HB 1653 / SB 639 Relating to the ownership or operation of a motor vehicle dealership

[SW2Fiddler]

The next "Coming Soon" Texas Supercharger sure looks like it's going in Smith's district!
Representative Wayne Smith – Chairman of Licensing and Administrative Procedure

 

[Cosmacelf]

Aaaghhhh!!!
i wonder if the amount they get from the dealers is more then what they will loose if we just spread on all social media available that they are against free enterprize and fair trade and that they can be bribed into taking up issues not related to their charteer.

I think we should try to get this on social media. Shame the Easter Seals into not backing a bunch of corrupt plutocrats.

 

[SW2Fiddler]

Tesla sells good, long-range all-electric vehicles because the dealers can't or won't. Obviously it's possible. Texans are driving them today, despite the silly obstacles.
Tesla is building the electric infrastructure to charge real vehicles for real travel - because the government isn't building the electric highways.

The dealer protection laws' days are numbered, and those statute relics are all "the other side" has left. They are so scared they called in the Easter SEALs.
TM is on the high road and on the right side of history here.
Just remember, no girdle ever cured a pregnancy.

 

[evme]

One interesting thing I noticed is the media coverage about all this has been pretty bad. Usually there is far larger media coverage of these events even for smaller states. But it has been pretty hushed, only few news outlets decided to cover it (based on Google News).

On a side note, a poll:

Should Tesla Motors Be Allowed to Sell Cars Direct to Consumers in Texas? [POLL]

 

[TexasEV]

One interesting thing I noticed is the media coverage about all this has been pretty bad. Usually there is far larger media coverage of these events even for smaller states. But it has been pretty hushed, only few news outlets decided to cover it (based on Google News).

On a side note, a poll:

Should Tesla Motors Be Allowed to Sell Cars Direct to Consumers in Texas? [POLL]

It's only at 66% in favor now. Everyone please vote!

 

[Cattledog]

It's only at 66% in favor now. Everyone please vote!

94% now, must have had a low count early on.

 

[reach]

Tesla Loses Key Vote In Texas House Committee on Friday 4-17

Sadly the Texas Committee hearing House Bill 1653 that would allow Tesla to sell its vehicles in Texas did not vote on the measure on Friday 4-17. Under the Texas house procedures a bill may have a hearing and not ever be voted on. There is currently no scheduled vote on this proposed law. It is currently under the status of "heard left pending in committee" This status is likely the permanent outcome of this bill--no vote, no action, dies in committee. There is a rare opportunity to convince the Texas Licensing and Administrative Procedures" Committee members to hold a vote. This would have to be done this week. So, please contact the members of this committee if you wish to have the measure voted on and passed. The committee members are listed at this url: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Committees/MembershipCmte.aspx?LegSess=84R&...
James Reach
Tesla Owner
Oxnard, California

 

[TexasEV]

Sadly the Texas Committee hearing House Bill 1653 that would allow Tesla to sell its vehicles in Texas did not vote on the measure on Friday 4-17. Under the Texas house procedures a bill may have a hearing and not ever be voted on. There is currently no scheduled vote on this proposed law. It is currently under the status of "heard left pending in committee" This status is likely the permanent outcome of this bill--no vote, no action, dies in committee. There is a rare opportunity to convince the Texas Licensing and Administrative Procedures" Committee members to hold a vote. This would have to be done this week. So, please contact the members of this committee if you wish to have the measure voted on and passed. The committee members are listed at this url: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Committees/MembershipCmte.aspx?LegSess=84R&...
James Reach
Tesla Owner
Oxnard, California

Why? Have you watched the video of the hearing? It's not a pretty sight. What's the point in holding a vote unless there is a chance of passing it out of committee? There was no support whatsoever for Tesla in that committee. If the dealers and the representatives switched sides of the podium the outcome would be identical. I couldn't tell them apart, the way the representatives were testifying against the bill in their questioning.

It might help to have a vote anyway if the votes against the bill could be used against these representatives, but they're proud to support their auto dealer constituents. They wouldn't be embarrassed at all by their votes against Tesla.

 

[SW2Fiddler]

HB 1653 / SB 639 Relating to the ownership or operation of a motor vehicle de...

I would like for them to have to explain how they see the bill harming their auto dealer constituents in the slightest. Vote nay if you must, to protect the poor lil' dealers under attack... Just point out the words that hurt them!

 

[purplewalt]

Sadly the Texas Committee hearing House Bill 1653 that would allow Tesla to sell its vehicles in Texas did not vote on the measure on Friday 4-17. Under the Texas house procedures a bill may have a hearing and not ever be voted on. There is currently no scheduled vote on this proposed law. It is currently under the status of "heard left pending in committee" This status is likely the permanent outcome of this bill--no vote, no action, dies in committee. There is a rare opportunity to convince the Texas Licensing and Administrative Procedures" Committee members to hold a vote. This would have to be done this week. So, please contact the members of this committee if you wish to have the measure voted on and passed. The committee members are listed at this url: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Committees/MembershipCmte.aspx?LegSess=84R&...
James Reach
Tesla Owner
Oxnard, California

To tag onto Texas EV's sentiments:
What is the point of having it voted on, and even if they split 5/4 FOR it, what are the odds of it ever passing both the House and the Senate?
And then being signed into Law by the sitting Governor.

