Initiative Campaign Responds to Exposure of Consumer Watchdog as Front Group - 2012 Automobile Insurance Discount Act

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Steve Maviglio, former Press Secretary to Governor Gray Davis, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the State Assembly, and president of the Sacramento Food Co-op, unveiled his own website yesterday afternoon exposing the activities of Consumer Watchdog. Maviglio is a longtime foe of the trial attorneys, who have long hid behind, owned, operated and prospered under the Consumer Watchdog banner.

For many years, Maviglio has been a critic of Consumer Watchdog. As Casey Stengel said, "you can look it up."

The principals of Consumer Watchdog, who have long engaged in particularly divisive and nasty politics that involves ugly behavior and personal attacks, took umbrage.  Remember, these are the same folks who disrespected the lawmaking process enough to appear at a legislative committee hearing dressed in a chicken outfit to mock their opposition. These are the same folks who carved-out ten seconds of a five hour hearing called by the Insurance Commissioner, then claimed it was one of the best they'd ever attended, just to manufacture their own controversy. They wanted the Chair of the committee dismissed because he wanted a section of a bill that allows the principals of Consumer Watchdog to personally profit, removed from the legislation.

Incredibly, the response to the new website was not directed at Maviglio, but targeted George Joseph, founder of Mercury Insurance Group, and a campaign by the American Agents Alliance to provide consumers a discount on car insurance in California. This is the same discount that is allowed in 48 other states and will insure more Californians at a better price. Read the initiative and see for yourself (http://www.2012autoinsurancediscountact.com/2012-aida-language/).

The attacks on Joseph were bitter and unfounded.  The attacks on our campaign were equally unfounded.

As far as we know, the website is the sole creation of Steve Maviglio.  Neither the campaign nor George Joseph contributed a word of content or a single penny to the website. 

Those defending Consumer Watchdog said that when you take on powerful corporate interests, you make enemies. 

In this instance, it becomes more evident that when you dance belligerently in a chicken outfit, you also make enemies. Although it is not our product, we suggest that folks read what Maviglio has to say – it is obviously more realistic and truthful than what the consumer groups are saying about others.

SOURCE 2012 Automobile Insurance Discount Act