Insurance

Prop 33: Car Insurance Changes Defeated

November 7, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>SACRAMENTO</strong> -- Voters rejected <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/propositions/">Proposition</a> 33, a measure that would have allowed car insurers to offer discounts to drivers who maintain continuous coverage and raise rates on those who do not have a consistent history of coverage.</p>

Prop. 33 Fight Over Auto Insurance Pricing Ends In Defeat

November 7, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SACRAMENTO — A Los Angeles insurance executive's drive to boost his company's fortunes by seeking authority to offer a new auto coverage discount got trounced by voters.</p> <p>Proposition 33, bankrolled by Mercury General Corp. Chairman George Joseph, lost with 45.4% of the vote to opposition of 54.6% with all California precincts reporting.</p> <p>The measure would have allowed insurers such as Mercury to give low-risk drivers a new discount when they switch companies.</p>

Please Vote No On Prop 33 Today

November 6, 2012  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2515" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/stopprop33.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="550" height="550" />For the last 25 years, I've worked day and night to keep insurance rates low here in California. That's why I'm <strong>OPPOSED to PROP 33</strong>, the Mercury Insurance Company Initiative…and I need your help to get the word out.<br /> <br />

Proposition 33 Auto Insurance Changes: George Joseph’s Record Under Fire

November 5, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The guy behind Proposition 33, insurance magnate George Joseph, has spent nearly $17 million to fight for the right to extend discounts to drivers who've had five years of uninterrupted coverage, even if that coverage has come from more than one company.</p> <p>Joseph has said that he's pushing the measure because he believes it would lead to more competition -- which would be good for consumers. But critics say the self-made billionaire has profit on his mind, and that such "discounts" are a sneaky way to ensure rates will rise for young, and poor, drivers.</p>

Prop. 33 Likely To Produce More, Not Fewer, Uninsured Drivers

November 5, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The campaign in favor of Proposition 33 has been so consistently misleading, it's almost pointless to keep criticizing the measure's supporters for warping the facts. Nevertheless, an advertisement Monday in favor of the measure makes a point that bears rebutting before voters head to the polls.</p>

Mercury General Chairman Gives Nearly 17M To Prop. 33

November 5, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>It might not get the attention of some of the other propositions, but Proposition 33 is attracting some big money, at least on one side and from one person. <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Prop-33-restarts-auto-insurance-debate-3852190.php" target="_top" rel="noopener">The measure would allow</a> car insurers to give discounts to drivers who have maintained continuous coverage and to charge more to drivers without such an insurance history.</p>

A Letter to the President Can Matter: Ours Changed Hyundai’s MPG Claims And Evened the Playing Field For US Carmakers

November 3, 2012  ·  Jamie Court

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2466" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jamiepic-new1.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 226px; float: right;" width="133" height="200" />If you doubt that writing the White House can make a difference, just look at <strong><a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/ltrwhitehousempg011212_0.pdf">the letter</a></strong> my Consumer Watchdog colleague Judy Dugan and I wrote to the President in January calling for an audit of the inflated MPG claims for the Hyundai Elantra.

Welcome To Consumer Watchdog for iPhone & iPad

October 31, 2012  ·  Jamie Court

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2504" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/images_appstore-sq.png" style="width: 175px; height: 175px; float: right;" width="175" height="175" />iPhone, iPod and iPad owners <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/consumer-watchdog/id580994842?ls=1&mt=8">can now download our new App from the Apple App Store</a> and connect to Consumer Watchdog’s daily public interest fights against corrupt corporations and crooked politicians.</p> <p>Our motto is: Expose, Confront, Change.  We believe that when 70% of the public wants to change the world, it can be done.</p>

Dolores Huerta Speaks Out: California’s Proposition 33 Legalizes Insurance Discrimination

October 30, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p><i><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2502" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/images_dolores-sqa.jpg" style="width: 175px; height: 175px; float: right;" width="175" height="175" /></i>Civil rights leader Dolores Huerta issued the following statement today about California's Proposition 33 on the Nov. 6th ballot:</p> <p>"Proposition 33 would return us to an era when discrimination in insurance was commonplace. If billionaire George Joseph gets his way, millions of Californians would pay higher auto insurance premiums. Mr. Joseph owns Mercury Insurance. He has donated $16.4 million to Prop 33.</p>

Rogers vs Auto Club – Harvey Rosenfield’s Comments at Press Conference

October 29, 2012  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<h2 align="center"> Prepared Remarks of Harvey Rosenfield</h2> <h2 align="center"> News Conference</h2> <h2 align="center"> - Lawsuit Against Auto Club for Violation of Proposition 103 –</h2> <h2 align="center"> Santa Monica, California</h2> <h2 align="center"> October 25, 2012</h2> <p> </p>

Op-Ed – Jamie Court: No On Prop. 33

October 29, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/insurance-376024-prop-one.html">Click here to view the original Op-Ed commentary</a>.</p> <p>Answer just one question, and you'll know how you should vote on Proposition 33: Should you pay more for your car insurance if you stopped driving for a time because you couldn't afford a car, didn't own one or lived for awhile in a city where you didn't need one?</p> <p>The insurance billionaire behind Prop 33 has spent $16 million to trick you into answering yes. Don't be fooled.</p>

California Propositions: Prop. 33

October 26, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://blogs.kcrw.com/whichwayla/2012/10/prop-33/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment</a>.</p> <p>If Proposition 33 sounds familiar, it should. The measure is almost identical to a statewide proposition that was narrowly defeated two years ago. And just as in 2010, the Yes campaign is funded almost entirely by George Joseph, the founder and chairman of Mercury Insurance.</p>