Monthly Archives: January 2009

More contenders

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We’re a long way off from the filing deadline for the 2009 City of Houston election, and the main sport in the meantime is the game of Who Might Be Thinking About Maybe Running For Something. Various names I can … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , | Comments Off on More contenders

Pierre claims uncounted votes in his lawsuit

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an update on Democratic judicial candidate J. Goodwille Pierre, who filed a lawsuit in December claiming that votes were improperly rejected in his race, which he lost by 230 tallies to incumbent Judge Joseph “Tad” Halbach. The Harris County … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Pierre claims uncounted votes in his lawsuit

A little schadenfreude before the session begins

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So now that the Great Speaker Race of ’09 is over even before the Legislature officially opens for business, let me take a moment to enjoy a little smug satisfaction at the fate of Tom Craddick and his most loyal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

More on the Handmade Toy Alliance

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Just to follow up on my earlier post about the Handmade Toy Alliance and their efforts to modify the Consumer Protection and Safety Act (CPSIA) from last year, here’s a story my cousin Jill’s local paper ran about her business … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on More on the Handmade Toy Alliance

Republican women write letters

Posted on January 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

According to an email I was sent, the following letter was sent to Governor Perry from the Galveston Republican Women concerning the state of UTMB. It’s beneath the fold for your perusal. Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 3 Comments

Utah AG wants to sue BCS

Posted on January 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was just a matter of time. Utah’s attorney general is investigating the Bowl Championship Series for a possible violation of federal antitrust laws after an undefeated Utes team was left out of the national title game for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Other sports | 2 Comments

Where the business margins tax money came from

Posted on January 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure this will spark a lot of debate. At a time when the oil and gas industry was reaping record profits, producers got a break under Texas’ new business tax, according to a draft report from a state advisory … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Where the business margins tax money came from

Can this city be saved?

Posted on January 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Galveston really needs help. Officials pleaded with a state legislative panel today for sales tax rebates, emergency loans and other steps to keep this island city functioning as it struggles to rebuild after Hurricane Ike. Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 4 Comments

Thor goes pro

Posted on January 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

He will be missed. Rice sophomore utility back James Casey, who famously manned seven positions in one game as a freshman, announced Monday that he’ll forgo his final two seasons of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft. Casey, 24, signed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on Thor goes pro

Quit stealing my recyclables!

Posted on January 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So a few months ago, I noticed that when I put recyclables out to the curb on Sunday night, the bags with paper – mostly newspaper, but with other stuff as well – would be gone by Monday morning, before … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 5 Comments

From the “Two wrongs don’t make a right” department

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I appreciate that Jerome Solomon is willing to call the BCS “championship” game tonight the sham that it is, but unilaterally declaring some other team to be #1, in this case Utah based on their undefeated record, isn’t the answer. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 2 Comments

Garcia talks recruitment again

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

New Sheriff Adrian Garcia echoes a theme he sounded at his swearing-in about hiring more deputies to increase patrols. Garcia promised to put more “boots on the ground” in his inaugural address Sunday, saying about 800 deputies now patrol an … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Speakership and redistricting

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Professor Murray takes a look at the legislative redistricting of 2001, which was directed by Tom DeLay with the express purpose of electing Tom Craddick Speaker and ultimately drawing Congressional lines as he saw fit, and why that same map … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010, That's our Lege | Tagged | 1 Comment

Skilling to get a new sentence

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news, but mostly not-so-good news for Jeff Skilling. An appeals court today upheld former Enron Chief Executive Jeff Skilling’s 19 federal felony convictions, but ordered a trial court to resentence him. The three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Comments Off on Skilling to get a new sentence

Washington Quiet Zone

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Though I’m sorry to see the Heights Village project go under, I’ve often wondered about the spate of construction close to – in some cases, right next to – the freight train line that parallels Washington Avenue and Center Street. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

RIP, TTC

Posted on January 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Boy howdy is this way overdue. In response to public outcry, the ambitious proposal to create the Trans-Texas Corridor network has been dropped and will be replaced with a plan to carry out road projects at an incremental, modest pace, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Saavedra backs off magnet transportation plan

Posted on January 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Glad to hear it. Houston ISD Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra has temporarily withdrawn a proposal to cut spending on busing to the district’s beloved magnet schools after failing to get enough support from parents and school trustees. Saavedra said Monday he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Saavedra backs off magnet transportation plan

