Prop. 103 has saved consumers

Re “Are insurance rates better under Prop. 103?” (Insight, Jan. 13): The article about consumer rate challenges under Proposition 103 misleads the public about where its critique comes from.

William Gausewitz is quoted as a source. Gausewitz lobbied for the insurance industry, and after leaving his job as a regulator, represented insurers as an attorney. Another source is R Street, which the story identifies as a right-leaning think tank. It does not mention that insurance industry executives from State Farm and RenaissanceRe sit on the group’s board of directors.

Not coincidentally, State Farm is trying to overturn $256 million in homeowner rate savings and refunds ordered by Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. Consumer Watchdog and Consumer Federation of California represented consumers in that proceeding, through the public participation process the insurance industry so despises.

California is the only state in the nation where auto insurance prices actually went down during the 25 years after voters approved Proposition 103. And while many states require prior approval of auto insurance rates, California is the only one that has a funded public participation process. Readers can do the math.