The Automotive Service Association (ASA) hosted a Fly-in and Capitol Hill Day for its collision repair members July 28-29. Collision repairers from across the country fanned out over Capitol Hill to discuss insurance reform and the repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act with their representatives and senators.
Kicking off the event at the opening night dinner were remarks by Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla. Boyd is a long-term leader of the Blue Dogs, a conservative group of democrats in the House of Representatives. He gave an overview of the top issues being debated on Capitol Hill and answered questions from interested members.
Specifically, ASA collision repairers met with members from the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, the House Financial Services Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and an assortment of House and Senate leaders.
The repairers argued for the repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act, emphasizing that a competitive insurance marketplace will enhance the plight of consumers. 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 anti-competitive consequences of McCarran-Ferguson impact both consumers and small businesses that have business relationships with insurers.
Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., have introduced legislation, H.R. 1583, which would repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act.
Further, repairers pushed for members of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 1880 legislation establishing an optional federal charter for property and casualty insurers.
Photographs from Boyd’s presentation will soon be posted to ASA’s legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.