No Heights Village

Posted on January 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this last week. [Bobby Orr] was planning a mixed-use project on Heights Boulevard, but his prospective residential partner couldn’t get financing. Now he’s put the 5-acre tract on the market. “The timing wasn’t right,” he said. That project, called … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on No Heights Village

Harris County GOP turns to the Internet

Posted on January 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, good luck with that. You know, I recently came across an article that talked about how for all of the technical prowess of the Obama campaign, they never lost sight of the fact that it was all about enabling … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Harris County GOP turns to the Internet

The Handmade Toy Alliance

Posted on January 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

My cousin Jill runs a small business that makes baby toys and accessories – she sent us a handmade bib and diaper-change pad that we got a lot of use out of when Olivia was born. Recently, she’s been active … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on The Handmade Toy Alliance

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 6

Posted on January 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

New year, new Speaker, same good old Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup. Click on for the highlights. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of January 6

What might we expect with Straus?

Posted on January 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So let’s assume that nothing crazy happens, and that Rep. John Smithee – or as Rep. Leo Berman would call him, Rep. John What’s-His-Name – can’t peel away enough of Rep. Joe Straus’ supporters (now up to 94, make that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Five years of the Main Street Line

Posted on January 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Christof notes that with the arrival of the new year, the Main Street Line has reached its fifth birthday. Today, by every measure, the Main Street Line is a huge success: It carries 40,000 people on an average weekday. That’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Sheriff Garcia asks for more recruits

Posted on January 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, Sheriff Adrian Garcia. Not Sheriff-elect any more, as he’s been officially sworn in now, and a new era is underway. Harris County needs more “boots on the ground” to arrest criminals, prevent crime and help residents of its far-flung … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The “scourge” of straight-ticket voting

Posted on January 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I continue to be surprised at how much attention the “issue” of straight ticket voting has received since November. [I]n the legislative session starting Jan. 13, Republican state Sen. Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio plans a second run at deleting … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 12 Comments

College issues

Posted on January 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Once we finally do get past the Speaker’s race, various college-related issues will be on the agenda for the Lege. [E]xpect lots of debate about freezing tuition when the Legislature convenes in mid-January. But with dozens of bills dealing with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on College issues

Thus endeth the Tom Craddick era

Posted on January 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I still can’t believe it’s happened. Rep. Joe Straus trotted out more than enough names of supporters Sunday night to virtually guarantee that lawmakers would elect the San Antonio Republican speaker of the Texas House next week — assuming they … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Thus endeth the Tom Craddick era

The Straus list

Posted on January 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Rep. Joe Straus has released a list of 85 supporters – 15 Republicans and 70 Democrats – which would seem to put Team Craddick in a pretty tight spot. You can see the list here (Word doc) sorted by name, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Is this really the end for Craddick?

Posted on January 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It is, according to Rep. Pena on Twitter: The Speaker’s race is over. Straus will be the Speaker for 81st Legislative Session. And now according to the Statesman as well: Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, confirmed that Speaker Tom Craddick is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for January 4

Posted on January 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Have we forgot auld acquaintance yet? The twelve days of HMNS. And may I be the first to wish y’all a happy hundredth birthday. Sixteen more days. Why, Australia, why? Is there any problem for which Republicans do not prescribe … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for January 4

Straus says he has the votes

Posted on January 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I certainly hope so. Republican lawmaker Joe Straus said he collected enough pledges from House colleagues Saturday to knock out incumbent House Speaker Tom Craddick. “We’re at 76, and we’re adding them up,” Straus said of the threshold number needed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Third Court absolves itself again

Posted on January 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I imagine that if the Austin-based Third Court of Appeals had a Christmas party this year, it was an awkward affair. The 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin, split along partisan lines, has ruled that Republican Justice Alan Waldrop did … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Third Court absolves itself again

Study claims smoking ban leads to fewer heart attack deaths

Posted on January 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Consider this to be a data point in the ongoing debate over a potential statewide smoking ban in bars, restaurants, and other indoor workplaces. A smoking ban in one Colorado city led to a dramatic drop in heart attack hospitalizations … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

The gas tax

Posted on January 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I was listening to the podcast version of Car Talk the other day, and towards the end of the show Ray went off on a rant about how we should implement a 50-cent-per-gallon gas tax. You can read what he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments