AUSTIN – Today State Representative Chris Turner was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). With over 90,000 members and 403 posts across the state, the Texas VFW is the largest veterans organization in the state. The award was presented during the opening joint session of the annual VFW state convention.

According to the Texas VFW, Turner is the first freshman legislator to receive this award.

“Representative Chris Turner has been a staunch advocate for our state’s veterans and their families,” said Roy Grona, Texas VFW State Adjutant-Quartermaster. “Because of his work and leadership on veterans issues, more Texas veterans are getting the help they need and deserve.”

“I am incredibly honored and humbled by this recognition,” Turner said. “The Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars are the true heroes to the 1.7 million veterans in our state. I am proud of the work we did to pass the lottery scratch-off bill, which is benefitting countless veterans across the state of Texas.”

During the 81st Legislative Session, Representative Turner authored and passed several pieces of legislation benefitting veterans and their families. Most notably, Turner authored House Bill 1299, creating a scratch-off lottery ticket to benefit the Permanent Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA). The FVA provides grants to aid veterans and their families in times of financial need and support PTSD counseling and other veterans’ services. The lottery ticket was released on November 9, 2009 and has raised over $5.5 million for the FVA.

Turner, who was named “Freshman of the Year” by the bipartisan House Veterans Caucus and given the “Leadership Award” from the Texas Veterans Commission and “Legislator of the Year” by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Texas State Council, also passed legislation requiring institutions of higher education to designate a financial aid specialist to be trained on issues related to veterans’ programs, including the GI Bill and the Hazelwood Act.

He was also the House sponsor of legislation to allow state employees, who are members of military reserves or National Guard, to continue to accrue their sick and vacation leave time while they are on active military duty.

AUSTIN — Giant wind turbines dotting the Texas landscape have made the Lone Star State the nation’s leader in the development of wind power, but they may also pose a hazard to military installations by interfering with crucial radar operations, state lawmakers were told Tuesday.

Standing 250 feet high with 150-foot-long blades, the wind turbines could cause false signals on radar and endanger aerial maneuvers or produce erroneous information about storm conditions, several military officials told the House Committee on Defense and Veterans’ Affairs.

Interviewed afterward, the officials said they are unaware of crashes or serious accidents resulting from radar interference but expressed concern that windmill encroachment around the state’s military bases could become a growing problem.

Navy Capt. Tracy “T.D.” Smyers, commander of Naval Air Station Fort Worth, who also testified, said the issue isn’t a problem for his installation since there is minimal wind production in North Texas. But he offered suggestions on how communities can work together with military installations to resolve such conflicts, including consulting with base officials.

Smyers cited what he is said is a “great relationship” between the Naval Air Station, on the western edge of Fort Worth, and six surrounding communities, as well as Tarrant County. The communities work with the air station through a Regional Coordination Committee to discuss compatible land use and other issues, Smyers said.

Potential hazard

The concerns raised by other military officials underscore a potential downside of Texas’ emergence as the nation’s leading producer of wind energy.

More than 6,000 wind turbines have sprung up in parts of far West Texas and the Panhandle and along the Gulf Coast in response to the nation’s growing demand for alternative energy. A wind farm in Roscoe, near Abilene, is believed to be the world’s largest.

“The challenge is finding the right balance between promoting wind power and protecting our military installations,” said Rep. Chris Turner, D-Burleson, a member of the committee.

Patrick Woodson of Austin, chief development officer for E.ON Climate and Renewables, one of Texas’ leading wind producers, told the committee that industry officials are open to working with military installations.

“I don’t think anybody in our industry has an interest in limiting any mission,” Woodson said. “We don’t think it needs to be either/or.”

Lt. Col. Michael Bob Starr, commander of the 7th Operations Support Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, said windmills throughout West Texas could pose a potential hazard to B-1 bombers and C-130 transports that fly missions from the base. More than 2,000 turbines have been built within 100 miles of Dyess and others are farther west.

Starr said base officials have persuaded wind turbine developers to redesign projects to avoid adversely affecting operations on or near the base. But he said wind turbines elsewhere in West Texas can interfere with low-level training missions that can sometimes extend up to 120 miles from the base.

