ASA Members, Congressional Leaders Tackle Issues

Posted 7/8/2010

Ron Pyle, ASA's president and chief staff executive, explains the association's positions to Rep. Steve Driehaus, D-Ohio, during the ASA "Taking the Hill" Fly-In May 12, 2010.

Independent automotive repairers from across the country met recently with their U.S. representatives and senators to discuss a variety of issues, including full repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act, the importance of periodic motor vehicle safety inspection programs, and how replacement crash parts affect consumers. The discussions were part of the Automotive Service Association's "Taking the Hill" Fly-In and AMI Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., May 11-12.

The McCarran-Ferguson Act provides that federal antitrust law applies to the "business of insurance" only to the extent that such business is not regulated by state law.

The Senate is considering Senate Bill 3217, the American Financial Stability Act of 2010, which overhauls the nation's financial regulations. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, is considering offering an amendment on the bill to repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act for health insurers only.

Independent automotive repairers also discussed periodic motor vehicle safety inspections. ASA leaders educated Congressional members that less than half the states in America have any type of periodic motor vehicle safety inspection program.

With Congress set to review vehicle safety issues and transportation programs, ASA requested that members consider supporting federal incentives for states to establish periodic motor vehicle safety inspection programs. ASA supports periodic safety inspections that ensure proper maintenance and safety of older vehicles and provide for minimum inspection requirements of all motor vehicles.

Replacement crash parts were also an agenda item during the Fly-In. In their meetings with House and Senate leaders, ASA leaders urged consumer consent to the use of replacement crash parts in vehicle repair.

For more information, visit www.TakingTheHill.com/flyin2010.htm.