Monthly Archives: March 2009

Money for movies

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Clay Robison reminds me of something in a discussion of Governor Perry’s resistance to spending stimulus money on expanding unemployment insurance. Right after giving the back of his hand to thousands of jobless workers, he was promoting a $60-million handout … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Money for movies

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Clay Robison reminds me of something in a discussion of Governor Perry’s resistance to spending stimulus money on expanding unemployment insurance. Right after giving the back of his hand to thousands of jobless workers, he was promoting a $60-million handout … Continue reading →

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If he can’t testify, he shouldn’t redistrict

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One of the questions that was raised during the Voter ID All-Nighter in the Senate was why Attorney General Greg Abbott took a pass, even though the Democrats wanted him to be there, since he was a leading crusader of … Continue reading →

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If he can’t testify, he shouldn’t redistrict

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

One of the questions that was raised during the Voter ID All-Nighter in the Senate was why Attorney General Greg Abbott took a pass, even though the Democrats wanted him to be there, since he was a leading crusader of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Voter ID: That’s it for now

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In case you hadn’t already heard, the measure was passed out of committee – which was the full Senate in this case – by the predicted party-line vote, which was actually 20-12 since Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, sitting in the cheap … Continue reading →

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Voter ID: That’s it for now

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

In case you hadn’t already heard, the measure was passed out of committee – which was the full Senate in this case – by the predicted party-line vote, which was actually 20-12 since Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, sitting in the cheap … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Voter ID: On to day two

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like things wrapped up in the Senate at about 2:30 AM. It’s not clear to me if they got through all of the expert testimony, or if they plan to get to the public testimony, assuming anyone who signed … Continue reading →

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Voter ID: On to day two

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Looks like things wrapped up in the Senate at about 2:30 AM. It’s not clear to me if they got through all of the expert testimony, or if they plan to get to the public testimony, assuming anyone who signed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Derr to run for At Large #1

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, City Council hopeful Karen Derr missed the official filing deadline for the District H special election, and thus will not be on the ballot on May 9. Anyone who has driven through the Heights lately has observed … Continue reading →

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Derr to run for At Large #1

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

As we know, City Council hopeful Karen Derr missed the official filing deadline for the District H special election, and thus will not be on the ballot on May 9. Anyone who has driven through the Heights lately has observed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | 2 Comments

“Houston first”

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

City Controller and Mayoral candidate Annise Parker has proposed a new policy for giving Houston firms an advantage when bidding for city-financed work. Under Parker’s plan, when companies bid on a city project — say, to build roads or provide … Continue reading →

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“Houston first”

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

City Controller and Mayoral candidate Annise Parker has proposed a new policy for giving Houston firms an advantage when bidding for city-financed work. Under Parker’s plan, when companies bid on a city project — say, to build roads or provide … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009, Local politics | 2 Comments

UTMB hopsital to stay in Galveston

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is a pleasant surprise. The University of Texas Medical Branch hospital, still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ike, will remain on Galveston Island under a plan approved today. The decision by the University of Texas Board of Regents … Continue reading →

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UTMB hospital to stay in Galveston

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

This is a pleasant surprise. The University of Texas Medical Branch hospital, still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ike, will remain on Galveston Island under a plan approved today. The decision by the University of Texas Board of Regents … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Commissioners Court OKs Grand Parkway Segment E work

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved an agreement to build and maintain a segment of the Grand Parkway connecting the Katy Freeway and U.S. 290, but questions over what would happen if the county ultimately decided the … Continue reading →

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Commissioners Court OKs Grand Parkway Segment E work

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

As expected. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved an agreement to build and maintain a segment of the Grand Parkway connecting the Katy Freeway and U.S. 290, but questions over what would happen if the county ultimately decided the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Voter ID: All through the night

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

According to Elise Hu’s liveblog of the voter ID hearing in the Senate, they’re on witness number 3 of 15, and they haven’t gotten to any public testimony yet. Suffice it to say, this is gonna go on for awhile, … Continue reading →

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Voter ID: All through the night

