“Today, young people are not eligible for the same discount as their parents,” said Rachel Hooper, spokeswoman for the Yes on Prop 33 campaign.

This initiative is supported by the leading consumer group The Greenlining Institute and public safety organizations.

“The goal when writing this initiative was to be inclusive – to make it easier for more Californians to have mandatory car insurance, and to reward those being responsible with a new discount. It is a huge benefit that college students and adult children living at home will receive the same discount available to their parents,” said Hooper.

Proposition 33 allows drivers to switch insurance companies and keep their continuous coverage discount. This gives the consumer control and forces insurance companies to compete harder, lowering prices and insuring more Californians. Children living with their parents, or returning home from college or elsewhere, also would be able to receive this same discount available to their parents.

“These provisions protect the continuous coverage history of those who suffered from the economic downturn and young drivers on the cusp of leaving home,” said Hooper.

In addition to college students and families, Prop 33 has attracted a wide range of other support, including California law enforcement, firefighters, major veterans’ groups, leaders of both political parties, ethnic organizations and chambers of commerce. Supporters are drawn to the fact that Prop 33:

• Lowers auto insurance rates
• Means more insured drivers and safer streets.
• Restores consumer choice.
• Preserves state regulatory oversight of rates.
• Protects military personnel and others whose policies have lapsed due to unemployment, illness or other factors.

When California had a law similar to Proposition 33 from 1996-2002, the number of uninsured motorists dropped by almost half.

“Californians deserve a reward for being responsible and purchasing car insurance,” said Hooper. “Proposition 33 lets them shop around their discount for a better deal and lower rates.”

Proposition 33 also makes sense for veterans and other individuals who once had insurance, but were forced to let it lapse for a range of personal reasons. In contrast to the present system, many more people will be protected under Proposition 33, including: people who have been laid off or furloughed for up to 18 months and those who need a break in payment for 90 days for any reason.

For many reasons, Prop 33 has attracted a wide range of other support, including from California highway patrol officers, firefighters, major veterans’ groups, leaders from both parties, ethnic organizations, chambers of commerce and consumer groups:

• Prop. 33 means more insured drivers and safer streets.
• Prop. 33 preserves regulatory oversight of rates.
• Prop. 33 restores consumer choice.
• Prop. 33 protects people whose policies have lapsed due to unemployment, illness or other factors.
• Prop 33 helps Californians in the military.

“By voting yes on Proposition 33, Californians will be demonstrating not just a commitment to all consumers, but especially the needs of those college students who are trying to balance the costs that come with higher education,” said Hooper.

Read Proposition 33 at www.YESProp33.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/yesprop33 and on Twitter @yesprop33.

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“Simply put, Proposition 33 is good policy that will lead to lower rates by encouraging more competition among insurance carriers in California,” according to the highly respected consumer group, the Greenlining Institute, which endorses YesProp33.

Lower rates help California families.

“In this tough economy, every penny counts for family budgets,” said Rachel Hooper, spokeswoman for the Yes On Prop 33 Campaign. “Prop 33 will save our families hundreds of dollars by allowing us to keep our existing car insurance discount when we shop around for a better deal. Right now, insurance companies own that discount.”

“And, if you have driving age children living at home, Prop 33 will also save you money. It allows your young drivers the same discount available to their parents,” continued Hooper.

Prop 33 also includes provisions that protect the continuous coverage history of those who suffered from the economic downturn. If you are unemployed for up to 18 months, you are protected and get to keep your discount.

Proposition 33 allows drivers to switch insurance companies and keep their continuous coverage discount. This gives the consumer control and allows them to shop their discount with any company they choose, forcing insurance companies to compete harder, lowering prices and insuring more Californians.

“Women, especially moms, are supporting Prop 33 because their families will benefit through lower rates stemming from greater competition within the auto insurance industry,” said Hooper.

In addition to female California consumers, Prop 33 has attracted a wide range of other support, including from California law enforcement, firefighters, major veterans’ groups, leaders of both political parties, ethnic organizations and Chambers of Commerce. Supporters are drawn to the fact that Prop 33:

• Lowers auto insurance rates
• Means more insured drivers and safer streets
• Restores consumer choice
• Preserves state regulatory oversight of rates
• Protects military personnel and others whose policies have lapsed due to unemployment, illness or other factors

When insurance companies used a discount, California had a law similar to Proposition 33 from 1996-2002, the number of uninsured motorists dropped by almost half.

“California women and all consumers deserve a reward for being responsible and purchasing car insurance,” said Hooper. “Proposition 33 lets them shop around their discount for a better deal.”

