Activists target homebuilders |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
Austin Statesman: Activists target homebuilders A report unveiled Monday by two watchdog groups at the Capitol shows that homebuilders contributed at least $9 million to state leaders and candidates during the past four years. |
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Groups Deplore Builders' Influence |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
Houston Chronicle: Groups Deplore Builders' Influence
After receiving millions in donations from Texas homebuilders, the Legislature created a new state agency that restricted homeowners' rights to sue builders in court, two public advocacy groups said Monday. |
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Criticisms Of Texas Residential Construction Commission |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
KXAN TV Austin: Criticisms Of Texas Residential Construction Commission Last session, Texas lawmakers created a new state agency to tackle trouble with home construction. Now there are accusations it is hurting homeowners. |
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Builders Warranty and Standards Hammered |
Tuesday, 11 January 2005 |
Express-News Building rules are hammered Jason Gallas, co-owner of Tri-Built Custom Homes and a builder for 21 years, is not impressed with the Texas Residential Construction Commission's work⦠Gallas notes the standards discuss maximum width for foundation cracks but make no mention of the type of steel that should be used or the strength of the concrete needed for each soil type⦠On the suggestion of San Antonio home inspector Mark Eberwine, for instance, the commission changed language that would have allowed chimneys to separate from walls by up to 11/2 inches and masonry walls to bow by up to 21/2 inches. But Eberwine said the new 1-inch tolerance still is too much⦠"This document is more of a pre-emptive strike on complaining homeowners than it is a warranty," Eberwine said. |
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No Surprises –Texas Residential Construction Commission has no power to enforce its findings. |
Thursday, 06 January 2005 |
A whole lot of talk yields little action Homeowners wish mediation agency could force repairs MINDY Brooks just wants her house fixed. Shoddy construction left her Fort Worth home with a laundry list of problems⦠The commission's inspector found more than a dozen defects. But the commission had no power to enforce its findings, leaving Brooks feeling helpless. |
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Homebuilder Perry, Contributions & Tort Reform to Limit Liability |
Wednesday, 29 December 2004 |
Perryâs gifts get noticed Houston builder donated $9 million to Republicans in 2004 elections As the largest political donor in Texas elections, Houston home builder Bob Perry and the pro-business measures he advocates get noticed in Austin. After he pumped $3.8 million into the 2002 Texas elections, the Legislature approved several policy proposals that Perry supportedâ¦President Bush is trying to breathe new life into what his supporters call tort reform - limits on damage awards in lawsuits. Perry has promoted the issue. |
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Can Texas Homeowners afford to Complain? Texans to pay $350 to file complaint against builder |
Sunday, 21 November 2004 |
Texas Homeowners ask Senators for help. What other state agency charges consumers a fee to file a complaint? HB730 Texas Residential Construction Commission Act (TRCCA) disproportionately changed the way homeowners must deal with builders who ignore both major and basic home warranty concerns. Since the passage of TRCCA, homeowners with construction defect issues must pay the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) a $350.00 fee for standard warranty issues or $450.00 for major warranty issues. . . What other state agency charges the consumer a fee to file a complaint? |
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Lawmakers say builders are stacking dispute panel |
Thursday, 23 September 2004 |
Lawmakers say builders are stacking dispute panel 08/27/2004 Adolfo Pesquera Express-News Business Writer AUSTIN â A state Senate committee looking into arbitration reform had sharp criticism for the heads of the Texas Residential Construction Commission and demanded the director take steps to provide consumer and minority representation on its arbitration task force. See Senate Subcommittee on Binding Arbitration Video - August 25, 2004 - Jurisprudence Committee Go to: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/AVarch.htm - Advance forward the time of hearing on Binding Arbitration to: 4:01 |
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Homebuilders may have constructed a fortress |
Sunday, 19 September 2004 |
Homebuilders may have constructed a fortress
Some say their political donations have cost consumers the right to file suit
San Antonio Express-News When Delores Rollins bought her dream home in the Hart Ranch subdivision off De Zavala Road seven years ago, she had no idea the purchase would draw her into the state and national political fray⦠Rollins believes she has wound up on the short end of a long-term effort by Texas homebuilders to protect themselves from paying for their mistakes... Hoagland said the broad reforms pushed through in Bush's first term â caps on punitive damages, restrictions on venue-shopping and limits on shared liability, among others â may have benefited the homebuilding industry⦠""How many times do they have to win?"" said James of the Consumers Union. ""I think the deal is that it's not about logic, it's not about justice, it's about muscle. And the business community has a ton of muscle, and they don't want to be liable for anything."" |
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Texas Commission - Perception of Impropriety |
Friday, 13 August 2004 |
Residential housing standards are in the works Skating between the public's skepticism and an industry increasingly sensitive about its image, the Texas Residential Construction Commission rolled into San Antonio late Wednesday to solicit comments on its draft for housing standards⦠The existing draft is essentially a carbon copy of the limited warranties that homeowners have found so troublesome over the past decade, said Janet Ahmad, president of Homeowners for Better Building⦠Despite Thomas' assurances, Scott Emerson of Scott's Inspection Co. spoke for many in the audience when he noted that the commission had a perception hurdle to overcome â eight of its nine members earn their livelihood within the homebuilding industry. |
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