Star-Telegram Austin Bureau
Watchdogs: Donor cash tilts state laws
It's supposed to be the American dream, but owning a home can be a nightmare in Texas because builders have used millions in campaign cash to tilt state laws in their favor, a coalition of watchdog groups said Monday. At issue is a 2003 law that established the Texas Residential Construction Commission, strongly supported by home-building interests, which contributed some $9 million to state candidates and political entities between 2001 and 2004…

HOBB Commentary:
Don’t you just love the Texas Assoc. of Builders comments on TRCC? Isn't this like putting expensive lipstick on a pig.
See the comments by Kristi Sutterfield , director of the Texas Association of Builders, attempting to defend the builder’s slaughter of home buyer protection and rights. Sutterfield said, “ the law actually enhances homeowner protections by setting a uniform, state-imposed warranty... She also said the residential construction commission is resolving complaints quickly…”
The homebuilding industry can continue to fool the people with shoddy building practices most of the time but not all of the people, no matter the shade of the lipstick on TRCC.  Bad will be bad, no matter the cosmetic fix.

Dallas Morning News: Special Report

Home buyers wary of agency
Some consumer groups, others say TRCC doesn't aid consumers enough
Since its creation in September 2003, unhappy homeowners and consumer groups have criticized the agency for doing little to help buyers, because it can't force builders to make repairs. And they say the agency's passage this month of new building standards allows for shoddy construction, not a guarantee of quality work... Consumer groups say the agency is biased toward the building industry because commissioners and most agency leaders have backgrounds in construction or real estate. They say builders have won their influence in the Legislature from both parties by blanketing them with political donations.

Associated Press: Highlights Monday from the Texas Legislature
Homebuilders contributed at least $8.9 million the past four years to state leaders and legislators and along the way won passage in 2003 of a bill that diminishes homeowners' rights, two watchdog groups said Monday.

San Antonio Express-News
Carlos Guerra: In Austin, Just Who Is Watching Out For Texas Homeowners?
A study released Monday by a campaign finance reform group and three homeowner groups underscores why Texas' pay-to-play politics must be stopped. The damning report by Homeowners for Better Building, Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings, Take Back Your Rights and Campaigns for People is appropriately titled: "Big Money and Shoddy Construction: Texas Homeowners Left Out In the Cold."

San Antonio Express-News: Homebuilders' campaign donations rapped
AUSTIN — Advocates of campaign finance reform and homeowners' rights joined Monday to spotlight almost $9 million in campaign contributions from homebuilder interests over a nearly four-year period that included passage of a law the groups say hurt homebuyers.