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 SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Greenlining Institute – one of California’s most reputable consumer groups – is urging Yes on Prop 33. Prop 33 lowers rates and makes auto insurance more accessible to the state’s Latinos, African Americans, Asians and other ethnic communities.

“Simply put, Proposition 33 is good policy that will lead to lower rates by encouraging more competition among insurance carriers in California,” said Samuel Kang, consumer advocate and General Counsel for the Greenlining Institute.

“Proposition 33 creates more competition between insurance companies and will ultimately make car insurance more affordable,” Kang added. “Proposition 33 creates a more vibrant market for auto insurance by empowering California’s consumers to shop for the best deal.”

Proposition 33 allows drivers to switch insurance companies and keep their continuous coverage discount. This gives the consumer control and allows them to shop their discount with any company they choose, forcing insurance companies to compete harder, lowering prices and insuring more Californians.

For many reasons, Prop 33 has attracted a wide range of other support, including from California law enforcement, firefighters, major veterans’ groups, leaders of both political parties, ethnic organizations and chambers of commerce. Supporters are drawn to the fact that Prop 33:

• Lowers auto insurance rates.
• Means more insured drivers and safer streets.
• Restores consumer choice.
• Preserves state regulatory oversight of rates.
• Protects military personnel and others whose policies have lapsed due to unemployment, illness or other factors.

When California had a law similar to Proposition 33 from 1996-2002, the number of uninsured motorists dropped by almost half.

“California consumers deserve a reward for being responsible and purchasing car insurance,” said Rachel Hooper, spokeswoman for the Yes on Prop 33 campaign. “Proposition 33 lets you shop your discount for a better deal.”

Read Proposition 33 at www.YESProp33.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/yesprop33 and on Twitter @yesprop33

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WHEN:     Tuesday, October 30, 202 – 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:  VFW Post 2111 (2nd largest post in CA)

299 I Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910-5622

WHO:

• Pete Conaty, Veterans Advocate
• Lorraine Plass, AMVETS Legislative
• Chair Stephen Arends, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired)
• Walt Hamilton, Past VFW State Commander
• Numerous San Diego veterans groups

NEWS: 

STATE & SAN DIEGO VETS RALLY FOR PROP 33

• Vets helped draft state ballot initiative so that California-based armed forces will receive protection they get in 48 other states
• Prop. 33 directly benefits men and women in uniform
• Measure protects auto discounts for military personnel on base and during their deployment

MEDIA CONTACTS: 

Kim Merrill, YesProp33, (619) 857-2782
Rachel Hooper, YesProp33, (916) 448-3444 or (916) 708-1868
For more information, please visit: http://www.YesProp33.com/

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This is the same group of white corporate lawyers who were told early in the campaign by Sam Kang, of the Greenlining Institute, that people of color are able to speak for themselves and don’t need the rich, white, lawyers of Consumer Watchdog speaking for them.

The San Bernardino article (below) reveals the noxious behavior of Jamie Court, the paid spokesperson of Consumer Watchdog, who told a spokesperson for Proposition 33 that her view of the initiative should be different because of who her husband is – an African-American man.

Proposition 33 is about allowing a discount for car insurance.

Under the present system, people buying insurance, or who have had their insurance lapse, do not get a persistency discount that those who have kept insurance are allowed in California.

Proposition 33 has added safety nets:

• Active military personnel keep their discount
• Individuals who have been furloughed or are unemployed for 18 months keep their discount
• Lapse for any reason for 90 days, and you are covered
• Even if you have not had car insurance for five years, Prop 33 gives you a proportional discount for the number of years you have had car insurance

Between 1996 – 2002, when the portable persistency discount was allowed, the cost of insurance dropped and the number of uninsured motorists was cut in half.

The initiative is endorsed by leaders of both parties, including former Republican leader Jim Brulte, former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, and  former Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante.

It is nasty, wrong, and close to unforgiveable that the profiteering lawyers of Consumer Watchdog would resort to such tactics.

Vote Yes on Prop 33. Vote Yes on Prop 33. Vote Yes on Prop 33. Vote Yes on Prop 33. Vote Yes on Prop 33. Vote Yes on Prop 33.

Read Proposition 33 at www.YESProp33.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/yesprop33 and on Twitter @yesprop33

Race wrongfully injected into Prop. 33 campaign

By Hardy Brown

I couldn’t believe my ears.

