Monthly Archives: April 2009

Doing the easy part

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Sen. Dan Patrick gets his day in the sun. Wednesday is the deadline for paying federal income taxes, but it’s also when state lawmakers will consider cutting franchise taxes for 132,000 small businesses in Texas including 24,000 in Harris County. … Continue reading →

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From the “Silver Linings” department

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The economic downturn plus the housing market crash means there’s never been a better time for local governments to bid out construction projects, with more contractors than usual getting involved and competing on price. The increased competition has cut costs … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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From the “Silver Linings” department

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The economic downturn plus the housing market crash means there’s never been a better time for local governments to bid out construction projects, with more contractors than usual getting involved and competing on price. The increased competition has cut costs … Continue reading →

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Neil talks to Noel

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Neil Aquino wrote a post last week about At Large #4 candidate Noel Freeman, whom he had just met, and asked him a few questions about his campaign and vision for the city. Noel’s responses are here, and they’re worth … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Neil talks to Noel

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Neil Aquino wrote a post last week about At Large #4 candidate Noel Freeman, whom he had just met, and asked him a few questions about his campaign and vision for the city. Noel’s responses are here, and they’re worth … Continue reading →

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Dems versus Vasquez

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we’re not ready to make nice with the Harris County Tax Assessor’s office over their handling of voter registration last year. Any honeymoon between Democrats and the new Harris County voter registrar ended suddenly today. Democratic state Reps. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Dems versus Vasquez

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we’re not ready to make nice with the Harris County Tax Assessor’s office over their handling of voter registration last year. Any honeymoon between Democrats and the new Harris County voter registrar ended suddenly today. Democratic state Reps. … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kinky makes it official

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

sigh Failed 2006 independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman has taken the first step toward another bid for Texas governor, this time as a Democrat. He sent out a letter to Texans this morning, which is in full after the jump … Continue reading →

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Kinky makes it official

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

sigh Failed 2006 independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman has taken the first step toward another bid for Texas governor, this time as a Democrat. He sent out a letter to Texans this morning, which is in full after the jump … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | 1 Comment

Last candidate forums for District H

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder about tonight’s candidate forum sponsored by the Woodland Heights Civic Association. 7:30 PM at the Zion Lutheran Church on Pecore at Beauchamp. Here’s the map, the street address is 3606 Beauchamp. I am aware of one more … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Last candidate forums for District H

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder about tonight’s candidate forum sponsored by the Woodland Heights Civic Association. 7:30 PM at the Zion Lutheran Church on Pecore at Beauchamp. Here’s the map, the street address is 3606 Beauchamp. I am aware of one more … Continue reading →

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Public financing for judicial races

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the other ethics and campaign finance reform bills that I mentioned previously, one other bill set to come up in committee hearings on Wednesday the 15th is HB3146 by Rep. Rafael Anchia, which would allow for the … Continue reading →

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Public financing for judicial races

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the other ethics and campaign finance reform bills that I mentioned previously, one other bill set to come up in committee hearings on Wednesday the 15th is HB3146 by Rep. Rafael Anchia, which would allow for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

No Tigua casinos

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We may still get some form of expanded gambling in Texas, but at least one form of it is off the table for this session. The Tiguas hopes to restart lucrative gambling operations on their reservation are dead for this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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No Tigua casinos

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We may still get some form of expanded gambling in Texas, but at least one form of it is off the table for this session. The Tiguas hopes to restart lucrative gambling operations on their reservation are dead for this … Continue reading →

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What next for Wilshire Village?

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Nancy Sarnoff runs an obituary for the Wilshire Village apartments, which are slated for demolition now that they have been officially declared a fire hazard. A historic Inner Loop apartment complex, once slated for a high-rise redevelopment, was shut down … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

What next for Wilshire Village?

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Nancy Sarnoff runs an obituary for the Wilshire Village apartments, which are slated for demolition now that they have been officially declared a fire hazard. A historic Inner Loop apartment complex, once slated for a high-rise redevelopment, was shut down … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of April 13

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Time again for another Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup. Click on for the highlights. Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of April 13

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Time again for another Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup. Click on for the highlights.

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The Onion takes on Betty Brown

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was inevitable, given how low the fruit was hanging. But now that we’ve had all this fun at Rep. Betty Brown’s expense, I’ve got to agree with David Mauro in that this has largely served to reinforce … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

The Onion takes on Betty Brown

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was inevitable, given how low the fruit was hanging. But now that we’ve had all this fun at Rep. Betty Brown’s expense, I’ve got to agree with David Mauro in that this has largely served to reinforce … Continue reading →

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Settlement in UTMB lawsuit

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Hot off the presses. University of Texas regents today settled an open records lawsuit, agreeing to give hiring priority to 2,400 employees laid off at UTMB in December, one of the plaintiffs said. In return for dropping the lawsuit, the … Continue reading →

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Settlement in UTMB lawsuit

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Hot off the presses. University of Texas regents today settled an open records lawsuit, agreeing to give hiring priority to 2,400 employees laid off at UTMB in December, one of the plaintiffs said. In return for dropping the lawsuit, the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Settlement in UTMB lawsuit

Ethics and finance bills to get their turn

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One never really expects bills relating to ethics and campaign finance reform to make it through the process, but it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on them. In the last session, for example, at least 105 bills … Continue reading →

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

Ethics and campaign finance bills to get their turn

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One never really expects bills relating to ethics and campaign finance reform to make it through the process, but it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on them. In the last session, for example, at least 105 bills … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Presidential results by Congressional district

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Swing State Project has compiled a list of Presidential results by Congressional district, for all 435 DCs around the country. I’ve pulled out the Texas numbers and put them in a Google spreadsheet for ease of viewing. Here are a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Presidential results by Congressional district

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Swing State Project has compiled a list of Presidential results by Congressional district, for all 435 DCs around the country. I’ve pulled out the Texas numbers and put them in a Google spreadsheet for ease of viewing. Here are a … Continue reading →

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More Ramey Ko

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

KXAN’s Jenny Hoff has a really good interview with Ramey Ko about last week’s Betty Brown incident. She gets into some depth about why Rep. Brown’s dumb remarks are problematic and how it all relates to voter ID, and includes … Continue reading →

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Whose TIRZ?

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

My reaction to this story about whether some development projects that didn’t benefit from getting a TIRZ designation might have been better suited for it than some that did get that benefit is that as long as there are those … Continue reading →

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Matt Baker indicted

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

If you read the Texas Monthly cover story from last March about Waco pastor Matt Baker, who has been accused of killing his wife Kari, whose death had originally been ruled a suicide, you will be interested to hear that … Continue reading →

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Happy Easter!

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

People have been telling me lately that it’s been too long since I’ve posted a picture of the girls. So here you go: Happy Easter! And now it’s time for a nap. Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Measuring hurricanes

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The venerable Saffir-Simpson scale for measuring hurricane strength is so simple to use, it’s not really adequate for the task of assessing risk and estimating damage. “If I could wave a wand and make it go away, I would,” said … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for April 12

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Mmm…baseball season…life is good… When Bill O’Reilly and David Horowitz are acting as voices of reason, you know things have really gotten out of hand. I don’t care if broccoli can prevent cancer. I still hate it and won’t eat … Continue reading →

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Measuring hurricanes

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The venerable Saffir-Simpson scale for measuring hurricane strength is so simple to use, it’s not really adequate for the task of assessing risk and estimating damage. “If I could wave a wand and make it go away, I would,” said … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments