Calif. union admits funding radio ad that claims signing initiatives leads to identity theft

[Newsjock]

Source: Sacramento Bee

The president of a state building trades union today acknowledged helping fund a new campaign warning voters that signing initiative petitions could put them at increased risk of identity theft.

State Building and Construction Trades Council of California President Bob Balgenorth said he was part of a group of people who came up with the idea for Californians Against Identity Theft, which recently launched a radio spot and website urging listeners not to sign initiative petitions.

... The ad's premise that providing your name, address and signature to a petition circulator increases the risk of identity theft has come under fire from leading anti-identity theft and consumer advocacy groups.

"It's outrageous that someone would disguise dirty politics as consumer protection," California Public Interest Research Group legislative director Pedro Morillas said in a statement. "There is as much risk of identity theft involved in signing a petition as there is in being listed in the phone book."

Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/07/the-president-of-the-states.html