On Tuesday November 7th the consumers of Texas have a clear choice. Either stay the course on consumer issues, or define a course with new leadership in Austin.
A quick look into the wallet should convince voters to define a new course. The deregulation of college tuition and utilities, with the promise of competition and lower rates, has only been partially achieved. Utility companies are now competing for the right to charge consumers twice as much as they were paying prior to deregulation. Utility rates in Texas have never been higher costing homeowners thousands more in usage.
Junior Colleges are now competing for new students because they can’t afford the 39% increase in college tuition at the major universities across the state. The promises of deregulation has been nothing more than a very expensive joke on the voters of the state.
The promises of insurance reform and lowering skyrocketing insurance rates during the 2002 campaign has also been a complete bust. Texas voters are now paying at least twice the national average and twice as much as they were just 4 short years ago. Coverage such as water, sewer, and foundation damage has been removed, and deductibles have been raised. After our elected officials “fought” for consumers on insurance reform, Texas now has one of the highest rates in the nation, second to Louisiana by 25%. Again the joke is on the voters of the state with the only people laughing are those running for re-election.
Tort reform and medical malpractice reform, fought hard by our elected officials, has been a huge boom in profits for the insurance companies and homebuilders in the state, but has not reduce health insurance, the cost of goods, or new homes. And commissions such as the Texas Residential Construction Commission, created by the homebuilders, provides little if any protection for the largest investment of a family’s life, a new home.
Consumers in the state regardless of party affiliation have paid dearly for the reforms ushered in by those running away from discussing it. An average family is now paying $2000 a year more for insurance and electricity while our politicians continue to claim success in their reform agendas. Families, financially or physically harmed by a corporation or homebuilder are finding little sympathy from the courthouse and those harmed by a botched medical procedure will find little if any help from those “greedy trial lawyers” whose hands have been tied by those seeking re-election.
The consumers in this state, Republican, Democrat, or Independent, have been riding a ship of distortion on insurance reform, tort reform, deregulation, and consumer protection for over 6 years.
On Tuesday Nov. 7, voters can mutiny and chart a new course with new leadership, or continue to break their backs by rowing the ship and stay the course of higher consumer costs.
John Cobarruvias
Houston
A quick look into the wallet should convince voters to define a new course. The deregulation of college tuition and utilities, with the promise of competition and lower rates, has only been partially achieved. Utility companies are now competing for the right to charge consumers twice as much as they were paying prior to deregulation. Utility rates in Texas have never been higher costing homeowners thousands more in usage.
John Cobarruvias
Houston
