PHARR, Texas - Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock has defended his decision to change aspects of the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program.
His actions have come in for criticism from the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce.
On October 28, Hancock’s office halted new HUB certifications, citing Executive Order GA-55, which prohibits awarding contracts based on race, ethnicity, or sex. MALC and TAMACC dispute that HUB is race-based, arguing it does not impose set-asides.
The RGG Business Journal interviewed Hancock on a recent visit to the Pharr International Bridge. He said:
“There was litigation that would have cost taxpayer dollars, and so we looked at, number one, making sure we had no discrimination in any policies, or that we had coming in our office,” Hancock said.
Hancock said the changes his office has made to HUB help to “level the playing field.”
He explained: “It allows everybody to be on the same playing field, and everybody to participate in any procurement and or contract within the state. And really, as chief financial officer for the State, what we really should be about with other people's tax dollars is best value.
“And what this allows us to do is, rather than focusing on race or gender, best value for taxpayer dollars, to make sure that we're addressing that the way we should.”
Hancock said he was aware of the criticism from groups such as MALC and TAMACC.
Hancock added: “We want to make sure that anybody who wants to do business in Texas, has a level playing field, and that there is no discrimination. And that we don't assume by race or gender that somebody is in one economic position or another. And so that's what we're trying to do, save taxpayer dollars, level the playing field, and remove any type of discriminatory practices from the state.”
Here is a video recording of the remarks by Hancock about the HUB program:
