Daily Archives: May 2, 2007

More on the Senate’s anti-clean air bill

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Observer fills in a few blanks regarding SB1317, the Sen. Mike Jackson anti-clean air bill that passed yesterday. Houston Democrats very nearly beat back SB 1317 [Monday]. The bill survived, for the moment, because of Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville). … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Brush your teeth!

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Among the many survival skills one needs as a parent is a feel for what battles to pick. That’s what was going through my head as I read this story about dental hygiene in kids today. This passage in particular … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Brush your teeth!

Perry gets the toll road blues

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Game on. A two-year freeze on private toll-road contracts is on its way to Gov. Rick Perry’s desk. House members voted 139-1 today to accept Senate amendments to a bill that would halt new private-sector toll-road deals for two years. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Perry gets the toll road blues

Buddy, can you spare a cockroach?

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Only in Houston… In a city with trillions of American cockroaches, the Houston Museum of Natural Science has agreed to pay a quarter per bug — up to 1,000 — as it seeks to populate a new insect exhibit alongside … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Buddy, can you spare a cockroach?

HB626 passes out of the House

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Part II of the Very Bad Day At The Lege happened when the “compromise” version of HB626 passed out of the House yesterday. I’m going to hand off to Eye on Williamson for a minute, as he hits the main … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Senate votes against clean air

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was a bad day in both chambers of the Lege. We’ll start with the Senate, where a bill to block the City of Houston’s effort to enforce clean air regulations on plants outside its city limits was passed. Mayor … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Senate votes against clean air

RIP, ARMPAC

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Another chapter in the book of Tom DeLay has come to a close. The political action committee for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) was quietly closed last week after a decade-long run as one of the most influential … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on RIP, ARMPAC

Early voting: San Antonio and Dallas

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I haven’t paid any attention to the municipal races in San Antonio and Dallas – what can I say, there’s only so much bandwidth available. Unlike 2005, which featured a hot three-way race in the Alamo City, this one is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Early voting: San Antonio and Dallas

Targeting 2008: State Senate

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I spend a lot of time analyzing different types of races, for State House, for Congress, and for countywide offices. I do this because it’s where most of the action is. Since I first started to really follow this stuff … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 7 Comments

Define-A-Thon

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I confess, I’ve never understood the allure of spelling bees. I mean sure, they can be compelling enough as entertainment, but (and I say this as someone who is a good speller) who cares if you can memorize a bunch … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 1 Comment

News flash: Border wall still hated on the border

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

No surprises here. South Texas border mayors and economic leaders expressed anger and disappointment Monday after learning new details of the location of 153 miles of controversial fencing in and around border cities — including some downtown areas. ”I am … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on News flash: Border wall still hated on the border