceeded $100,000 per year and have appeared in or on over 2,500 media situations.

    Currently, I am a registered lobbyist and Advocate for the California Alliance For Consumer Protection, an entity that lobbies on behalf of consumer protection issues in areas where consumers are not normally represented. The organization's Motto is "Competition Is The Highest Form Of Consumer Protection. Over the years we have sponsored and participated in the introduction, design, passage and defeat of legislation dealing with:
    • Labeling of products, including pet food;
    • The elimination of spyware, adware and pop-up windows,
    • the Internet, proper uses, definitions and consumer protection methods
    • Domestic Violence Funding
    • Telephone and cellular billing practices in an effort to lower phone bills in the state to the tune of $750,000,0000.
    • Not allowing replacement baseball players to play in municipally owned facilities
    • Honoring the S. F. 49ers and the Grateful Dead (for 30 years of excellence)
    • Defining the terms autographs, mint collectibles, and "collectibles dealer"
    • Eliminates tax benefits that allows sports team owners depreciate sports players and salaries
    • The use of websites and Bulletin Board Systems in the state (the prelude to privacy rights)
    • The Right-To-Die legislation
    • Pornography
    • Requiring Gubernatorial Candidates debate
    • The ability to vote for "None-Of-The-Above" on voter ballots
    • Campaign reform
    • Tax incentives and benefit programs for creating jobs
    • Restructuring of California's electricity industry.

    Over the last 30 years, the last few years, the Alliance has sponsored legislation that:
    • Prohibits the sale of repackaged trading cards as "grab bags"
    • Outlaws the sale of counterfeit and repli-cards;
    • Establishes a definition of Limited Edition Collectibles.
    • Redefines the term "unemployment"
    • A bill that lowers long distance phone bills to the tune of $750,000,0000.
    • Revised trademark provisions in state code to protect collectibles.
    • Adoption Tax Credits;
    • Smoking in Bars
    • Independent contractors
    • Convention Taxes
    • Responsible for the passage, defeat or "amendment" of over 2,000 bills, resolutions and amendments.

      In closing, I hope you will take a few minutes to review the rest of the pages that make up my "Resume of Qualifications".

      Sincerely;

      Michael Ross, JD
 
www.michaelross.net Michael Ross