Monthly Archives: May 2005

Judis on DeLay

Posted on May 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

John Judis has a piece on Tom DeLay that’s worth reading. It’s probably the first piece in a national publication that analyzes DeLay’s current situation in a non-surface fashion. One correction that needs to be made: [W]hile many of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

HB1167

Posted on May 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I got an email tip over the weekend about HB1167, which is a bill about housing for low-income residents. It’s a massive 100+ page bill that’s scheduled for a second reading tomorrow, and I’ll quote from the bill analysis page … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on HB1167

Toll tag update

Posted on May 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Good news: Once again, efforts to add tracking technology to vehicle inspection or registration stickers have been defeated. Bad news: Unfortunately, as Scott points out, plans to build a big honking biometrics database of all Texas drivers are still on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

So much for that

Posted on May 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a saying in politics that if you’re going to lose, it’s better to lose big so that there’s no doubt in your mind about it. I don’t know if the same is true for sports, but there’s no doubt … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 2 Comments

Election results

Posted on May 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Busy day across Texas yesterday. In San Antonio, it’ll be Castro versus Hardberger in the runoff. Dallas voters soundly defeated a proposition to make theirs a strong-mayor system. The smoking ban passed in Austin. Virginia DuPuy is the new mayor … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 3 Comments

Services for Rep. Joe Moreno

Posted on May 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Stace reports on the planned services for Rep. Joe Moreno, who was killed in a car crash Thursday night. Visitation & Rosary: Monday, 5/9/05 Visitation: 6 p.m., Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, 1111 Pierce, Houston, TX Rosary: 7 p.m. Public Viewing & … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Regular radio reminder

Posted on May 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It’s Saturday, so that means it’s time once again to tune in to BizRadio 1320 at 10:15 to listen to Kevin Whited and me on the radio. I’m thinking I’ll have a few words to say about Jeff Van Gundy … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 1 Comment

Liveblogging the election

Posted on May 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Red State will be giving continual coverage of election-related events in San Antonio today. He’s already voted this morning – if you live in SA, you should be voting today, too. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | Comments Off on Liveblogging the election

Van Gundy and Johnson

Posted on May 7, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I did not see any coverage of this yesterday, but apparently Dallas Mavericks Coach Avery Johnson had a little meltdown after Game 6: A lot of things surprise me. You know one of the things that surprises me? Here a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Van Gundy and Johnson

“Louie Louie” reinstated

Posted on May 6, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

What a relief: It’s safe to play “Louie Louie” after all. Benton Harbor Supt. Paula Dawning reversed her decision Thursday after parents at McCord Middle School came out in support of the song. “The school district operates in collaboration with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 1 Comment

Abramoff and SunCruz

Posted on May 6, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Since we first heard the name “Jack Abramoff”, there have been plenty of stories which have shown him to be a sleazy and unethical greedhead. You can add this one, which Steve compared to a “third-rate episode of The Sopranos” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

State Rep. Joe Moreno killed in car crash

Posted on May 6, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Some very sad news. LA GRANGE — State Rep. Joseph Moreno of Houston was killed today when a pickup truck he was driving overturned on a highway. State Rep. Rafael Anchia of Dallas and a legislative staffer suffered minor injuries. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 4 Comments

“Louie Louie” forever!

Posted on May 6, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’d like to take a moment and thank Benton Harbor Superintendent Paula Dawning for officially dethroning Texas’ Anti-Cheerleader Hoochie bill as the dumbest news story of the week. She did so by banning “Louie Louie” from the McCord Middle School … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 6 Comments

Cerveza!

Posted on May 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a story about a boom in popularity of Mexican beer. Obviously, brands like Corona, Tecate, and Dos Equis are nothing new to folks around here. I’ve never been that big a fan of Corona myself – if I’m drinking … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Comments Off on Cerveza!

Toll tags?

Posted on May 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Previously (here and here), I wrote about HB2893, which at one time called for the addition of RFID tags into vehicle registration stickers. That provision was removed, but via 100 Monkeys Typing and Corridor Watch, something else like it is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Toll tags?

