[GPCA Updates] Bustamante losing weight; Voters could losemore, warns 'heaviest' candidate

[Jim Stauffer]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Monday, May 8, 2006


Bustamante may be losing weight, but he's fattening up on
insurance industry contributions; Voters will ‘lose' more
than pounds if Cruz wins, warns Green Party candidate

SANTA CRUZ – While Cruz Bustamante's personal weight "loss" is apparently
his priority in his run for Insurance Commissioner, it's the people of
California who stand to "lose" much more than a few pounds if they elect
the front-running Democrat, said the Green Party's candidate in the race
Monday.

"I want to commend the lieutenant governor for losing 40 pounds, which now
makes me the heaviest candidate in the field," said Larry Cafiero, 48, the
Green Party's candidate for Insurance Commissioner. Cafiero – unopposed in
the Green Party primary June 6 – is 5 feet 9 inches tall and 263 pounds.

But Cafiero said he doesn't consider this a campaign issue.

"The lieutenant governor is missing the point of what's important to
Californians," said Cafiero. "What really needs to be ‘lost' is the
so-called workers compensation ‘reform,' which should be replaced by true
change that places prompt and proper medical care for injured workers
statewide. The ‘reform' has cost injured workers a drop of 70 percent, on
the average, of their benefits prior to 2004," added Cafiero.

Another "loss" to consumers, according to Cafiero, is because the
lieutenant governor continues to "bulk up" on insurance industry campaign
contributions. Should Bustamante be elected, the people of California would
have an Insurance Commissioner beholden to the insurance companies more
than to the people of California, said Cafiero.

"If Cruz really wants to set a ‘healthy' example, he can start by returning
the campaign contributions from the insurance industry," Cafiero said.
"That shedding of excess insurance industry pork barrel fat would really be
impressive."

Cafiero also questioned Bustamante's obsession with his weight, asking if
the leading Democrat's campaign is all about "Cruz the lesser," or  about
the people of California?

"According to the lieutenant governor, both in the press and in the
statewide voter guide, it's  about the former. And, no matter how much
weight my opponent loses, the biggest loss, if he wins, will be borne by
the people of California," warned Cafiero.