In the worst case, Starr said in a statement, they can form “an unknown and potentially catastrophic hazard to our aircrews.”

Radar shadow

Additionally, he said, a dense cluster of wind turbines near the town of Albany can produce a “radar shadow” north and west of Dyess that often obscures severe weather approaching the base.

Committee members were told that the moving windmill blades can create erroneous patterns on radar. Dave Dahl, a Navy official from Jacksonville, Fla., said military officials should be informed about construction plans well in advance to have a chance to weigh in.

Capt. Philip Waddingham, commanding officer of Naval Air Station Kingsville, expressed concern about proposals to greatly expand the number of windmills in the region, which he described as a prime training area for the Navy’s student pilots.

As “these wind farms are built closer and closer to the Naval Air Station,” he said, “we anticipate there being a negative impact.”

ARLINGTON – A repeat drunk driver, John Patrick Barton had three prior convictions and now faces murder charges.

However, his is not the only face that has sparked outrage over the state’s drunk driving laws. Stewart Richardson had seven previous convictions before his alleged eighth left an Arlington child in a vegetative state. If convicted, Richardson’s sentence cannot exceed 20 years, no matter how many convictions.

Now, there is a push to change that.

State Rep. Chris Turner is leading the effort for tougher DWI laws, which would be called Abdallah’s Law, named after three-year-old Abdallah Khader.

While the law wouldn’t help Abdallah, it could help other victims and maybe get more drunks off the roads.

Steroids now help keep Abdallah alive in a permanent vegetative state. Abdallah can’t move, but his story has moved a lot of people. About 10,000 people have signed up on the Facebook page “Pray for Abdallah.” People are outraged by the long DWI history of Richardson, the driver who crushed the Khader family’s car, leaving Abdallah in his current state.

“A person with seven DWIs before, I thought it was obvious to put this man in jail for life,” said Loubna Elharazin, Abdallah’s mother.

Prior to the crash with the Khader family,  the DWIs were in other states. Unless Texas prosecutors convince an appeals court otherwise, the most Richardson faces if convicted is 20 years.

“I think the time is right for the legislature to act on this, and really, really get aggressive with drunk driving,” Turner said.

Turner, who met with Abdallah’s family, wants laws tightened to make sure all out-of-state DWIs carry their full weight in Texas courts. Turner also wants tougher penalties for intoxication assault when the results are catastrophic.

“Obviously, that type of catastrophic injury is far different than breaking a leg, breaking an arm, that sort of thing,” he said.

Change in DWI cases is something Abdallah’s mother hopes will save lives.

“No law that’s going to get passed will take this pain away,” she said. “It’s not going to change anything, but it will protect other people.”

Khader turns four next week. His family will throw him a party, but just like his third birthday, he’ll never know it.

Texas is the worst state for drunk driving deaths. In the state of Texas, there were 1,292 alcohol-related deaths in 2007. Twenty-one percent of were in North Texas, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Saturday, dozens of members of “Abdallah’s Army,” as they call themselves, will don their bright yellow T-shirts and take part in the annual Walk Like MADD, sponsored by MADD. Thousands are expected to take part in the walk, which begins at 8:30 a.m.

AUSTIN – To leading lawmakers and even some insurance industry experts, State Farm hasn’t exactly been like a good neighbor in recent dealings with state regulators.

The state’s largest property insurer shows no sign of compromising on its marathon legal battle over the state’s ruling that it overcharged homeowners hundreds of millions of dollars.

The insurer – which had an improved bottom line in 2009, according to figures released Monday by the state – has yet to pay a penny to policyholders.

After filing twice in eight months to increase rates, company officials gave a cold shoulder last month to state Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin, who suggested State Farm needed to give its customers a break.

And on Thursday, State Farm will take Geeslin and the Texas Department of Insurance to court in an effort to keep the agency from publicizing documents related to the rate spikes, which represent a statewide increase of 13 percent.

Meeting obligations

Company representatives insist that State Farm is just protecting its financial interests and those of its 1.2 million Texas customers with homeowner policies. State Farm also insures about 3 million drivers in Texas.