Propositions on the ballot in San Antonio

Posted on May 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Saturday is Election Day in San Antonio, and while there’s been a lot of attention paid to the high-profile Mayoral race there, the ballot will also include some propositions that merit serious attention. Prop 1 is aimed at protecting the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | 1 Comment

When analogies attack

Posted on May 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

It must be a slow day around here, because I’m just unaccountably amused by the following comment at Jack‘s place: Cragg Hines is the Godzilla of liberalism at the Chronicle. That was intended as an insult to Hines by the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | 5 Comments

Lottery tickets via Internet shot down

Posted on May 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry, Lottery fans. The proposal that was recently floated to allow lottery tickets to be sold online has been scotched. Lawmakers, seeking ways to help fund the state budget, rejected a measure, 89-52, that would have raised as much as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | 5 Comments

The last word (I hope) on HB1706

Posted on May 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Been meaning to note a comment in this BOR post. No time like the present: Good morning, my job as the Senate Democratic Caucus advisor included, in this case, helping to facilitate the Senators’ signatures on the blocking petition. One … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Lampson announces, Quan explores

Posted on May 5, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on Nick Lampson‘s offical announcement of his candidacy in CD22 for next year. Have I ever mentioned how annoying I find it when a story about one candidate is half filled with quotes from spokespeople for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Van Gundy feels the love

Posted on May 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Well, at least Rockets owner Les Alexander is standing by his man, at least within the bounds of Commissioner Stern’s temper. “He’s a tough guy,” Alexander, the Rockets’ owner, said admiringly. “He’s always willing to battle as hard as he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment

TTC protest roundup

Posted on May 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Eye on Williamson County has a great roundup of local news coverage of the anti-Trans-Texas Corridor rally yesterday. Be sure to also check out this post on his state rep’s role in the care and feeding of the TTC. I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on TTC protest roundup

Avoid these intersections

Posted on May 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday, the Chron listed the ten worst intersections in Houston for accidents caused by red light running. Today, Anne notes a letter to the editor which points out that one of those intersections, Richmond and Dunlavy,is problematic because there’s no … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 5 Comments

The tale of the tape

Posted on May 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Having been caught with the wrong tape during Ken Rice’s testimony in the Enron Broadband trial, the prosecution has to explain the error while underscoring the fact that the bit they cared about, in which EBS honcho Rex Shelby made … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on The tale of the tape

DA appeals Yates decision

Posted on May 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not surprised that the Harris County DA’s office has asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to overturn the lower court ruling that threw out Andrea Yates’ conviction. It would have been a major shock had they not done … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Municipal Wi-Fi around the country

Posted on May 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Dwight points to this story about the battle over free municipal WiFi elsewhere in the country. HB789 and its ilk are popping up in state leges all over the country, and the telcos are duking it out with the cities … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 5 Comments

Trans-Texas Corridor protest

Posted on May 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The protest against the Trans-Texas Corridor, which I noted previously, took place as planned, with an interesting cheerleader getting out in front. Farmers and ranchers flocked to the Capitol on Tuesday with their sights set on stopping Gov. Rick Perry’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Lampson’s official filing

Posted on May 4, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

As of noon today, Nick Lampson will be an official, declared candidate for CD22 in 2006. His press release, which notes his family’s ties to the Fort Bend area, is included beneath the fold. UPDATE: Here’s the WaPo coverage of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

David Dewhurst, class warrior

Posted on May 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like our Lite Guv is a tad bit touchy about criticism of the Senate tax plan, at least from certain quarters. “There are a lot of lobbyists running around the Capitol today that are interested in protecting special interests … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Senate Dems kill HB1706

Posted on May 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Thank goodness…Via Latinos for Texas, eleven Democratic Senators have signed a petition saying they will not vote to allow the Senate companion to Mary Denny’s HB1706 to the floor, thus killing it for this session. The Quorum Report (Word doc) … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 5 Comments

New DeLay poll

Posted on May 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

So there’s another poll of CD22 which shows Tom DeLay’s approval numbers are in the drink: SurveyUSA asked 548 registered voters in the 22nd congressional district several questions about the embattled republican’s performance. In general, do you approve or disapprove … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 2 Comments

The Senate gives us its budget

Posted on May 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

And now the Senate has unveiled its grand taxation plan, which differs in a number of respects from the House plan and which may have some difficulties because of that. The Senate tax package, which would go into effect July … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on The Senate gives us its budget

Stern smacks Van Gundy

Posted on May 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy is $100,000 poorer today after getting fined by the NBA for his comments about refereeing in his team’s playoff series. The powers that be told the Houston Rockets’ head coach to stop making an issue … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 5 Comments

New Senate contender

Posted on May 3, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via the Texas_Kos mailing list, I see that there’s another contender for the Democratic nomination for Senate in 2006, Juan Garcia, a former Lt. Commander in the Navy from Corpus Christi. I’d heard of him before – Andrew D had … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 6 Comments