Mold a factor in Texas race

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http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/special/vg02gen/1625698

Oct. 24, 2002, 1:48PM

Krebs runs against Elkins to represent district 135

Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

Krebs, a Democratic lawyer and Certified Public Accountant, is running

to replace Republican Rep. Elkins in Texas House District 135. The

district is in northwest County around Beltway 8.

Elkins, who is running for a fifth term, said a key issue for the next

legislative session will be dealing with higher rates and reduced

availability of homeowners insurance, problems he said arose primarily

because of increasing numbers of mold claims. Insurance companies want to

exclude mold from coverage to decrease premiums but homeowners don't want to

be left vulnerable if their residences are infected.

" I don't know what the right solution is, " Elkins said. " But it's an issue

we're going to have to address and deal with. "

Another top issue for Elkins is the state's impending budget crisis. Revenue

is expected to fall billions of dollars short of planned expenditures.

" We have honestly two choices, " Elkins said. " Either we're going to raise

taxes, which I'm personally opposed to, or we're going to cut our spending,

which is what I'm going to be fighting for. "

Elkins said it will be tough to slash spending but he feels people will be

more willing to make sacrifices in the government services they expect in

order to keep their taxes at current levels.

Krebs faulted Elkins and other officials for letting the state spend more

than it has. If elected, he said he " will start looking to see how in fact

we can best use those dollars. " Everything should be on the table, he said,

and the Legislature probably will need to fashion a combination of budget

cuts and tax increases to make ends meet. Applying the sales tax to services

such as lawyers' fees is one option, he said.

On a regional issue, Elkins said he is not happy with the state's decision

to impose a 55-mph " clean air " speed limit on Houston- area highways and its

new plan to raise the limit to 65 mph. Elkins said if the old 70 mph maximum

is not restored, he'll introduce a bill making it an environmental

violation, not a traffic infraction, to speed in an area where the limit is

lowered for clean-air reasons. This would keep violators' driving records

clear and not affect their auto insurance premiums, he said.

Krebs, making his first run for public office, said he'll fight to ensure

the Houston region gets its fair share of state transportation funds. He

wants current dollars spent more wisely, arguing the plan to widen

Interstate 10 west of Loop 610 is a " fiasco " that will be nothing more than

" building a bigger parking lot. "

Having emerged from a recent cancer battle, Krebs said he plans to press for

legislation vetoed last session to require insurance companies to pay

hospitals and doctors promptly.

-- LUCAS WALL