Response to the Texas Association of Builder Comments by Dr. David Becka and Family, Frisco, Texas

It is without doubt that Mr. George Lewis, president, Texas Association of Builders, would totally disagree with any report criticizing the homebuilders’ pet agency, the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC).

 

 As a Texas homeowner who is still - more than 7 years since purchase - living the nightmare of owning a shoddily built, mold contaminated home, I applaud the heroic stand of State Representative Todd Smith (R) and State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn (R) and the accurate investigative report about the TRCC.  It is encouraging to see that there are still a few elected officials that have the political integrity to represent the best interests of the citizens of this great state rather than corporate greed and influence.

 

In a Houston Chronicle news article, May 28, 2005, by Clay Robison, he reports, “Consider how the Residential Construction Commission came to be created and how it was appointed.  According to a report released earlier this year by public advocacy groups, Texas homebuilders donated $5 million to executive and legislative candidates, political parties and political action committees during the 2002 election cycle……….”   “ Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, a major contributor to Gov. Rick Perry and Republican causes, gave $3.7 million of the total.” “The new law established some construction and warranty standards for the new agency to regulate, but its primary purpose was to offer homebuilders protection against lawsuits brought by unhappy customers.”

 

The comptroller’s report released late January disclosed  what consumer advocates have said for many years since the Commission/TRCC was proposed, including:
· The Commission was created by the builders for the builders.
· Provides protection for builders not homeowners.
· The inspection process is hard to use, expensive, and ineffective.
· The Commission has failed in its original purpose which was to curb the need (by dissatisfied    homebuyers) for legal action.
· The Commission is dominated by the homebuilding industry.
· The Commission should be abolished.
The entire detailed report can be viewed at http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/trcc  which validates all the issues that have been brought to the attention of our elected leaders. 

 

Dissatisfied homebuyers are better served by contacting their state elected officials to voice their home construction concerns than this hapless homebuilders’ agency.  Until the legislature makes significant changes to the law, the Commission will continue to be nothing more than a homebuilders’ protection agency.

 

Dr. David Becka
Frisco, Texas