Monthly Archives: February 2010

The Observer interviews White and Shami

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If you’re looking for some more prep material in advance of tonight’s debate, the Texas Observer has a nice cover story on Bill White and Farouk Shami, with an interview with each candidate. For those of you who tune in … Continue reading →

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Interview with Farouk Shami

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve probably seen a few of Farouk Shami‘s ads for Governor by now, and you know the basic story: Came to America with only a few dollars in his pocket, started a successful business, and is now running to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judicial Q&A: Charles Spain

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

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The Chron on the lost SUPERTRAIN opportunity

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron is none too pleased with the way Texas fared with federal funds for high speed rail. Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Chris Lippincott stated the obvious: Texas needs to have more plans in that “shovel-ready” shape. Lippincott says … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: LLLC, PBA, HCD

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a trio of recent endorsements, from the Latino Labor Leadership Council, the Pasadena Bar Association, and the Harris County Democrats. In addition to those, here are the AFL-CIO’s recommendations for statewide races. All have been noted on the 2010 … Continue reading →

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If we’re looking for revenue to help deal with that budget gap…

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We could always follow the lead of many other states and adopt our own climate plan. Already, ten states in the Northeast have put their electric utilities under a cap-and-trade system known as RGGI. Eleven Western states and Canadian provinces … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for February 7

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Geaux Saints! On the subject of E-book pricing. I’m still a paper book guy for now. But that doesn’t stop me from being amused by the massive Amazon fail, or from noting that competition made e-book prices go up. And … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Statesman for KBH

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The first gubernatorial endorsement of the primary season form the major dailies comes from the Statesman, which recommends a vote for KBH over Rick Perry. Perry beats up on Washington to beat up on the senator. Washington is not an … Continue reading →

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The effect of the “Citizens United” decision on judicial elections

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Republican attorney David Schenck makes the case in the Trib that the recent Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, which basically said that corporations could spend money as they saw fit in political campaigns, signals the imminent death … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Term limits review commission public meeting

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, outgoing Mayor Bill White appointed a commission in December to study the possibility of making changes to Houston’s term limits ordinance. Via Mary Benton, the commission will have an open session for public input on this next … Continue reading →

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I-10 frontage road update

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Via email from the CTC: More than 120 residents attended an informational meeting January 6th convened by State Representative Jessica Farrar concerning proposed IH-10 frontage roads inside the IH-610 loop. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and District H Council Member Ed … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New Schlitterbahn planned

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

To be built in Cedar Park, which is northwest of Austin. The park would be built on about 95 acres on RM 1431, about halfway between U.S. 183 and Interstate 35, according to a Cedar Park Economic Development Corp. meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Saturday video break: Demon sheep

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You really do have to see the now-infamous “Demon Sheep” ad to believe it. Remember that scene from Altered States where William Hurt breaks out of the isolation chamber and eats a deer, and wakes up the next morning with … Continue reading →

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Why was EZ Tag airport parking so expensive to operate?

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the program that allows people with EZ Tags in their cars to use them to pay for parking at the airports is going to be shut down because it was losing money. This Chron article that examines … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

No RNC convention here

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Thank God for small favors. Washington-based Hotline reported Wednesday that the Republican National Committee, holding its winter meeting in Honolulu last week, had narrowed its search for a 2012 convention site to four cities — Houston, Tampa, Fla., Phoenix and … Continue reading →

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It’s our own fault we missed out on SUPERTRAIN funds

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

So says Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “If Texas had had its act together, it would have gotten some high-speed rail money,” the Obama administration Cabinet official told reporters. Thirty-one states shared $8 billion in rail grants from the 2009 economic … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Where’s the Chron?

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We’re ten days out from the start of Early Voting for the primaries, and I can’t say I’m surprised that the Chron hasn’t gotten around to making any recommendations yet. Despite managing to do the 2009 races in a timely … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: What part of “No” don’t you understand?

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

My most negative Friday Random Ten yet: 1. No Business – Bonnie Raitt 2. No Cause – Trish and Darin 3. No Hiding Place Down Here – Mutual Admiration Society 4. No Left Turns In Jersey – Eddie From Ohio … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Raymond Fisher

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

“There’s no such thing as a project like this without public money”

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Dynamo President Oliver Luck throws a little cold water on the claims that a Westpark Stadium could be built exclusively with private funding. “We have not been presented a plan by the Midway Companies,” Luck said. “I can’t say whether … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: PPHSET Action Fund PAC

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Some non-judicial endorsements for your reading pleasure, from the Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas Action Fund PAC. The press release with the list of endorsed candidates is here. A brief excerpt: : The Board of Directors of the … Continue reading →

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Deadline for mail ballots is February 23

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The following is from the County Clerk’s office: THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON BALLOT-BY-MAIL REQUESTS FOR THE MARCH PRIMARY ELECTIONS Houston, TX, – The last day eligible registered voters may submit a ballot-by-mail request for the upcoming Primary Elections is … Continue reading →

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Please count everyone

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves was in Laredo on Monday trying to ease some anxiety among residents there about the upcoming Census. Border counties, flush with residents fearful of being turned over to immigration agents, are historically among the … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: HGLBT Political Caucus on non-judicial races

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Fresh from the inbox: CAUCUS PAC ENDORSES IN MARCH PRIMARIES The Houston GLBT Political Caucus PAC endorsed in contested races for the March 2010 primaries this week in two membership meetings. “We are very excited about these candidates,” said Kris … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: DFH and MABAH

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last night, Democracy for Houston held its endorsement meeting and sent out the following email with their recommended candidates: Democracy For Houston met tonight to consider endorsements in the 2010 Democratic Primary for Harris County, Texas. DFH purposefully communicates with, … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Javier Valenzuela

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

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Another Rasmussen poll in TX-GOV

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Following their GOP primary poll, Rasmussen has released another general election matchup; the previous one, from only two weeks ago, is here. For the most part, it’s not any different: A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely Texas voters … Continue reading →

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The EPA hearing on smog

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on that EPA hearing on smog from Tuesday. The EPA’s plan calls for a smog limit between 60 and 70 molecules of ozone per billion molecules of air, down from 75 parts per billion set in … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Water rate hike on the table

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure there will be a massive freakout over the possibility that water rates could be increased, but that won’t stop me from expressing the naive hope that we can have a rational discussion about it anyway. The increase could … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

What next for Sharon Keller?

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We have the Special Master’s report on the Sharon Keller case, so what happens next? Grits reminds us: The Judge was only empowered to make recommendations to the [State Commission on Judicial Conduct], which may still decide whether to dismiss … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

County Court Judge Reagan Helm steps down

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the Chron: Harris County criminal Court-at-Law Judge Reagan Helm resigned this week, more than six months after a judicial intervention in which he agreed to retire because was he suffering from dementia, according to the administrative judge over the … Continue reading →

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Hodge pleads guilty, will resign

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Well, at least this got resolved before the primary. State Rep. Terri Hodge, D-Dallas, pleaded guilty early this morning to lying on her tax returns in connection with the FBI’s Dallas City Hall public corruption investigation, an act that ends … Continue reading →

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Interview with Council Member Jarvis Johnson

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Running to unseat Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in CD18 is Houston City Council Member Jarvis Johnson, who was recently elected to a third and final term in District B. (My interview with him from that race is here.) As he … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Christina Bryan

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

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