Auto Insuance bill media blitz

By JON CHESTO
The Patriot Ledger

An industry-backed coalition has been ramping up its efforts to drive auto insurance reform at the State House before lawmakers adjourn for the year from formal sessions on July 31.

The Massachusetts Insurance Federation launched its latest advertising blitz a week ago, hitting TV and radio stations with ads that feature a couple who become perplexed by the lack of insurance choices during a conversation with their agent. The ads encourage frustrated motorists to call their lawmakers at the State House.

The ads will likely run for at least another four days, said Jim Harrington executive director of the insurance group and a spokesman for the affiliated Fairness for Good Drivers coalition.

‘‘If we continue to run paid media, we’re hoping the general consumer out there agrees with us and makes a call to a legislator suggesting they would like their state rep or state senator to look favorably on reform,’’ he said.

The Legislature’s financial services committee, under the leadership of co-chairman Rep. Ron Mariano of Quincy, endorsed legislation last week that aims to bring significantly more competition to the state’s highly regulated auto insurance market - a move backed by many insurance companies.

But a few insurers aren’t on board. Commerce Insurance of Webster and Arbella Insurance of Quincy have been funding a separate group, the Massachusetts Coalition for Affordable Auto Insurance for All, aimed at preventing such drastic changes. While that group has in the past countered pro-reform ads with its advertisements, the group has no plans to do so right now, spokesman Doug Bailey said.

That’s partly because the Senate co-chairman of the financial services committee, Andrea Nuciforo of Pittsfield, is adamantly opposed to Mariano’s reform bill; Nuciforo worries that many good drivers will see their premiums jump significantly after certain state regulations are removed.

‘‘For the Legislature to pass (the bill), it would need a lot of work,’’ Bailey said. ‘‘The likelihood it would get done in time (before July 31) seems remote.’’