Contact:	Caroline Fuller (202) 543-1440 c.fuller@att.net
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin PR-10 Feb. 22, 2007

U.S. Senate, House Offer Bipartisan Antitrust Law Legislation

ASA Supports McCarran-Ferguson Repeal

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 22, 2007 - Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, has introduced the Insurance Industry Competition Act. This legislation would remove the federal antitrust exemption from the insurance industry. Currently, the McCarran-Ferguson Act protects the insurance industry from federal antitrust laws.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., Senate Judiciary ranking member, joined Leahy in introducing Senate Bill 618 - as did Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., Senate majority leader, and Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., Senate Republican whip. The U.S. House of Representatives introduced companion legislation to The Insurance Industry Competition Act. The House legislation, H.R. 1081, is co-sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.; Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss.; Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-La.; Rep. Charles Melancon, D-La.; Rodney Alexander, R-La.; and Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C.

The Insurance Industry Competition Act would give the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission the authority to apply the antitrust laws to anti-competitive behavior by insurance companies. However, this legislation will not affect the right each individual state has to regulate its insurance businesses.

Originally, the McCarran-Ferguson Act was enacted in 1945 to permit the states to continue regulating the insurance business. Under the Act, the business of insurance is exempt from some federal antitrust statutes to the extent that it is regulated by the states.

"ASA has supported the repeal of McCarran-Ferguson for a number of years. We are very proud of these leaders in the Congress stepping forward to protect consumers and small businesses. Although this legislation would not resolve all of the insurer-repairer-consumer issues, it is the right first step toward a more level playing field. ASA encourages repairers to contact their members of Congress asking that they co-sponsor the House or Senate repeal legislation," said Bob Redding, ASA's Washington, D.C., representative.

Please visit ASA's legislative Web site, www.TakingTheHill.com, to send a letter to your senator and representative asking that they sign on as co-sponsors to Senate Bill 618 or House Bill 1081.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind serving an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from all segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.asashop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

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