As happens frequently, a fellow black newspaper publisher called me recently to discuss the latest racial outrage in the area they cover. In this case, it concerned a debate on a Bay Area radio station over Proposition 33 – a ballot initiative that aims to enact reasonable auto insurance reform for California drivers. If approved by voters, it would enable motorists to keep the “continuous coverage” discounts offered by most companies, even if they decide to switch insurers.

While boorishly presuming to speak for people of color during the debate, Consumer Watchdog president Jamie Court saw fit to inject race as an issue – specifically in attacking Prop. 33 advocate Rachel Hooper, who is white and whose husband happens to be African-American. In a heated moment, he expressed surprise that Hooper would dare take a position contrary to his own, “particularly given who your husband is.”

At best, he was implying that because she is married to an African-American man, she should be expected to think and act in a certain way on a basic kitchen-table economic matter. At worst, he was making some of the very worst kind of presumptions about Ms. Hooper’s husband, based solely on his skin color. Either one of those motives would be highly offensive. And both ignore the reality of how all people – not just those of us who are black – live our everyday lives.

Today, state insurance laws allow drivers to qualify for continuous coverage cost reductions, which take many years to establish, only if they choose to remain with a single insurance company. If they take their business down the street, for any reason, that discount evaporates. This forces drivers to start over and re-earn the continuous coverage discount with a new insurer.

How fair is that?

In California, mobile phones are one of the few items as ubiquitous as automobiles. We take it for granted now, but imagine a marketplace in which cell phone numbers belonged not to customers, but were instead the property of service providers. At worst, that setup would create chaos in everyday communications; at its most basic, such an arrangement would tilt the commercial advantage overwhelmingly against consumers – effectively binding us forever to a single company, just for the right to maintain a fundamental convenience. Why should motorists have to settle for such a lopsided relationship with insurers, especially given the fact that the law compels us to purchase their product?

Aside from the plain fact that the existing law is unfair to all consumers, there is also the matter of how the single-minded forces opposed to the measure have portrayed it, with no evidence, as an assault on low-income motorists.

The truth is that if voters pass Prop. 33 on Nov. 6, motorists of color – who, in California, are most likely to experience economic challenges – are likely to see the most direct and immediate benefits. Among the provisions in the proposed law: allowing unemployed motorists to maintain the continuous coverage discount for up to 18 months following a layoff or furlough.

With insurance companies continuing to use ZIP codes as a primary factor in calculating costs – and in light of reliable data showing that California motorists in predominately black and poor neighborhoods still receive the least favorable rates – the ability to shop around for more affordable coverage is all-the-more important for African-Americans. In a state where car ownership is just short of a birthright, it stands to reason that the potential savings could prove essential to a community that, by all indications, has been hit hardest during this protracted economic downturn.

As a businessman, I know that increased competition creates advantageous dynamics for consumers. For black voters, there is no question that a “YES” vote on Prop. 33 would help create a marketplace with more many more opportunities to find affordable insurance coverage.

Hardy Brown is the publisher emeritus of the Black Voice News in Riverside and the founder of California Black Media, a statewide advocacy group of African-American publishers that look at statewide issues.

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The latest endorsements for the initiative to lower auto rates and promote greater competition come from Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, which join dozens of groups and their members in supporting Prop 33.

“These two chambers reflect that businesses large and small and north and south understand the many benefits of Prop 33,” said Rachel Hooper, spokeswoman for the Yes On Prop 33 campaign.

Proposition 33 allows drivers to switch insurance companies and keep their continuous coverage discount. This gives the consumer control and allows them to shop their discount with any company they choose, forcing insurance companies to compete harder, lowering prices and insuring more Californians.

Businesses are supporting Prop 33 because they benefit by lower rates stemming from greater competition within the auto insurance industry, said Hooper.

Proposition 33 also makes sense for veterans and other individuals who once had insurance, but were forced to let it lapse for a range of personal reasons. In contrast to the present system, many more people will be protected under Proposition 33, including: people who have been laid off or furloughed for up to 18 months, those who need a break in payment for 90 days for any reason, and even children living with their parents will receive the same discount available to their parents.

For many reasons, Prop 33 has attracted a wide range of other support, including from California highway patrol officers, firefighters, major veterans’ groups, leaders from both parties, ethnic organizations, chambers of commerce and consumer groups:
• Prop. 33 means more insured drivers and safer streets.
• Prop. 33 preserves regulatory oversight of rates.
• Prop. 33 restores consumer choice.
• Prop. 33 protects people whose policies have lapsed due to unemployment, illness or other factors.
• Prop 33 helps Californians in the military.

