Although we took a group picture standing in front of the U.S. Capitol, perhaps the most meaningful image was that of ASA members walking along the famed avenue. In the last five to 10 years there has been a great deal of cynicism surrounding the legislative process. One of the first articles I wrote for ASA had to do with grassroots involvement in the legislative branch of our government. Anyone involved in ASA s 1996 Annual Convention understands the value of being involved in the political process.
People can make a difference if they assert themselves and make their views known.
From the opening session onward, ASA s goal was to take the independent repair industry s many issues and show how they blend into the process of the legislative and executive branches of government. This included paperwork reduction, fewer regulations and more small business involvement in the compliance area. He also pointed out recordkeeping requirements and how the EPA hopes to make the agency s regulations less burdensome on the independent repairer. Wilson was very helpful to ASA in the development of OBD II regulations, particularly in the area of information availability and the independent repairers right to the same information provided to automobile dealers. Through panel sessions, ASA provided more issue-specific information and dialogue.