by Jeanny Hopper
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is under fire for allegedly using his political powers to illegally appoint a new member to the Auto Damage Appraisal Licensing Board or ADALB. According to some critics, Gov. Patrick violated the provisions set by law that dictates who should sit in the board.
The ADALB is a special body that assesses and issues licenses to auto damage appraisals. Recently, the Gov. Patrick removed Joe Valariotti from the ADALB and replaced him with a woman from a prominent car insurance company. According to the law, the board should be composed of two representatives from the car insurance industry, two from the auto repair industry, and a chairman who is independent from both sides. Some detractors point out that because the governor appointed another representative from the auto insurance industry, any future actions of the council will be illegal.
There are also reports that Gov. Patrick allowed the entry of another representative from the insurance industry because of their financial contributions during the election campaign. Critics allege that four different car insurance providers gave the governor $50,000 each for his various committees and inauguration. Detractors of the governor also add that this has compromised the state’s ability to provide protection for consumers and car owners.
Auto repair shop owners expressed concern over the current make-up of the council, saying that with three members affiliated with the insurance companies , the sole member from the car repair industry is outnumbered. This would mean that any actions the ADALB does in the future can have the car insurance industry’s best interest in mind.
With three affiliates from the insurance industry, car owners can face more problems ahead, critics say. The licensing board can then issue licenses only to auto damage appraisers who side with the insurance providers. This can mean drastic changes in the quality of service provided to consumers, as well as cheaper parts and labor. In the long run, Massachusetts’ motorists would pay dearly for Gov. Patrick’s actions.
...22.07.10
OnlineAutoInsurance.com now makes available to readers the history of compulsory auto insurance in the United States
Online PR News – 21-July-2010 – Consumers visiting OnlineAutoInsurance.com will find a fresh, new article on the site’s Frequently Asked Questions page that discusses the existence of mandatory auto insurance in the United States. There has been an incredible amount of debate in the past year about the merits of an individual mandate for health coverage, which would make the purchasing of such coverage a requirement for all U.S. citizens. While many Americans this year were for the first time considering what this would mean for the nation, many probably took the government-mandated requirement to possess automobile coverage to be a given. But how long has mandatory auto insurance been an accepted reality in this country?
The writers at Online Auto Insurance take this topic on in the latest of an ongoing series of answers to some car insurance questions commonly asked by consumers.
Source: Online PR News (press release)
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