Consumer group wins round on car initiative - OC Watchdog : The ...

Consumer group wins round on car initiative

August 13th, 2012, 5:00 am ? ? posted by Ronald Campbell

A judge gave consumer groups a win late last week, rejecting an effort by backers of an auto insurance initiative to rewrite the attorney general?s summary and rewrite the opponents? ballot argument.

?The insurance industry needs to understand that it cannot give voters only the propaganda it wants to share with them,?said Harvey Rosenfeld, who was sued over his ballot argument opposing Proposition 33 on the November ballot.

Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley ruled that the attorney general?s summary of the measure and opponent?s argument against it would stand.

The measure, which is financially backed by Mercury Insurance chairman George Joseph, would allow insurance companies to raise rates on drivers who have had a lapse in insurance coverage. It would also allow drivers to continue receiving loyalty discounts if they change insurers.

Attorneys for Joseph, who backed a similar measure that lost at the ballot box two years ago, Proposition 17, claimed the ballot summary for Proposition 33 was inaccurate and would prejudice voters against the measure.

Separately, the Sacramento Bee reported, Frawley rejected a bid the change the attorney general?s summary of a proposition to repeal the death penalty. Prosecutors who oppose the measure, Proposition 34, had challenged the wording. Proposition 34 would reduce the state?s maximum punishment to life in prison without parole.

The attorney general?s summary of ballot propositions appears on the ballot itself and is, for some voters, the only piece of information they get about propositions. For that reason, supporters and opponents frequently go to court to try to force changes.

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Source: http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2012/08/13/consumer-group-wins-round-on-car-initiative/160705/

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