Texas Watch—Consumer Protection. Corporate Accountability. Citizen Advocacy.

Consumer, environmental, and labor advocates testified at a legislative hearing today about the importance of reversing the decades long trend of corporate immunity in Texas.

Lawmakers gathered to discuss an interim committee assignment dealing with “third party liability issues involving workers’ compensation.”  In light of recent Texas workplace disasters and the BP oil spill, advocates told a joint hearing of the House Business & Industry and Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence committees that corporations like BP that cut corners on safety should be held fully responsible. Read More »

Check out Texas Watch’s newest web video reminding Gov. Rick Perry that he promised to fix our broken homeowners insurance market in 2002.  It is 2010 and nothing has changed. Read More »

Travelers Insurance is currently running a misleading and deceptive television ad in Texas that is meant to scare homeowners into believing they could lose their home if they do not have sufficient auto insurance to cover their liability in an auto accident.  Texas Watch has requested an investigation by Attorney General Greg Abbott and Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin. Read More »

Like our Founding Fathers before us, the time has come for us to stand up and be heard. Tell key lawmakers to declare their independence from the insurance industry by standing up for Texas homeowners and passing real reforms that will give Texans some protection from excessive premiums and inadequate coverage. Read More »

Tropical Storm Alex is building strength in the Gulf of Mexico.  Forecasters are currently predicting the storm to make landfall in northern Mexico later this week as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane.  Tropical storm force winds could affect the Rio Grande Valley up to the Coastal Bend.

Texas Watch, a statewide non-profit consumer group active on insurance issues, encourages residents in South Texas to prepare for the possibility of having to file a catastrophic insurance claim by taking a few precautionary steps. Read More »

What do the Deepwater Horizon tragedy and medical malpractice have in common?  The same public policy of limiting accountability is failing.  In The New York Times Magazine, economist David Leonhardt discusses  human nature’s tendency to minimize the likelihood of catastrophic incidents because we just can’t get our heads around them.  In those cases, it is up to policymakers to ensure that the law of the land forces us to prepare for these never-events by ensuring there are real consequences. Read More »

Hurricane season officially starts today.  As the season begins, Texans along the coast must prepare for the possibility of this year’s storms. However, this time of the year can also serve as an important reminder for inland Texans as well.  Whether you live in the hurricane zone or not, take time to review your homeowners insurance policy now to make sure you have the coverage you need before it’s too late. Read More »

In the wake of the man-made tragedy currently unfolding in the Gulf, Gov. Rick Perry was asked about BP’s track record as a corporate citizen.  He said the company has “historically had a very good safety record from my perspective.”  When reminded about the tragedy in Texas City that killed 15 workers, the governor backpedaled slightly by saying BP knew it was under intense scrutiny with regard to safety. Read More »

AUSTIN – State Farm – the state’s largest insurance provider – has informed the state insurance department that the company plans to hike rates 4.5% beginning in May.  This comes on the heels of an 8.8% increase last October and a $700 million giveaway to the company in November.  There is nothing that state insurance regulators can do to stop the rate hike despite reservations expressed by Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin. Read More »

In a legal battle that has been going on for more than a decade, homeowners Bob and Jane Cull finally prevailed in court yesterday over mega-builder and political moneyman Bob Perry.  The jury’s decision sends a clear message that the influence of PAC contributions and high-dollar lobbyists have not yet crept into the jury box.  Politicians and activist judges should think twice before twisting the law at the behest of corporate lobbyists who abuse the public’s trust. Read More »