Red Alert- Texas

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March 2010

Texas cartel:

One word tells your whole story: FRAUD

IDPC recently received an article written by Catherine Hendricks, Executive Director of the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE) entitled, "Registered Interior Designers: One word tells your whole story <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103209024960&s=5350&e=001Ffja2A1skIspQNunZMW_7TQkWOgnvzQpRkIhqsB8SRYtsjzE2tB_Xge-ZBriiHtsrbSz3jWNl1YX-9PHZwyqnChHwYaeXhlufuexWCuW5LA9WZRsEhjubmyY_4Br9P2Jx1uMwhXIh7w=> ."

In the tradition of all cartel writings,we found Ms. Hendricks to be incredibly disingenuous, and misleading.

Ms Hendricks calls the lifting of the prohibition on the title "interior designer" a mere "simple change." What she purposefully fails to mention was that the change was ONLY made because a federal court ORDERED them to change the law since it violated both the Texas and Federal Constitution. It was only after the Court declared it a violation of the law that the Board, who had fought vigorously to maintain its discriminatory prohibition and monopoly, was forced to give in. If it was so simple, why did it take a court order to get them to recognize the right of non-registrants to call themselves "interior designers"?

Ms. Hendricks goes on to claim that TBAE's sole interest is the "health, safety, and welfare of the public." This is an absurd allegation because (1) Texas only has a title law, and a title act doesn't prevent anyone from practicing, and (2) there is not a shred of evidence -- in Texas or anywhere else -- that the unregulated practice of interior designers places the public in any form of jeopardy whatsoever.

Next, she disingenuously professes to be neutral by maintaining "we don't promote the profession, or the industry, or any individual or group of professionals." However, it is well-established that Ms. Hendrick is far from neutral on this matter and not without conflict. It was clear from the transcript of her deposition that she was instrumental in passing the title act and has been an activist for full-blown occupational licensing - she has appeared before the legislature to urge just such a law. She was a founding and current member of TAID, financially contributed to that organization, and previously served as its president. She also received the ASID presidential citation for distinguished service award in 2003 - 9 years into her tenure as Executive Director of the licensing Board. Impartial? We think not. She clearly is indoctrinated and a staunch advocate for TAID, ASID, and other members of the pro-regulation cartel.

Most disingenuous of all however is this statement:

"There are many ways we protect the public, but in this story we're focused here on one method: ensuring that the public is not misled in seeking the services of a design professional and ensuring that those professionals maintain the minimum professional standards set by law."

Ms. Hendricks is fully aware that is not true. In her deposition, she was forced to acknowledge that potentially as many as 84% of the Texas "registered interior designers" were grandfathered under the original 1991 bill which merely required that they have 6 years of experience as an interior designer, and that there were a "flood of applications" granted under this grandfathering provision. She also admitted under oath, that the marketing and public information about "registered interior designers" is, at best, misleading and inaccurate. IDPC and our colleagues in the Freedom Movement have a different term for it:

FRAUD upon the public.

But don't take our word for it - click here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103209024960&s=5350&e=001Ffja2A1skIt0_JfssrhUH9YcDg-mkwaIzkuODiSJ2sxLenxeoPRXUFkd4WzarlLMdKNxjj9nhmrrkVoNT-wMIu7tZHbJBzwYFU-ufTn9ndy4ta48rfXmFT9nAcTvVP_gnMGj6HpZT0U=> to read her own words in this short excerpt from her deposition (substitute the term "registered interior designer" for interior design or designer where appropriate as the analysis is the same) as well as additional rebuttal comments.