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Greg Wythe

According to Elise Hu’s liveblog of the voter ID hearing in the Senate, they’re on witness number 3 of 15, and they haven’t gotten to any public testimony yet. Suffice it to say, this is gonna go on for awhile, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Today’s the day for Voter ID in the Senate

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Ready or not, here comes the voter ID battle in the Senate. There’s a chance today will merely be Day One of this fight, as Patricia Kilday Hart notes in her preview. Sen. Robert Duncan, who will chair tomorrow’s Committee … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Today’s the day for Voter ID in the Senate

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not, here comes the voter ID battle in the Senate. There’s a chance today will merely be Day One of this fight, as Patricia Kilday Hart notes in her preview. Sen. Robert Duncan, who will chair tomorrow’s Committee … Continue reading →

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UTMB layoff lawsuit update

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Missed this last week. A lawsuit challenging the layoffs of nearly 3,000 employees at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston will be fought on home turf, a state district judge ruled Wednesday. The courtroom audience applauded as Galveston … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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UTMB layoff lawsuit update

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this last week. A lawsuit challenging the layoffs of nearly 3,000 employees at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston will be fought on home turf, a state district judge ruled Wednesday. The courtroom audience applauded as Galveston … Continue reading →

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The “Dollhouse” dilemma

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Tiffany and I have been enjoying the new show Dollhouse lately. Its premise is a bit complicated, and I’m not sure if it can be sustained long-term, but so far it’s been worth our time to watch. Recently, I came … Continue reading →

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The “Dollhouse” dilemma

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Tiffany and I have been enjoying the new show Dollhouse lately. Its premise is a bit complicated, and I’m not sure if it can be sustained long-term, but so far it’s been worth our time to watch. Recently, I came … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of March 9

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s blog roundup time. I’ll refrain from making any lame Rodeo-related jokes. You can thank me by clicking on to read this week’s highlights from the Texas Progressive Alliance.

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Texas blog roundup for the week of March 9

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Greg Wythe

It’s blog roundup time. I’ll refrain from making any lame Rodeo-related jokes. You can thank me by clicking on to read this week’s highlights from the Texas Progressive Alliance. Continue reading →

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What you can do today to fight against the Voter ID bill

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Via email from State Sen. Mario Gallegos: This Tuesday, March 10, 2009, the Senate Committee of the Whole will conduct a hearing on proposed photo Voter Identification (SB 362 by Fraser) legislation in the Texas Senate Chamber. On behalf of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

What you can do today to fight against the Voter ID bill

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Via email from State Sen. Mario Gallegos: This Tuesday, March 10, 2009, the Senate Committee of the Whole will conduct a hearing on proposed photo Voter Identification (SB 362 by Fraser) legislation in the Texas Senate Chamber. On behalf of … Continue reading →

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Safe Passing Act in the Senate

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I’ve blogged before about SB488, the “Safe Passing Bill”. Via email from Jon Boyd of the CTC, I’m told that the bill will be heard by the Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security this week. Bike Texas has the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Safe Passing Act in the Senate

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve blogged before about SB488, the “Safe Passing Bill”. Via email from Jon Boyd of the CTC, I’m told that the bill will be heard by the Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security this week. Bike Texas has the … Continue reading →

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Two stories about gambling

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s David Barron talks to some experts about putting slot machines at horse tracks, which is one of several major proposals to expand gambling in Texas this legislative session. William Eadington, an economics professor at the University of Nevada … Continue reading →

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Two stories about gambling

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The Chron’s David Barron talks to some experts about putting slot machines at horse tracks, which is one of several major proposals to expand gambling in Texas this legislative session. William Eadington, an economics professor at the University of Nevada … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Kinky says he’s getting ready to run

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Kinky Friedman has been saying for a long time that he wants to run for Governor again, this time as a Democrat. He’s now finally getting ready to make that official. At least, that’s what he tells Gardner Selby: Friedman … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | 4 Comments

Kinky says he’s getting ready to run

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Kinky Friedman has been saying for a long time that he wants to run for Governor again, this time as a Democrat. He’s now finally getting ready to make that official. At least, that’s what he tells Gardner Selby: Friedman … Continue reading →

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