Watchdog: TRCC called 'unfixable’
The Watchdog always keeps one paw on the Texas Residential Construction Commission, which, as we reported this summer, was recommended for extinction by the staff of the state Sunset Advisory Commission. This week, a Texans for Public Justice study said the 10 lawmakers on the sunset panel accepted a total of $223,000 in campaign contributions from home builders in the past three years. Throughout their legislative careers, the same 10 received $446,000 from major builder Bob Perry of Houston. Perry is considered one of the prime backers of the TRCC, and one of his top aides was appointed to the commission’s board by Gov. Rick Perry.

See Video of Sunset Commission Hearing
Click on 9/23/2008 Hearing on TRCC Staff Report begins at 3 hours and 45 minutes. TRCC Agency & Builders testimony 4:42.  Consumer testimony starts at about 9:40.

Sun Never Sets On Politicians Taking Homebuilder Money
Consumer and homeowner groups support the Sunset staff’s recent recommendation to scrap the agency because it adds insults to the injuries of those who buy lemon homes...It will be difficult for the legislature and the state’s two top officials to view this sunset objectively. Apart from working with the homebuilding industry to create the TRCC five years ago, these officials have taken almost $4 million from the industry in the past three years...The 10 lawmakers on the Sunset Advisory Commission took a total of $223,050 from homebuilders in this period. See full report on Builder Money Flow

Homeowners Written Testimony Received by the Sunset Commission 
Read testimony

TRCC is contrary to responsible public policy
Currently there is no incentive for builders to construct homes with care to get it right the first time.  TRCC is an ill-conceived policy that places the burden squarely on homeowners, rather than the builder.  Forgotten is the inspiring slogan “Made with Pride in American?”... History will record the legacy of TRCC as shameless domination by the builder’s agenda to limit responsibility.  An agenda designed to punish consumers through industry domination of smoke and mirror policies – bolstered by the State.

SUNSET COMMISSION QUESTIONS WHETHER ABOLISHING TRCC IS THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS
“ Texas history will record TRCC to be the hallmark of a bad state policy, driven by the building industry’s agenda to unnecessarily punish homebuyers for the mistakes of their builder,” said Janet Ahmad, president of Homeowners for Better Building.  “Homeowners helplessly stand by frustrated as their homes and values are falling all because of industry greed and higher profits without accountability.”

TRCC: It’s the Uneducated Consumers’ Fault
The Texas Residential Construction Commission defended itself today during a Texas Sunset Advisory Commission hearing. Just last month, the Sunset Commission’s staff made the unusual recommendation that the agency be scrapped because it did “more harm than good” for Texas consumers. Today, the representatives from the TRCC who testified before lawmakers did all they could to avoid taking blame. The general consensus of the TRCC commissioners was that Texas consumers needed to be more educated about the home building process...The “don’t blame us” argument from the agency didn’t sit well with consumers.

Groups Support Sunset Staff Recommendation to Abolish Builder Protection Agency
Homeowners who have seen firsthand the problems posed by the Texas Residential Construction Commission came to the state Capitol today to encourage lawmakers to abolish the agency. “The state should not burden taxpayers and further frustrate victimized homeowners with this agency.  We must eliminate government waste and remove bad policy.  The Texas Residential Construction Commission must be abolished,” said Carolyn Becka, Vice President of Texas Back Your Rights.

Consumer groups blast Texas homebuilders agency
The Texas Residential Construction Commission should be abolished because it is ineffective and shields homebuilders from liability for shoddy work, activists said Tuesday, echoing a recent state report. The commission, which was created in 2003, was skewered last month in a state review, which found the agency does not have the trust of the consumers to protect them from unqualified builders...The report found that in 88 percent of TRCC cases, consumers were unable to get their homes fixed. Some cases continue to arbitration hearings, but "there are a lot of people that simply throw up their hands in frustration and say the expense and time wasted at TRCC made it difficult if not impossible for them to move forward," said Alex Winslow, director of the liberal watchdog group Texas Watch.

Controversial Texas construction commission meed not be dismantled, lawmakers say.
Lawmakers indicated Tuesday that they want the much-maligned Texas Residential Construction Commission to be rebuilt, not abolished, as has been recommended. Sunset Commission chairman and state Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, told residential construction commission officials to work closely with Sunset advisers and to embrace changes, or else the agency could find itself slated for demolition by the Legislature next year.