What Happened in the 82nd Session
May 31st, 2011
Well, the regular session of the legislature has come to a close. This session promised to be one of the toughest for those of us who fight for the needs and interests of the consumers and families of this state. Our opponents were emboldened to pursue their dangerous agenda. At Texas Watch, we said from the beginning that we would not shrink from the fight. We promised to come back swinging harder than ever before. And, that’s just what we did.
Lawmakers are already back in session for the first of what could be several special sessions. Take a look at some of the challenges we faced and how we took them head on. We will continue to stand up for Texas families throughout the special sessions and beyond. With your help, we will continue to stand up for Texas families throughout the special sessions and beyond.
Loser Pays/Families Pay: This legislation became one of the most contentious bills of the session with special interests hell-bent on passing a bill that further restricts the legal rights of Texas families and small business owners. We were doing everything we could to get the word out there about this dangerous bill.
- Our Executive Director N. Alex Winslow was on the airwaves early in the session speaking with KRLD Radio’s Scott Braddock about the negative impact the bill could have on everyday Texans and small businesses.
- We were influencing lawmakers through our earned media campaign:
- We were providing written testimony and Fact Sheets to the House committee
- We were engaging our members to send messages to their legislators through our Online Action Center.
As the dangerous bill passed the House and moved on to the Senate, we ramped up the fight, building a coalition of organizations to show how wide-ranging the effects of the bill would be. Our Director of Legislative Affairs then provided impassioned testimony to the Senate committee. Legislators ended up passing a less onerous bill. It is still bad for families and small business owners, but thanks to our work it is not as damaging as the original bill.
Windstorm Insurance: The House passed TWIA legislation that gutted policyholder protections designed to impose penalties on TWIA when it violates the law requiring fair and prompt claims payments. Again, we hit with an Op-Ed in the Austin American-Statesman, pointing out the original problems with TWIA. The Senate passed a version that kept key consumer protections. However, TWIA legislation ultimately didn’t pass during the regular session. Gov. Perry has said he may bring lawmakers back in a special session on TWIA. If he does, we will be back fighting to protect the rights of coastal policyholders.
Insurance Reform & Regulation: At long last, the Texas Department of Insurance Sunset bill was considered by the legislature. We fought to include meaningful reforms to make our market stronger, fairer, and more transparent. We gave lawmakers a road map for reform by analyzing all of the amendments. Sadly, they bowed to insurance industry lobbyists and rejected many common-sense reforms.
In the haste to find cuts to balance the budget, funding for the Office of Public Insurance Council, the state’s insurance consumer representative, was put in jeopardy. We immediately engaged our grassroots members, flooding budget-writers with messages demanding that OPIC be fully funded. Because of the dedication of our grassroots network, the committee backed down and decided to preserve this important consumer agency.
Corporate Cover-Up Act: When corporate special interest lobbyists pushed for immunity through the “Corporate Cover-Up Act” (HB 2031), our Director of Legislative Affairs Ware Wendell was there, speaking about the need for public justice to ensure that wrongdoers are forced into the light of day instead of allowing them to provide low-ball hush money to avoid disclosure. Fortunately for Texas families, this disastrous bill died in committee.
Brewing Tea: Knowing that the Texas House had taken a dramatic shift with the Tea Party swing, Texas Watch launched our Texans for Liberty and Justice project to focus our debate on the protections embedded by our founders in the Constitutions of Texas and The United States.
Supreme Court: As part of our Court Watch project, Texas Watch responded to the Texas Supreme Court’s State of the Judiciary address by reminding legislators and our members that the justices often blatantly subvert legislative intent and re-write our laws.
Throughout this legislative session, Texas Watch delivered a narrative that pushed back on the corporate and insurance agendas. Their lobbyists came to this session with an immunity agenda that could have decimated the rights of everyday Texans, but they were turned back by a steady and concerted effort to make sure legislators, media and the public knew what they were trying to do.
At Texas Watch, we will continue to unapologetically fight for consumer’s rights and the right to a trial by jury. So, if you like the work we do, please make an investment in our civil justice system today by contributing to Texas Watch.
