California's third largest auto insurer, Mercury Insurance, created a front group called Californians for Fair Auto Insurance Rates (Cal-FAIR), to advance a ballot initiative that, if passed, would allow insurers to slap surcharges on drivers who allow their auto insurance coverage to lapse for any reason. Cal-FAIR shares the same Sacramento address as the public relations firm Goddard Claussen, which boasts that it is "the most successful issue-advocacy firm in America." Cal-FAIR is submitting signatures this week to place Mercury's measure on the state ballot in 2010. The initiative is Mercury's attempt to make an end-run around a law Californians passed in 1988, which prohibits auto insurers from considering people's prior insurance coverage in setting rates. Mercury is Cal-FAIR's only donor, and so far has put $4.5 million into the campaign to try and pass the measure.
http://www.prwatch.org/node/8773http://www.goddardclaussen.com/ (these folks are simply evil)
Harry and Louise
Health Insurance Association of America
National advocacy advertising didn't just happen. It was invented. And we (Goddard Claussen)invented it in the early ‘90's with the fictional couple – “Harry and Louise” – created to give a clear, unified voice to those who opposed President Clinton's sweeping health care proposal. The unique campaign, managed by Goddard Claussen, caught the attention of the media, the White House and the American people. A year later, “Harry and Louise” earned a spot on Advertising Age's prestigious “Marketing 100” and was named the Best Public Policy Campaign by the American Association of Political Consultants. It's widely credited as being the key factor in defeating the Clinton Health Plan.