“Once voters look at the Prop 33 for themselves, they’ll understand these benefits,” said Hooper. “Everyone agrees that drivers who maintain their auto insurance should be rewarded with a discount even if they switch insurance companies.”

Read Proposition 33 at www.YESProp33.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/yesprop33 and on Twitter @yesprop33

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View more videos at: http://nbclosangeles.com.

News Conference With Conan Nolan, Rachel Hooper, Jamie Court

CONAN NOLAN: Welcome back to News Conference. If you drive a car, Proposition 33 will matter on your ballot. Here’s a look at what it says. It changes current law to allow insurance companies to set prices based on whether the driver previously carried auto insurance with any insurance company. It allows proportional discount for drivers with some prior coverage. It allows increased costs for drivers without a history of continuous coverage. Rachel Hooper is spokesperson for Yes on Prop 33, Jamie Court, No on Prop 33, he’s also president of Consumer Watchdog. Rachel, you start.

RACHEL HOOPER: Thanks. Prop 33 is good for California consumers and will save you money every month. Prop 33 allows consumers to switch insurance companies, and keep their continuous coverage discount. In turn, it additionally has consumer protections that aren’t under current law. Right now in California, if you maintain a history of having car insurance, you’re responsible, you get a discount. But only with your current insurance carrier. We don’t think that’s fair. We think there should be more competition in the marketplace. And you should be able to switch insurance companies and keep that discount when you go there. And it’s not just us that think it’s a good idea. USAA Insurance, The American Legion, VFW, all these different military groups also support it because of the extended protections, consumer protections, that Prop 33 gives to consumers.

CONAN NOLAN: So this is about insurance companies being allowed to go pilfer other clients from other insurance companies, essentially? Marketing to them…

RACHEL HOOPER: That’s right, to compete. Absolutely. And competition is good for consumers. It lowers prices, it’s a good idea.

CONAN NOLAN: Jamie?

JAMIE COURT: Well, I mean, I think it’s hooey. Consumer’s Union, the public non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports opposes this, Consumer Watchdog, every legitimate consumer group. What voters need to know is that this was put on the ballot by one insurance company executive, the head of Mercury Insurance, who spent 16 million dollars, 99.5% of the money behind Prop 33 comes from one insurance billionaire who is trying to repeal a ban established by voters 24 years ago. He had a ballot measure to do this two years ago, and he lost, and what the ban says is, you can’t charge people more or less for auto insurance coverage based on whether or not they had insurance previously. Because some people didn’t drive previously, they shouldn’t be penalized with a surcharge if they didn’t drive. Some people take time off and go work at our embassies abroad, and they come back and they need a car, they would be paying about 40% more under Prop 33. Good drivers shouldn’t be charged more because they stopped driving and Prop 33 would do that. This is about one insurance company’s billionaire’s marketing strategy. And that’s why the ads you hear running all across the state, they sound too good to be true. And they are. If you look at who is behind the initiative, one insurance company billionaire, and who opposes it, every consumer group that has been fighting to lower insurance rates in the state for the last 24 years, you’ll see that this is a balance of power issue. Whether we give an insurance company a tool to charge more to certain kinds of drivers they don’t want to insure, or whether we’re going to stick with the fourth most competitive auto insurance market in the nation that we have now and not create barriers to people coming in the market, who are previously uninsured, who followed the law, who are good drivers, who do nothing wrong and shouldn’t be penalized.

RACHEL HOOPER: It’s just not true. Good drivers are not penalized in any case and it’s unfortunate that Consumer Watchdog continues to use this hyperbole and these misleading statistics to scare consumers. Prop 33 is about competition and lowering prices for car insurance for responsible drivers. Right now, under current California law, if you lapse your car insurance, for one day, for any reason, you lose your continuous coverage discount. See ya. You don’t have it any longer, and we don’t think that’s fair. There are these consumer protections under Prop 33, if you are active military, you automatically qualify, you get the discount. If you’re unemployed or furloughed for up to 18 months, you get the discount. Right now, if you’re unemployed or furloughed there are no protections for you. For 90 days, for any reason, you lapse your payment, you have this safety net under Prop 33. It’s a good idea.

JAMIE COURT: If I lied, I wouldn’t be a consumer advocate in this state for the last two decades. The only thing we have is the truth. If the non-profit publisher Consumer Reports lied, they wouldn’t be. The fact is this, if you don’t have insurance, previously, because you didn’t drive, you will pay more under this initiative.

RACHEL HOOPER: Under current law you pay more.

