Comptroller Rylander nails Texas Homebuilders Commission

[johncoby2]

Comptroller Rylander nails Texas Homebuilders Commission

Today Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander issued a very stern review of the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC pronounced "trick") which was to help homeowners with construction defects. "After reviewing the TRCC and its enabling statue, it is clear that the agency functions as a builder protection agency." states the report.

"This report validates the concerns we have had ever since this Commission was proposed in 2003. The TRCC has been nothing more than a trick on the homebuyers of Texas and our elected officials." said John Cobarruvias President of the Texas chapter of Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings.

The report criticizes the Commission for being stacked with builder friendly Commissioners, including the Vice President of Bob Perry Homes, Governor Rick Perry's biggest donor. The mandatory inspection process was found to be expensive and nothing more than a bureaucratic roadblock. And the Commission lacks any enforcement over the builders who refuse to make repairs.

Comptroller Rylander concludes "...if it was up to me personally, I would blast this TRCC builder-protection agency off the bureaucratic books"

"I reluctantly agree. This Commission was built on a flawed foundation which cannot be repaired. It must be torn down and we must start over" said John Cobarruvias.

The complete report can be found at: http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/trcc/.
--
John R. Cobarruvias
Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings
[e-mail]

[acmejack]

1. I've heard of this Cobarruvias fellow before, he's quite a troublemaker!

down around Houston I hear. Bob Perry is going to be mighty aggravated if this keeps up, (he said hopefully)

[Melissa G]

2. This board is full of troublemakers. Way to go John and the rest

of you DU reprobates also!!!! Give 'em hell!

[sonias]

3. Aren't election years great?

Politicians find their spines and some of them even find their conscience. I'm talking about Carole 4Names of course. John's always been a fighter for home owners. Kudos John!

Tear down the TRCC!
Tear down the TRCC!

Sonia

[sonias]

4. Let the media coverage begin

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/01/24trcc.html
Report: Construction agency doesn't help consumers
Comptroller says commission a roadblock instead of a resource.
A state agency that is supposed to help homeowners and builders resolve disputes is a toothless, time-consuming barrier for consumers and should be shut down, Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn said Monday.

In a report requested by a legislator, Strayhorn said the Texas Residential Construction Commission does not resolve conflicts between the two parties because it cannot force builders to make repairs.

"This agency imposes costly and bureaucratic roadblocks for homeowners left out in the cold by shabby construction and a commission dominated by builders," Strayhorn said.

Oh man, I hate to say this but Carole 4Names has this right. Our Democratic candidates for Governor better agree with her and take away her advantage.

Sonia

[Texas_Kat]

5. Gammage was championing homeowner's consumer protection in 1989

So I guess he gets to say 'welcome to the reality of homeownership in Texas (What took you so long?)' to the others who've found it easier to take homebuilder money than to stand up for the consumers of Texas.

I ran across this pdf file from the Houston Law Review: "THE SCOPE OF THE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION LIABILITY ACT IN TEXAS*" This paper was the recipient of the 1998 Sheinfeld, Maley & Kay Award for the most outstanding paper in the area of commercial litigation.

http://www.houstonlawreview.org/archive/downloads/36-1%20PDF%20Files/HLR36P277.pdf

Associate Justice Bob Gammage of the Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas,25 also testified against the passage of Senate Bill 1012. Justice Gammage was involved with the passage of the DTPA,26 and at the time of the RCLA’s legislative hearings, was
personally involved in a dispute with a homebuilder over construction defects in his recently built home.27 Relying on his
past and present experiences, Justice Gammage defended the DTPA as an effective law that protected homebuyers and
expressed concern that S.B. 1012 would erode important consumer protections.28 ..."

If you read through the article, you'll see he was an strong advocate of consumer protection -- he's quoted quite extensively (footnotes on his judicial opinions and everything!)

[sonias]

6. That's great Texas Kat

Now you need to make sure he gets out there with that message about "Carole, what took you so long?" Voters don't remember what Gammage did in 1998 much less the media. Bob needs to put it in their face like she did. Maybe a letter to the editor of some papers or his own press conference. Take that advocacy position back from her.

Sonia

[johncoby2]

7. GREAT FIND!!!!

Thanks! I agree. This is suppose to be OUR strength.