“Quite frankly, we do this on a regular basis because we have to react whenever necessary to remain in a financial position that allows us to meet our obligations” to policyholders, said Kevin Davis, a spokesman for State Farm in Texas.

Consumer advocates and some lawmakers, who will consider new insurance regulations next year, contend that State Farm has no incentive to abandon its tough-minded tactics as long as the law allows insurers to implement rate increases without the state’s consent.

“I don’t think any insurance company should be allowed to get to the point where they are too big and powerful to be regulated,” said Alex Winslow of Texas Watch, a consumer group active in insurance issues. He accused State Farm of “taking advantage of the marketplace.”

Public Insurance Counsel Deeia Beck, whose state agency represents consumers, said that while State Farm has “a legal right to do what they’re doing, I don’t think it has been a good path to choose” – particularly for its customers.

She noted that the company has used similar tactics in Louisiana and in Florida, where State Farm declared last year that it was going to pull out of the state. It reversed course only after state regulators agreed to let the company raise homeowner rates nearly 15 percent and drop about 125,000 policies.

Dispute over ’03 order

State Farm’s longest-running dispute with Texas is litigation over a 2003 state order for the company to slash its rates 12 percent and issue refunds for excessive charges.

The state’s public insurance counsel said last year that the company owed nearly $1 billion in overcharges and penalty interest. Geeslin offered to settle the case for $310 million in refunds, but State Farm held firm that it owed nothing. The case is back in court again.

“State Farm’s rates are, and always have been, competitive and reflect the risks of the Texas market,” Davis said.

Among the risks, the company argues, are unpredictable weather. Davis also noted that the company has paid billions in claims in recent years and ranks high in customer-service ratings compiled by the state.

Davis rejected the assertion that State Farm constantly battles with the Insurance Department, noting that the company and department staffers frequently cooperate on a variety of regulatory issues.

But some lawmakers are growing impatient, particularly after the company announced the back-to-back rate hikes.

“Most families in North Texas haven’t seen their incomes go up by double digits this year, yet these big insurance companies think it’s OK to increase their premiums by double-digit increases,” said Rep. Chris Turner, D-Burleson. “With Texans already paying the second-highest homeowners insurance rates in the nation, this is unacceptable.”

Several other House members have made similar comments about State Farm in recent weeks.

Sen. Glenn Hegar, who as chairman of the Sunset Advisory Commission will lead a review of insurance regulations soon, voiced unhappiness with State Farm’s decision to try to block publication of certain documents related to the company’s two rate hikes. The agency has already posted most of the rate filings on its Web site – the first time it has done so for any insurer.

“Texans have an absolute right to full transparency and disclosure when an insurance company is attempting to increase rates on its customers,” said Hegar, R-Katy. “I will not allow [insurers] to hide behind the curtain of confidentiality when their actions impact ratepayers and Texas consumers.”

State Farm contends that the documents contain proprietary information that could harm its business interests if competitors see it. The company says no other state allows the release of such information.

Talk of prior approval

One industry insider with close ties to many legislators said he was “amazed at how belligerent State Farm has been in dealing with the Insurance Department.” He also voiced concern that the disagreements could lead to legislation next year that would put a tighter grip on insurance company premiums.

Most talked-about among lawmakers is a switch to a system that would require home and auto insurers to get prior approval from the state before implementing a rate increase. Under the current file-and-use law, companies are allowed to immediately impose higher rates once they have notified the insurance department.

Timing questioned

The commissioner can object and order refunds – plus penalty interest – if the new rates are deemed excessive.

When State Farm notified Geeslin of its most recent increase, the commissioner said the timing was “not in the best interests of Texas consumers” and asked company officials to voluntarily withdraw the rate plan. State Farm refused and said it will implement the changes next month.

“State Farm is the poster child for what is wrong with the system, and the commissioner has given them too much latitude,” said Winslow of Texas Watch.

Davis countered that a prior-approval requirement would be a mistake because the current system fosters competition among companies – and better prices.

“Competition is the most effective regulator of rates,” he said, also pointing out that the commissioner has the ability to regulate rates under the current system.

