SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Automotive Wholesalers' Association (CAWA) held two private meetings with key California legislators who sit on the Assembly Transportation Committee in the state legislature - Assemblyman Bill Berryhill and Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, both of the northern central valley, to highlight critical legislative and regulatory issues the association is actively working for its members. 

CAWA Board members Mary Davis, NGK Sparkplugs, Eric Mezger of Viking Auto Supply, Terry Satchell of Gates along with member Sam Cracraft of Sacramento TBA, joined CAWA's government affairs team at these meetings.      

Important issues discussed included the attempts by manufacturers to lock out the independent aftermarket from critical tools and information necessary to repair consumers' vehicles, skyrocketing costs of providing health care for employees, increased need for career and technical training programs and actions by the California Air Resources Board to target the transportation sector in its effort to implement AB 32 regulations.

L/R -  Rodney Pierini, CAWA, Eric Mezger, Viking Auto Supply, Assemblymember Bill Berryhill, Jennifer Zins and Norm Plotkin, CAWA.

"Having the opportunity to talk in a personal setting with members of the state Legislature is an extremely valuable feature of our proactive and growing government affairs program in all three states we represent," stated Rodney Pierini, President & CEO, CAWA.  "CAWA works to educate lawmakers about the automotive aftermarket at every opportunity and takes pleasure in finding legislators like Bill Berryhill and Cathleen Galgiani who give consideration to the aftermarket perspective as they vote on bills that directly impact CAWA members businesses."

Founded in 1955, CAWA is a nonprofit trade organization representing automotive jobbers, warehouse distributors, retailers, manufacturers and manufacturers' representatives in California, Nevada, and Arizona.  CAWA's mission is to provide communications, education, legislative and regulatory advocacy and group purchasing of services for its members while promoting the automotive aftermarket industry.

For additional information about CAWA and for the latest industry news, go to www.cawa.org.