Senators Send Consent Decree Support to DOJ

Nov. 22, 2019—Sen. Kennedy, R-LA., and Sen. Blumenthal, D-CT., recently sent a joint letter to the Department of Justice, urging to preserve a consent decree intended to protect consumers.

Both senators serve on the  Senate Judiciary Committee which has oversight over the DOJ. 

The letter, dated November 19, asserts that "eliminating this agreement would turn back the clock on automotive consumer protections," and that "sincere and thoughtful concerns raised by constituents" have led to a conclusion that "the merits and relevance of this decree warrant its continuation."

In April 2019, the DOJ announced plans to review nearly 1,300 antitrust judgments enacted without end dates, and in August, the 1963 Consent Decree was identified as one of the actions proposed for termination as part of a much larger de-regulatory initiative by the current administration.

The Consent Decree has served as a significant document for consumers which highlight an agreement between the insurance industry and the US government to forever refrain from practices that were established as anti-competitive means of steering, price fixing and depressing and controlling automobile material damage repair costs.