Consumer Groups Join Dave Jones at Mercury Insurance HQ to Protest Insurance Companies $5.7M to Buy
Today two of California's most important consumer advocacy groups - The Consumer Federation of California and Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (C.A.R.S.) - joined me to protest the $5.7 million that the insurance industry is spending to elect my opponent - an anti-consumer, pro-insurance industry candidate.
Thank you to the many consumers who joined us outside the headquarters of Mercury Insurance whose CEO has personally contributed $1 million to the negative attack ads designed to defeat my candidacy.
"Not since the days when Chuck Quackenbush was driven out of the Insurance Commissioner's office have we seen insurance companies spend this kind of money to dictate who our next Insurance Commissioner will be," said Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California.
So far, insurance companies have contributed $5.7 million to an "independent expenditure" committee sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce that is running a negative ad campaign against me throughout the state.
By laundering contributions through the California Chamber of Commerce, insurance companies are hiding from voters that it's the insurance industry paying for the attack ads.
"Voters have a right to know that insurance companies are funding the attack ads against Dave Jones, who has been a strong, pro-consumer champion," said Rosemary Shahan, President of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (C.A.R.S.) "Mercury General and other insurers clearly think that Dave Jones' opponent will favor them, against consumers."
The insurance companies funding the California Chamber of Commerce's negative campaign are:
Allstate: $1.15 million
George Joseph , CEO, Mercury Insurance: $1 million
Liberty Mutual: $640,000
Progressive: $390,000
Farmers: $225,000
Anthem Blue Cross: $150,000
Health Net: $100,000
American Insurance Association IE PAC: $52,000
Personal Insurance Federation of CA: $25,000
In addition to the attack ads funded by the insurance contributions listed above, the California Chamber of Commerce ran a $2 million issue ad campaign for my opponent, once again hiding the source of the funds.
This brings the total amount spent to $5.7 million to elect an Insurance Commissioner who will favor the insurance industry over consumers.
"Insurance Companies have a lot at stake since the next Insurance Commissioner will be responsible for implementing national health care reform," said Laurel Kaufer, an Anthem Blue Cross customer whose rates were almost increased by 34% this year. "Dave Jones supports national health care reform. His opponent does not."
I am proud to be on the side of California's consumers. We may not have the millions of dollars that the insurance industry has, but I know that voters will see through their deceptive campaign.
There's no doubt that we have a tough fight ahead of us in the next 7 days. Please contact everyone you know and tell them about the insurance industry's deceptive campaign, and ask them to vote for me on Election Day!
It's time we had an Insurance Commissioner who is on the side of California's consumers and not the insurance industry.
Thanks for your continued support,
DAVE JONES
Candidate for Insurance Commissioner
P.S. Please send an email to everyone you know today and ask them to vote for Dave Jones for Insurance Commissioner!
Thank you to the many consumers who joined us outside the headquarters of Mercury Insurance whose CEO has personally contributed $1 million to the negative attack ads designed to defeat my candidacy.
"Not since the days when Chuck Quackenbush was driven out of the Insurance Commissioner's office have we seen insurance companies spend this kind of money to dictate who our next Insurance Commissioner will be," said Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California.
So far, insurance companies have contributed $5.7 million to an "independent expenditure" committee sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce that is running a negative ad campaign against me throughout the state.
By laundering contributions through the California Chamber of Commerce, insurance companies are hiding from voters that it's the insurance industry paying for the attack ads.
"Voters have a right to know that insurance companies are funding the attack ads against Dave Jones, who has been a strong, pro-consumer champion," said Rosemary Shahan, President of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (C.A.R.S.) "Mercury General and other insurers clearly think that Dave Jones' opponent will favor them, against consumers."
The insurance companies funding the California Chamber of Commerce's negative campaign are:
Allstate: $1.15 million
George Joseph , CEO, Mercury Insurance: $1 million
Liberty Mutual: $640,000
Progressive: $390,000
Farmers: $225,000
Anthem Blue Cross: $150,000
Health Net: $100,000
American Insurance Association IE PAC: $52,000
Personal Insurance Federation of CA: $25,000
In addition to the attack ads funded by the insurance contributions listed above, the California Chamber of Commerce ran a $2 million issue ad campaign for my opponent, once again hiding the source of the funds.
This brings the total amount spent to $5.7 million to elect an Insurance Commissioner who will favor the insurance industry over consumers.
"Insurance Companies have a lot at stake since the next Insurance Commissioner will be responsible for implementing national health care reform," said Laurel Kaufer, an Anthem Blue Cross customer whose rates were almost increased by 34% this year. "Dave Jones supports national health care reform. His opponent does not."
I am proud to be on the side of California's consumers. We may not have the millions of dollars that the insurance industry has, but I know that voters will see through their deceptive campaign.
There's no doubt that we have a tough fight ahead of us in the next 7 days. Please contact everyone you know and tell them about the insurance industry's deceptive campaign, and ask them to vote for me on Election Day!
It's time we had an Insurance Commissioner who is on the side of California's consumers and not the insurance industry.
Thanks for your continued support,
DAVE JONES
Candidate for Insurance Commissioner
P.S. Please send an email to everyone you know today and ask them to vote for Dave Jones for Insurance Commissioner!
