Yes On Prop 33 Says CONSUMER WATCHDOG SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Proposition 33, an initiative supported by every major veterans' group in California, is running the following radio ad:

"PROPOSITION 33 PROTECTS OUR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES, AND ALLOWS THEM TO KEEP THEIR DISCOUNT ON CAR INSURANCE – SAVING THEM MONEY. THAT'S WHY GROUPS LIKE THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE G-I FORUM OF CALIFORNIA, AND THE V-F-W OF CALIFORNIA ALL SUPPORT PROPOSITION 33. JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING OUR HEROES. VOTE YES ON PROP 33."

The Los Angeles Times did not like the ad, saying it does not protect the military.  We disagree.  Not only that, but so does the following veterans' organization.  On behalf of the Vietnam Veterans of America we include a letter from Lt. Colonel Pete Conaty (Retired).

The Los Angeles Times:

Dear Editor,

Being from Southern California, I can remember being in Vietnam and what a thrill it would be when someone was able to get a copy of the Los Angeles Times.  I believe the Times is one of the world's best newspapers, but I don't understand the sarcasm directed toward Proposition 33 or the fact that the Times is just plain wrong on this one.

Proposition 33 is not only a vast improvement over Proposition 17, which major military  groups did not support, but it is also an excellent proposition for the military.

Specifically, unlike today, Proposition 33 keeps active military eligible for their persistency discount, which can save them in many cases more than twenty percent, even if they give up insurance while serving our country.  Today, under current statutes, the military men and women lose the discount when they miss a payment, regardless of the fact that they are on duty away from home.

Second, our military personnel can take that persistency discount they keep under Proposition 33 and when they return shop for a better deal with another insurance company. 

The Times is a California treasure, but on Proposition 33 the military is listening to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Vietnam Veterans of America, and USAA, the veteran's preferred insurance carrier, and voting yes on Proposition 33. 

Pete Conaty
Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)
The Veterans Advocate       

Consumer Watchdog, noted for the statement, "We don't throw mud, we throw bombs," invoked the tragedy in Libya as reason to ask George Joseph, founder of Mercury, to withdraw the ads. 

While George Joseph did not write or approve of the ads, Joseph, who flew missions over North Africa in World War II, also is not asking that they be removed.

Mike Mattoch, veteran and Western regional executive of USAA, the preferred financial services provider of the military, said, "Proposition 33 is good for the military in particular; and contains explicit protections for military personnel, ensuring that those who are defending our country do not lose a discount that they have more than earned due to their service. The radio ad is concise and factual."   

Proposition 33 is supported by the American GI Forum of California, the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of American, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of California, among others. Proposition 33 would deem all active military as continuously covered – and therefore, whether home or abroad, military families will keep their car insurance discount.

If Consumer Watchdog has any shame left, it should rejoin us in a vigorous but rational debate over the policy in Proposition 33.

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

SOURCE Yes on Prop 33