Monthly Archives: May 2009

House approves windstorm insurance bill

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The one known threat of a special session has just been dramatically reduced. House members today approved the conference committee report shoring up a fund supporting hail and windstorm insurance coverage for coastal property-owners. Assuming the Senate similarly OK’s the … Continue reading →

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The lack of leadership

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Sen. John Carona gets medieval on his party’s leadership. Tempers flared Saturday on the Legislature’s last weekend with a key GOP senator declaring that the session’s central theme is “lack of leadership” by top members of his own party. … Continue reading →

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The lack of leadership

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Sen. John Carona gets medieval on his party’s leadership. Tempers flared Saturday on the Legislature’s last weekend with a key GOP senator declaring that the session’s central theme is “lack of leadership” by top members of his own party. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for May 31

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Holy crap, is it really almost June already? Your modern Republican Party. I love it when ladies of a certain age cuss like sailors. I think I’ve finally found an argument against gay marriage that I can understand: The thought … Continue reading →

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Red light camera ban appears dead

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So says the Star-Telegram, which has been the go-to source for these stories. A final version of legislation restructuring the Texas Department of Transportation is not expected to include a ban on red-light cameras or a local option provision allowing … Continue reading →

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Meet the robocallers

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t think it was possible for me to hate the auto warranty robocallers any more than I already do, but apparently it is. [C]ourt documents filed this month in a Federal Trade Commission case against a Florida company — … Continue reading →

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Extending the deadline

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The deadline for finishing up conference committee work was supposed to be last night at midnight. There was too much work to do for that, so the deadline got pushed back for 24 hours. That means the Senate on Monday … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Literally!

Posted on May 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The 80s is a gift that keeps on giving. Go here to see more of this silliness under the Related Videos. Happy Saturday! Continue reading →

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Van de Putte gearing up

Posted on May 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

With sine die just around the corner (and God willing, no special session), we may start to get some answers to the questions about which legislators might be running for higher offices. One of them is State Sen. Letitia Van … Continue reading →

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Who should represent District H?

Posted on May 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the question, isn’t it? It took only a few minutes at the District H candidate forum Thursday morning for discussion to turn to the elephant in the room. “District H is supposed to be a Hispanic district,” said Edgar … Continue reading →

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Budget heads to the Governor

Posted on May 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, thanks in large part to the stimulus package and its infusion of funds that prevented the need to dip into the Rainy Day Fund, the budget process was relatively uncontroversial. Yesterday, it was passed by the House, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The science of smog

Posted on May 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I thought this was a very interesting article about a current research project that is investigating the effect of industrial flares from refineries and chemical plants on ozone levels, but one bit of it really amazed me. Industrial flares burn … Continue reading →

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Big John versus El Rushbo and The Newt

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There’s just not enough popcorn in the world. As if to magnify what are already major differences between elected Republicans and conservative activists on the question of Sonia Sotomayor, check out what conservative senator (and chairman of the National Republican … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Get your game on

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next on the theme list: Songs about sports. 1. HOOPS Yes! (FC Dallas) – The Polyphonic Spree 2. The Stock Car Travels By Illusion – Austin Lounge Lizards 3. Centerfield – John Fogerty 4. Galway Farmer – Ceili’s Muse 5. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Houston extends red light camera contract

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll have red light cameras to kick around for at least a few more years. The City Council extended the contract of the company that administers its red-light camera program for three more years Wednesday, aiming to thwart legislation pending … Continue reading →

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Debutant’s last post

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, Deborah Greer-Costello, better known as Debutant, passed away on May 18 after a long battle with leukemia. Her sister Stephanie, a/k/a Texans Chick, posted a final message from Deb based on conversations they had after her condition … Continue reading →

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Lon Burnam

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Star Telegram has a nice profile of Rep. Lon Burnam of Fort Worth, who we all know was anti-Tom Craddick before it was cool. If he were a baseball or basketball player, you’d say he’s one of those guys … Continue reading →

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Hey, world! Pay attention to us!