Background: Texas vs. the insurance giant

State Farm’s battles with the state:

May 2003: The Legislature approves an insurance overhaul to combat record increases in homeowner rates caused by massive claims for mold and water damage.

September 2003: Ordered by the Texas Department of Insurance to reduce its “excessive” rates 12 percent, State Farm files suit to block the order, arguing that its rates are fair.

December 2004: Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, citing a record $600 million in profits by State Farm over a 15-month period, calls on the company to quit stalling and cut its rates.

July 2006: Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin rejects a bid by State Farm to increase rates 23 percent in Dallas County and 11 percent statewide. Geeslin also requires prior approval for future hikes.

May 2008: A state appeals court overturns Geeslin’s prior-approval order and sends the case back to Geeslin for hearings to determine whether the company has overcharged its customers.

April 2009: The commissioner begins hearings in the State Farm case. The Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel contend the company owes hundreds of millions of dollars in refunds while State Farm says it owes nothing.

November 2009: Geeslin orders State Farm to refund $310 million to its Texas customers for overcharges dating to 2003. The amount is far less than the $1 billion that the state’s public insurance counsel says is owed.

November 2009: State Farm rejects Geeslin’s order and says it will take the long-running case back to state court. A spokesman for the company compares the order to the financial stress that State Farm faced with its massive Hurricane Ike losses in 2008.

SOURCE: Dallas Morning News research

State Reps. Kent, Miklos and Turner respond to recent rate hikes by Texas’ largest insurance provider

AUSTIN – Today State Representatives Carol Kent, Robert Miklos and Chris Turner renewed their call for comprehensive insurance reform in light of last week’s announcement that State Farm, Texas’ largest homeowners insurance provider, will raise rates by 4.5% in May, just seven months after an 8.8% rate hike. This comes on the tail of recent rate increases by both Allstate and Farmers Insurance.

“Most families in North Texas haven’t seen their incomes go up by double digits this year, yet these big insurance companies think it’s ok to increase their premiums by double-digit percentages,” said Representative Chris Turner (HD 96-Burleson). “With Texans already paying the second highest homeowners insurance rates in the nation, this is unacceptable.”

In November, Allstate announced a 9.8% jump in their homeowner’s insurance rates. In January, Farmers Insurance, the third largest insurance company in the state, proposed raising rates 10% statewide and 11% for North Texas area customers. According to the Dallas Morning News, after Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin called the hikes, “excessive and discriminatory,” Farmers agreed to only increase their rates by 4.5%. However, the company will be allowed to charge the excessive rate through March 2011 and keep the premiums they have already overcharged.

Currently, insurance companies are required to notify the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) of rate increases, but TDI has no authority to block these rate hikes.

“The insurance commissioner should have the power to stop outrageous rate increases,” said State Representative Robert Miklos (HD 101 – Mesquite). “By increasing their rates by double digits in less than a year, State Farm is sending a message that it is ok to for insurance companies to line their pockets at the expense of consumers.”

In an attempt to combat overnight rate hikes by insurance companies, legislation has been filed in the past to create a “prior approval” system, which would give TDI the power to approve or deny these rate increases and give the agency true oversight over this industry. Many of the filed measures would have allowed for increased public input when insurance companies ask to raise their rates.

“During the next Legislative Session, when TDI is up for sunset review, we need some common sense oversight to protect homeowners.” said State Representative Carol Kent (HD 102 – Dallas). “There are far too many North Texas families struggling to make ends meet in this economy, and raising their insurance rates over and over again will just make that struggle even harder.”

In late May, the Legislative Sunset Advisory Commission, comprised of six member of the Texas Senate and six member of the Texas House, will begin to review TDI. Once the review process is complete, the advisory committee will present its recommendations to the 82nd Legislature.

State Representatives Carol Kent and Robert Miklos represent Dallas County districts. Representative Chris Turner represents southern Tarrant County.