JAMIE COURT: No you don’t.

RACHEL HOOPER: You absolutely do.

JAMIE COURT: You don’t. Under current law there is absolutely no penalty because there is a ban on whether you are rated in insurance based on whether or not you had insurance previously. The reason Mercury Insurance put this on the ballot is that they have been caught by the Department of Insurance illegally using this rating factor. And when they were using it, we went on the website for Mercury Insurance and we put a quote in and it said we were previously uninsured because we previously did not drive. We took the quote and it was 40% higher than the same quote when we did the same characteristics from not driving. Sowe know this is going to be used to charge certain people more money on their auto insurance and that’s why this executive is behind it.

CONAN NOLAN: You’re opposed to the idea, that in order to give some people a break, you’re probably going to have to charge other people more.

JAMIE COURT: Well, I don’t trust this company to give anyone a break. I don’t trust insurance companies to use this factor in any other way than discriminating people…

CONAN NOLAN: But they’ll make the argument that competition in the marketplace has worked before.

RACHEL HOOPER: That’s right.

JAMIE COURT: Well, if we have more uninsured drivers, because people are previously uninsured, because they didn’t drive, like the people who are now under amnesty, are now going to get driver’s licenses, can’t afford insurance, because it’s 40% higher for them when they get a quote. Those people are locked out of the market. Our uninsured motorist premiums are going to go up. We’re all going to be at greater risk of being hit by an uninsured motorist. This doesn’t help anyone. It is a self-serving and deceptive campaign to say “Hey, you followed the law, we’re going to give you a break on your auto insurance” when in it doesn’t do that.

RACHEL HOOPER: And it just not true, and I’m sorry Conan, just to correct something really fast, when this portable persistency was used in the state of California, from 1996 to 2002, according to the Department of Insurance’s website, the number of uninsured motorists dropped in half, and we think that’s astounding. Again, it’s just about competition. Let’s go back to allowing consumers a discount on car insurance.

JAMIE COURT: There was a ban on this for 24 years, enacted by voters. It was used when Mercury Insurance violated the law. Rates were 40% higher and now we’re looking at an initiative to repeat this by the same company that got caught by regulators in a court of law violating this…

CONAN NOLAN: Respond to the idea that if this was such a good idea, why wouldn’t you have backers from throughout the industry instead of just one?

RACHEL HOOPER: I think that some insurance companies are going to like this and some aren’t because it is going to open the market up for more competition. And I think that some companies are afraid of competition and they don’t want to come out publically and support this thing. But really, it is all about competition, and giving consumers control of their discount. I’ve been responsible, I’ve maintained car insurance, I should be able to shop that discount to the insurance carrier I choose.

CONAN NOLAN: You have the last word we have 30 seconds.

JAMIE COURT: There’s no shopping of discounts, this is just garbage. If you look at the Consumer’s Union and the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports that signed the ballot argument and read what they say, because what they say is this: this is about redlining, this is about a tool, for one insurance company to do what they’ve been doing for 20 years, not wanting to insure certain types of people, people who are young, people who haven’t had insurance previously, we don’t want to give power to one insurance executive to do that.

CONAN NOLAN: Very quickly though, the argument is that if someone pays their insurance, and they have insurance consistently, shouldn’t they be given a break as a result of that? And should it matter what company they’re insured by?

RACHEL HOOPER: Absolutely.

JAMIE COURT: They’re given a break for being a good driver, they’re given a break for driving less miles…

CONAN NOLAN: What if an insurance company says: “I’ll give you a better break”?

RACHEL HOOPER: Right…

JAMIE COURT: Well, they can legally give you a better break for having more years of experience. Or they can give you a better break for you driving less or because you have a good driving discount. But they shouldn’t be able to charge people more who haven’t driven previously because they did nothing wrong and didn’t carry insurance.

CONAN NOLAN: Answer that in one line and then we gotta go.

RACHEL HOOPER: Absolutely not. But again, look at who’s supporting this, we have USAA, we have American Veterans, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, PORAC, all the peace officers in the state, CDF Firefighters, I mean it’s a good idea, it’s going to lower your rates.

CONAN NOLAN: We’ve got both sides with both groups behind it. The no side and the yes side. Rachel Hooper, thank you very much. Jamie Court, always a pleasure to have you on.

Proposition 33 allows drivers to switch insurance companies and keep their continuous coverage discount. This gives the consumer control and allows them to shop their discount with any company they choose, forcing insurance companies to compete harder, lowering prices and insuring more Californians.