This is a no-win proposition with the current Committee, and the rest of the Usual short-sighted Suspects.
I am not being a Defeatist, just a pragmatic Realist.

It is if Tesla is viewed as if they are a "California Carpet-bagger Company" by the Committee Members.
Tesla has like 77 current employees in Texas, whereas GM has almost 19,000 current and retired employees.
Oh, and there are almost 1,200 Auto Dealerships in Texas who are bank-rolling the Committee Members.
Data don't lie.
Politicians vote to get re-elected, not to do the Right thing.

Maybe Tesla is being (re)punished for not selecting Texas as the site for the GigaFactory?


Edited: Please take the time, watch the video, then determine the odds of having an effective bill passed.
If you listen to the Committee members questions/comments, their lawyering and slathering on of compliments of the Auto Dealer constituents then draw your own conclusions.
Oh, and watch everyone rise and leave after the last Witness is heard before the Committee.

(At least) One of the Committee Members is a lawyer, he kept asking why a separate special sales system needed to be implemented for people to purchase a Tesla.
Especially if Tesla is successful (in the marketplace and with their growth) and later on decide that a more traditional marketing/dealer type arrangement is needed/required.

My Humble Opinion: This has a 77 in 19,000 chance of even passing the Committee's vote.

 

[SW2Fiddler]

"Defeatism is the acceptance of defeat without struggle, often with negative connotations. It can be linked to pessimism in psychology.

The term is commonly used in politics, and especially in the context of war to denote treason: a soldier can be a defeatist if they refuse to fight because they think that the fight will be lost for sure or that it is not worth fighting for some other reason."

 

[Cosmacelf]

So ... What's the strategy for getting this bill reversed? The only one I can see is an all out PR war against the auto dealers. Drag them and their bought and paid for politicians through the mud. Unfortunately, this is a risky strategy. Wars are unpredictable. And the politicians could retaliate by making SpaceX life miserable through holds on building permits and the like. Not to mention shutting down the Superchargers on some trumped up reason (no Fast charge permit...).

Any other ideas?

 

[SW2Fiddler]

Any other ideas?

More Light!
Make the present Business-As-Usual setup look so ridiculous that the pols have to say they were on the side of Free Market Enterprise all along, they just weren't ABLE to do anything about the outdated statute until now because {fill in the blank}.
They will of course need an 'out' that saves face, if not the continuation of campaign contributions from the deep-pocketed dealer union. They won't be able to suck that teat anymore if the dealers don't get their way 100%.
So, Somehow, make that money poisonous in the public eye. If the cash flow continues, unobserved, no change will be forthcoming.

 

[evme]

Another poll (right below the troll article)

Tesla wants to sell cars direct in Texas, but shouldn't be allowed to, Chevrolet Momentum owner says - Houston Business Journal

 

[Cosmacelf]

More Light!
Make the present Business-As-Usual setup look so ridiculous that the pols have to say they were on the side of Free Market Enterprise all along, they just weren't ABLE to do anything about the outdated statute until now because {fill in the blank}.
They will of course need an 'out' that saves face, if not the continuation of campaign contributions from the deep-pocketed dealer union. They won't be able to suck that teat anymore if the dealers don't get their way 100%.
So, Somehow, make that money poisonous in the public eye. If the cash flow continues, unobserved, no change will be forthcoming.

More light. But all the mass media are also beholden to the car dealers....

 

[ggies07]

Take the money away and what is left in their argument? Nothing. They are cowards with no spine. I can't stand people that try and stop progress for their own greed. The frustration is building to anger, which leads to hate, which leads to the dark side.....must. clear. mind.

 

[SW2Fiddler]

Another poll (right below the troll article)

Tesla wants to sell cars direct in Texas, but shouldn't be allowed to, Chevrolet Momentum owner says - Houston Business Journal

92% say ...Yes! LOL
The article made one true statement:
"Special exceptions are anti-free market, anti-competition and anti-Texan."
I was thinking of the AUTOMOBILE market exception setting them apart from other commodities like phones from the Apple Store and Dells from Dell.

<ahem>
Sorry, franchised dealers of Texas. This bill is your last chance to actually put a limit on auto manufacturer stores, to limit to NEW entries with NO franchises and limited to 12 stores. Let the lawmakers vote in committee, and give permission to your other heavily-invested assets in the House and Senate to pass it in session.
You could still agree to this compromise (a generous one at that, bending over backwards to preserve your established channels!). Think of the inevitable alternative, coming up as sure as the tide:
If and when it comes to public opinion forcing the legislature's levee to break, all that bought-and-paid-for goodwill shall wash away like the sand it's perched on.

All you have is money. We have all the time in the world. And the high ground.

Yours very truly,
Texas Tesla Driver
(10-20 Tesla UBER rides given a night. Building demand by putting BUTTS in SEATS)

 

[evme]

Some back story on what is going on in the committee:

Ethics Watchdogs Question Frasers Energy Holdings | The Texas Tribune

 

[ggies07]

Some back story on what is going on in the committee:

Ethics Watchdogs Question Frasers Energy Holdings | The Texas Tribune

wow, thanks for sharing.

 

[TexasEV]

In a way it's refreshing how honest he is. No BS about level playing fields, or how auto dealers provide consumer protection, etc. It's just that the state senators don't want to be put in a position of having to vote on something the auto dealers oppose.