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Houston’s efforts to brand itself as a world-class city often come in for ridicule, some deserved and some not so much. But Houston is way farther down the path of international prominence than our neighbor to the west, San Antonio. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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CHIP dies again

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

sigh Gov. Rick Perry today indicated that he opposes a plan to expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program, putting in jeopardy of a veto a measure that has been a top priority this session for children’s advocates. But the CHIP … Continue reading →

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Hail to the king!

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So apparently the head of the GOP is in town tonight to help raise money for US Rep. Mike McCaul, who apparently isn’t taking any chances for next year. No, not this guy – nobody cares about him. I mean … Continue reading →

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Senate spikes McLeroy

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. The Texas Senate on Thursday refused to confirm Don McLeroy as State Board of Education chairman after an impassioned floor debate. The 19 to 11 party-line vote was not enough to get McLeroy across the required two-thirds … Continue reading →

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Senate passes windstorm bill

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The one bill that has been expressly mentioned as a reason for a special session if it doesn’t get done is SB14, the windstorm insurance bill. It was a chubbing victim on Tuesday, but on Wednesday it was revived by … Continue reading →

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Gallery fire ruled arson

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. The massive fire last week that destroyed the warehouse at Gallery Furniture’s main location on the North Freeway was intentionally set, an official said today. Rob Elder, assistant special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and … Continue reading →

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Unemployment insurance dies, CHIP lives

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Not unexpectedly, SB1569 was a casualty of the weekend chubfest. Also not surprisingly, it was basically chubbed by Republicans, who wanted to ensure its death as the local and consent calendar was finally finished up a little before the midnight … Continue reading →

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More on the City Council redistricting lawsuit dismissal

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story about the dismissal of the lawsuit, brought by Vidal Martinez and Carroll Robinson. The lawsuit argued the city was violating its own charter by refusing to redistrict and add two council districts when its population passed … Continue reading →

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Still talking about a new jail

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We’re going to be having this conversation for awhile, I expect. As he attempts to secure a new jail for Harris County, Sheriff Adrian Garcia has hired nearly 90 more guards but still faces skepticism from commissioners about whether a … Continue reading →

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See you later, alligator

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We all know how much Hurricane Ike has affected and continues to affect people and property. I at least had no idea how devastating it had been to the state’s alligator population. The throaty bellow of adult male alligators, a … Continue reading →

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Anti-Metro amendment officially dead

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good. State lawmakers today voted unanimously to kill a provision that could have complicated the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s light-rail plans. The House removed language from a local transportation bill for Austin that would have put limits on Metro’s authority to … Continue reading →

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Anti-Metro amendment officially dead

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good. State lawmakers today voted unanimously to kill a provision that could have complicated the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s light-rail plans. The House removed language from a local transportation bill for Austin that would have put limits on Metro’s authority to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The state of solar power

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has a feature story on efforts to ramp up solar power in Texas. [S]olar advocates say the right legislation could do the wind industry’s success one better. One approach, incentives to install solar panels on homes and businesses, … Continue reading →

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Clay Jenkins

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Clay Jenkins is a candidate for County Judge in Dallas. He’s running in the Democratic primary against the incumbent, Jim Foster, who knocked off the Republican incumbent in the 2006 countywide sweep, in a race nobody expected him to win. … Continue reading →

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Would-be Metro killer outs himself

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I had wondered who was behind that anti-Metro amendment from the weekend. Now I know. A local light rail opponent claimed credit Tuesday for working with an El Paso legislator to try to block Metro’s ability to build the University … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Senate passes TxDOT sunset bill, red light cameras not dead yet

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Senate approved its version of HB300, the TxDOT sunset bill, and as expected it has some major differences from the House version. Plans to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for transportation projects in North Texas progressed Monday night … Continue reading →

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Terra Cotta Warriors

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I got a chance to get a sneak peek of the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit at HMNS last week, and it was awesome. I confess, I knew nothing about this beforehand; Tiffany, who has a vivid childhood memory of a … Continue reading →

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