Skip ballot question 1 "right to repair"

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - The auto parts industry is asking voters to ignore question one on the statewide ballot this November. The question asks whether manufacturers should be required to give diagnostic car repair data to independent garages. But a compromise bill was signed into law earlier this year, making the question unnecessary.

“You know it’s okay to skip this question because the Legislature addressed it,” said Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers Vice President Matthew Godlewski.

Independent repair groups have spent more than one million dollars on a ballot campaign in Massachusetts.  The pressure made all sides negotiate a bill before the state Legislature recessed on July 31.  But the deal came too late to remove the question off the November ballot.

“Although it was too late to take this question off the ballot, people can feel confident that the issue has been addressed by the Legislature,” said Right to Repair Coalition spokesperson Art Kinsman.

Lawmakers believe the bill they passed is better than the ballot.  But if voters vote “yes” to the ballot question, lawmakers have until 2015 to take action or do nothing.

“What we passed was a better bill, on a personal basis.  So would we go back and amend it slightly? Yeah. But it’s an unusual situation,” said Rep. Theodore Speliotis (D-Danvers).  “It’s not the issue of the day any longer.”

Automakers and independent repair shop advocates say they will now begin a public campaign to better educate voters on why question one on the statewide ballot is unnecessary.