“When California had a law similar to Proposition 33 from 1996-2002, the number of uninsured motorists dropped by almost half. This is why a wide range of law enforcement organizations, including the California Association of Highway Patrolmen and CDF Firefighters are endorsing the initiative,” said Rachel Hooper, spokeswoman for the Yes on Prop 33 campaign.

Proposition 33 also makes sense for veterans and other individuals who once had insurance, but were forced to let it lapse for a range of personal reasons. In contrast to the present system, many more people will be protected under Proposition 33, including: people who have been laid off or furloughed for up to 18 months, those who need a break in payment for 90 days for any reason, and even children living with their parents will receive the same discount available to their parents.

For many reasons, Prop 33 has attracted a wide range of other support, including from California highway patrol officers, firefighters, major veterans’ groups, leaders from both parties, ethnic organizations, chambers of commerce and consumer organizations. Supporters are drawn to the fact that Prop 33:

• Means more insured drivers and safer streets.
• Preserves regulatory oversight of rates.
• Restores consumer choice.
• Protects people whose policies have lapsed due to unemployment, illness or other factors.
• Helps Californians in the military.

“California consumers deserve a reward for being responsible and purchasing car insurance,” said Hooper. “Proposition 33 lets you shop your discount for a better deal.”

Read Proposition 33 at www.YESProp33.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/yesprop33 and on Twitter @yesprop33

“Not only are voters being barraged with election information, a lot of it is inaccurate,” said Rachel Hooper, spokeswoman for the Yes On Prop 33 campaign. “Listing the benefits of Prop 33 is intended to provide voters with an easy way to understand the measure and why they should vote for it.”

Proposition 33 has attracted a wide range of other support, including from California highway patrol officers, firefighters, major veterans’ groups, leaders from both parties, ethnic organizations, chambers of commerce and consumer groups.

Proposition 33 would:

1.     Lower rates: It will lower your auto rates if you are insured because it promotes competition by freeing you to shop around and take your “persistency discount” with you to a new insurer of choice.

2.     Insure more California drivers: By making car insurance more affordable.

3.     Promote safer streets: When California had a law similar to Proposition 33 from 1996-2002, the number of uninsured motorists dropped by almost half.

4.     Reward Californians for following the law: The 85% of California drivers who follow the law and have insurance will be able to shop their discounts for a better deal.

5.     Protect people whose policies have lapsed due to unemployment, illness or other factors: Those on hard times can miss a payment for 90 days for any reason and keep the discount.

6.     Help Californians in the military: It extends the continuous coverage discount to all active military, rewarding the heroes while they are spending their lives doing their part for our country at home or overseas.

7.     Preserve regulatory oversight over auto insurance rates: While some insurance companies may raise rates, those rate increases would be minimal and likely impact a sliver of the population.

8.     Benefit women, families and heads of households: Lower rates will help families make ends meet and help offset higher gas prices.

9.     Benefit two types of people; those who currently have insurance and those who don’t: If you have insurance you can either stay with your own insurance company or you can take the discount that you would now control to shop for a better deal. If you don’t have insurance—and this includes individuals who have lapsed a single day, you have greater options including a proportionality discount for history.

10.  Create new protections for customers by offering a proportional discount: If you miss payment for a year, Proposition 33 allows a proportional discount for each full year that you were insured.

“Proposition 33 is just over a page long, and is easy to understand,” said Hooper. “ We encourage all Californians to read it.”

Read Proposition 33 at www.YESProp33.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/yesprop33 and on Twitter @yesprop33

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This morning Sacramento Court Judge Timothy Frawley denied Consumer Watchdog’s request to be paid by the Yes on Prop 33 campaign for a lawsuit initiated and lost by Consumer Watchdog itself, officials said.

“Consumer Watchdog has no shame,” said Rachel Hooper, spokeswomen for the Yes on Prop 33 Campaign. “They file a lawsuit. Lose the lawsuit. Then expect someone else to pay them $650 an hour. Unfortunately, they are too fixated on money to care about consumers.”

“Let’s step away from the hyperbole and focus on the policy. Prop 33 is good for California consumers,” continued Hooper.

Prop 33 will lower rates, makes streets safer and protect veterans, unemployed and others whose policies lapse. Supporters include the Greenlining Institute, consumer groups, law enforcement officers, firefighters and veterans groups.

She noted that a state senator is calling for an investigation into Consumer Watchdog’s apparent monopoly as an insurance industry intervener.

Read Proposition 33 at www.YESProp33.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/yesprop33 and on Twitter @yesprop33.

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