TAB never gets tired of reading the stories about how our state has beat the
recession (CNN), how workers nationwide are migrating to Texas because of jobs
and no income tax (Economist), and how our employers have expanded payrolls
(Dallas Morning News).
To be able to produce news headlines such as these, TAB fought and continues to
fight, fearlessly against both federal and state legislation that would hinder
business growth, deny economic development and increase costs for employers.
In an effort to keep Texas’ economy growing, and to keep the jobs coming, TAB’s
general business priorities are:
Auto choice. Support changes in state law allowing drivers to choose
between the current system, in which they can sue for non-economic damages, and
a new system under which they would waive the option to recover non-economic
damages.
Contracting. Oppose legislation that restricts the ability of private
parties to contract.
Fund Balances. Oppose any effort to reduce the budget of a fee-funded
regulatory program for the purpose of redirecting the fee revenues to another
purpose. Support efforts to reduce unobligated fund balances in regulatory fee
funds by reducing fees to match expenditures and to eliminate overpayments by
affected businesses and industries. Support legislative efforts to more clearly
identify the source of funds for regulatory programs and fees that unfairly
recover more than the costs of the programs that they pay for.
Industrial facility security. Oppose industrial facility security
legislation at the state level to avoid the piecemeal effect of different
requirements in each state, and support reasonable legislation at the federal
level.
Industrial facility operation in emergencies. Support clarification of
the law relating to plant closures during emergencies. There is current
confusion over how individual facilities will interface with government agencies
during evacuation orders, including personnel availability for safe shut downs,
personnel who stay at the plant during emergencies, and personnel who need to
return to work for timely plant start ups.
Internet Regulation. Oppose any attempt to apply state regulation to
Internet services or providers. Government intervention in the broadband
marketplace through the imposition of restrictive policies, such as measures to
control how providers price, market and manage their products and services,
would deter innovation, reduce competition and thwart continued investment in,
and enhancement of, broadband networks.
Insurance fraud. Support anti-fraud insurance legislation and enforcement
that costs Texas businesses and individuals millions of dollars in the insurance
marketplace.
Mineral rights. Support mineral owners’ access as they exercise their
mineral rights while ensuring fair treatment for surface land owners.
No pay, no play. Support reforms that would prevent uninsured motorists
from collecting pain and suffering damages if they are in an accident with an
insured driver.
Professional Licensing. Oppose any legislation that would further
regulate the activities of a private corporation or other business entity,
including the activities of the full-time employees or other personnel under the
direct supervision and control of the business entity by requiring the employees
to hold professional licenses. Licensing should only be required where deemed
appropriate and where it would affect the public at large.
Outsourcing and off-shoring. Oppose legislation that infringes on a
company's right to outsource resources. Outsourcing (contracting out a non-core
function of a business such as accounting or payroll) is not a new phenomenon.
Nor is the fact that some of this work is conducted outside of the U.S.
(off-shoring). Off-shoring has been a relatively small fraction of U.S. job loss
and accounts for less than 1 percent of all U.S. jobs. Both outsourcing and
off-shoring are tools companies use to remain competitive in a world market and
to preserve manufacturing jobs in Texas and the U.S.
Privacy & information practices. Encourage and support business efforts
to develop and disclose comprehensive, market-driven privacy policies. Oppose
efforts that would create a "patchwork-quilt" of state laws that would further
impede the growth of Internet commerce. Work to ensure an environment that
supports increased high-tech business development in Texas and the continued
development of electronic business-to-business transactions.
Property and Casualty Insurance. Oppose legislation that would create a
prior approval insurance regulatory structure. TAB believes that the marketplace
is the best mechanism for determining the right rate for insurance policies.
Oppose any additional regulations on companies that could substantially hurt
business and job-growth in Texas.
Record votes. Support the recording of legislative votes during and after
floor debate in the Texas Legislature.
Relocation of facilities in municipal and state rights-of-way. Support a
return to the long-standing state law whereby utilities that have placed
facilities in public rights-of-way to serve the state's citizens are not forced
to pay for relocations required by governmental entities for improvements and
projects beyond normal roadway widening and straightening.
Regulatory Fees and Taxes. Oppose any new taxes to pay for additional
regulatory programs. Oppose the imposition of any new fees to recover the cost
of regulatory programs unless the program can be shown to clearly address a
critical public need. Fees should only be assessed to recover the actual costs
imposed on government by the activities of the regulated entities. The fees must
reasonably allocate the costs between members of a regulated universe, and they
must be adjusted periodically to actually match agency budgets and legislative
appropriations.
Sarbanes-Oxley. Oppose efforts to enact a “Sarbanes-Oxley” law on the
state level. The federal Sarbanes-Oxley act of 2002 and subsequent regulations
establish very stringent corporate reporting requirements and stiff penalties
for corporate accounting fraud. It is completely unnecessary, and would be
duplicative, to enact state laws as well.
Staff Counsel. Oppose legislation to limit the use of staff counsel by
insurance companies to defend policyholders.
Support TexasOneSM. Support the mission of TexasOneSM
which is to create a public/private partnership to market Texas in a dynamic and
competitive manner. TexasOneSM is funded through private contributions by
businesses, organizations and individuals interested in the promotion of the
business climate, economic development, and job creation the state of Texas.