New $2 Ticket Will Provide Much Needed Funding for Veterans’ Programs

ARLINGTON - Today State Senators Chris Harris and Wendy Davis and State Representative Chris Turner were joined by fellow legislators and veterans’ leaders at a press conference as they purchased some of the first Veterans Cash Texas Lottery scratch-off tickets to go on sale. Stores across the state began selling the ticket Monday, November 9, and the game will be in full circulation by Wednesday, November 11, Veterans’ Day. The proceeds from the ticket will benefit the Permanent Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA).

The FVA was created by Legislature in 2007 to aid those who served our nation in uniform, as well as their families. Since its creation, the fund has received very little financial assistance and as a result, organizations that aid veterans in need are having to look elsewhere for grants and funding sources.

“With the launch of this game today, we are saying ‘thank you’ to the men and women of our state who have risked so much in service to our nation,” said Rep. Turner, who pushed the Veterans Cash legislation through the House earlier this year. “The revenue from this game will provide meaningful funding for the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance to help provide grants for job placement services, health care costs and PTSD and TBI treatment for Texas veterans.”

“Texas is currently home to more than 1.7 million veterans who dedicated their lives and service in order to protect our freedoms,” said Senator Harris. “We, as Texans, owe these men and women as well as their families a great debt of gratitude. Veterans Cash will set up the stream of revenue enabling the Texas Veterans Commission, and all Texans, a way to say thank you for a job well done and welcome home.”

“I am thrilled to take part in the release of Veterans Cash which will create the greatly needed revenue source allowing Texas the ability to give back and take care of our returning veterans and their families, who have so selflessly given their service for our protection,” continued Harris.

“On behalf of veterans across the state, I cannot thank Senator Harris, Senator Van De Putte and Representative Turner enough for their hard work to pass the measure creating the Veterans Cash scratch-off and being tireless advocates for veterans and their families.” said John Miterko, Legislative Liaison, Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations.

The Legislative Budget Board projects that the single scratch-off game will mean an economic impact for the Permanent Fund for Veterans’ Assistance in the amount of approximately $9 million during the first full year it is in circulation.

During the 81st Legislative Session, HB 1299 by State Representative Chris Turner and its Senate companion, SB 421 by Senators Van De Putte and Chris Harris, were filed to create the lottery scratch-off game. HB 1299 passed the House with only minutes to spare and was eventually added to Senator Van De Putte’s SB 1655. The passage of legislation to create this scratch-off ticket has been a top priority for veterans’ organizations across the State of Texas.

• Wrote and passed the law to create a new veterans’ scratch-off lottery ticket, which will provide an estimated $8 million annually for critical and emergency aid to Texas veterans.  This was a top priority for every major veterans group in Texas.  The scratch-off ticket was released for sale on November 9, 2009.

• Wrote and passed the law that will help veterans and their families receive the financial aid benefits they have earned through their service by requiring state colleges and universities designate a professional in their financial aid office is familiar with and trained on the major educational benefits available to veterans. This measure was signed into law and effective immediately.

• Strongly supported the property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans.

• Authored and passed a law that would allow state employees to continue to accrue sick and vacation time when they deployed for active duty military service.

• Wrote a measure that would allow the spouses of soldiers killed in the line of duty or 100% disabled as a result of their service to be eligible for Hazelwood educational benefits. This was added to a larger piece of legislation, passed and signed into law.

As a result of this work, and other measures benefiting veterans and their families, Chris was named the bi-partisan Legislative Veteran’s Caucus “Freshman of the Year” and given the Texas Veterans’ Commission “Leadership Award.”

Chris co-authored a $170 million tax cut which will exempt small businesses with less than $1 million of revenue from paying Texas franchise taxes.  Chris also co-authored legislation to expand the back-to-school sales tax holiday to cover school supplies.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today as we honor the service and sacrifice of the American Veteran.

As I look at this crowd here today, I am reminded of the patriotism of this community and of the tremendous respect this community has for those who have worn our nation’s uniform and served our country.

As we observe this Veterans Day, let us take a moment to remember those who lost their lives at Fort Hood last week. As Army soldiers on active duty, they gave their lives in service to our nation. And while we try to understand the senselessness of it all, there is no confusion whatsoever about the sacrifice of those who lost their lives and their families, nor the valor of those whose heroism saved so many other lives Thursday afternoon.

One of the great privileges I have as your representative in the Texas House is that I serve on the Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee. I consider it a privilege, because it has afforded me the opportunity to work closely with veterans leaders from across the state on issues important to the 1.7 million veterans who call Texas home, as well as our active duty service members and their families.

My work on these issues is guided by a recognition and a realization that there is simply no way that the tremendous sacrifices made by veterans and their families can ever be appropriately repaid, no matter how many laws benefitting veterans are passed in Austin or in Washington. The sacrifices made by those who serve are simply too great.

24 million Americans have served our nation in uniform, from the Battles of Lexington and Concord some 234 years ago to the mountains of Afghanistan and the sands of Iraq today. These veterans of our nation’s Armed Forces have come from backgrounds as varied and diverse as our nation itself.

They are rich and poor. Black, White, Latino, Asian, Native American. Christian, Jewish and Muslim. Men and women. They come from small farming communities in rural America and from our country’s biggest cities. They are from right here in Texas, and they are from New York City and Los Angeles and everywhere in between.
But for all their disparate backgrounds, America’s veterans are alike, in that they answered a call to service, and gave selflessly of themselves for their country.

In short, America’s veterans are common people who have demonstrated uncommon courage.
When I visit with veterans – whether they served in World War II or recently came back from Iraq — I am always struck by their tremendous humility. I am sure many of you have had this experience, when you thank a veteran for his or her service or praise them for their heroism, the reply is invariably, “I was just doing my job.”

And what a job they have done.

America’s veterans won our nation’s independence. They fought despots and dictators in World Wars I and II and took on the communists in Korea and Vietnam. For the last eight years, our service members have fought a global war on terrorism.

Throughout all these and many other conflicts in our nation’s history, along with the often risky duties involved in peacetime, America’s veterans have made our country free and kept it free. They have defended democracy, liberty and the American way of life. They have liberated people from the tyranny of madmen across the globe. And in so doing, they will say, “I was just doing my job.”

Well, today a grateful nation says, “thank you, for a job well done.”

We also today recognize the sacrifice of our veterans’ families. Let me ask, do any of the students here have a mom or dad who has served in the military? Even though they may not have put on a uniform, they have served our nation in very meaningful ways. The constant fear and worry for their loved ones, the special moments in a child’s life that are missed because of a deployment, the apprehension a spouse must feel when there is an unexpected knock at the door or late night phone call. Indeed, the families of veterans and service members sacrifice much for this country. The families of the 240,000 Texans who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan in the last eight years know this all too well.

It is my hope, as we remember these sacrifices and celebrate the heroism of America’s veterans on this day, that we will collectively rededicate ourselves to giving back to those who have given so much to all of us.

Consider the wise words of our nation’s first President, George Washington: “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were appreciated and treated by their nation.”

And so let’s ask ourselves, all of us, how can we do more?

Can we see that any veteran in the state of Texas who wants to work can get a decent paying job to support his or her family?

Can we see that every veteran who wants to go to school and continue their education have the opportunity to do so?

Can we make sure that every veteran who has PTSD as a result of serving our country can get the help he or she understandably needs?

And can we agree that no veteran of this nation’s Armed Forces should be sleeping on the streets of any Texas city tonight, and that we’ll do all we can to end the disgrace of veterans homelessness?

I think the answer to all these questions is yes. In the words of another veteran, and another President, John F. Kennedy, “as we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

So it’s my hope that after the speeches are over and we leave here today, we will all try our best to demonstrate our appreciation in real, tangible ways to America’s veterans.

Chris supported increasing the Texas Grant program, which will make college financial aid available for an additional 24,000 middle-class Texas families.  Chris believes we must do more to make college more affordable for all deserving students.

Chris co-authored H.B. 51, which opens the door for “emerging research universities,” such as the University of Texas at Arlington, to become a “Top Tier” research university.  More Top Tier schools will bring more good-paying jobs to Texas and Tarrant County.

Chris also wrote and passed the law requiring all Texas colleges and universities to have a financial aid specialist trained on the GI Bill and the Hazelwood Act, so that Texas veterans get every dine of benefits they have earned through their service.