Monthly Archives: May 2010

The $800 foreclosure

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome home, soldier. Michael Clauer is a captain in the Army Reserve who commanded over 100 soldiers in Iraq. But while he was fighting for his country, a different kind of battle was brewing on the home front. Last September, … Continue reading →

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

It’s good to be the king

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the genius of Harold Cook: No coyotes were harmed in the making of that little film, as far as I can tell.

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The untouchable tax breaks

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You know how some Republicans like to say that there’s no such thing as temporary spending, because once something is in the budget it tends to stay there forever? Clearly, the same is true for tax expenditures, more commonly known … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for May 30

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Happy Memorial Day! Rest in peace, Navy Lt. John Finn. Now that it’s over sniff, here’s what we all can learn from “Lost”. Sometimes, the reason a rule is unwritten is because it doesn’t exist. The Liberty High School (Seattle) … Continue reading →

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Why should anyone trust the TCEQ?

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Perry wants the EPA to back off. I know, I’m as shocked as you are. Gov. Rick Perry, citing improvements in Texas air quality, asked President Barack Obama on Friday to get regional Environmental Protection Agency administrators to back … Continue reading →

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Federal funds for transit shortfalls proposed

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is a good idea. Transit agencies forced to raise fares or cut service to close budget gaps would be eligible for $2 billion in emergency operating funds under legislation unveiled today by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) … Continue reading →

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

Meet the statewides: Uribe and Gilbert

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing with the TDP’s “Meet the Statewides” production, here we have intro videos for two more candidates. First up is my favorite candidate for this cycle, Land Commissioner hopeful Hector Uribe. Next up is the Democratic candidate for Texas Agriculture … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: In the mood

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In memory of the late, great Glenn Miller, US Army Captian and bandleader extraordinaire, whose plane went down over the English Channel in 1944 while he was on his way to Paris. Speaking as a saxophone player, that’s always one … Continue reading →

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Casey and the Chron on an elections administrator

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Casey sums up the recent proposal by County Judge Ed Emmett to consider adopting a non-partisan elections administrator for Harris County: While Dallas and Tarrant counties have found it a source of electoral confidence and stability, Bexar County went … Continue reading →

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Changes coming to the preservation ordinance?

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Swamplot has a scoop. Some major changes to the implementation of Houston’s long-ridiculed historic preservation ordinance may be coming very soon, if a proposal supported by Mayor Annise Parker passes a city council vote that could occur as early as … Continue reading →

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The chiefs talk about Arizona

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

HPD Chief Charles McClelland was one of several police chiefs to go to Washington and talk with Attorney General Eric Holder about why Arizona’s immigration law would be harmful to them, and why the federal government needs to finish the … Continue reading →

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The NCAA licensing lawsuit

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Keep an eye on this. If you’re a sports fan with a legal bent, add this to your Memorial Day weekend reading list: The March 10 complaint in Case No. C 09-01967 CW, United States District Court, Northern District of … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: In memoriam

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In honor of Memorial Day on Monday, here are ten songs that I thought were fitting: 1. The Green Fields of France – Ceili’s Muse 2. Another Man’s Cause – SixMileBridge 3. War – Bruce Springsteen 4. Goodnight, Saigon – … Continue reading →

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The TxDOT audit

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure you will be surprised to learn that TxDOT has a lot of issues. The Texas Department of Transportation should significantly alter its leadership structure, reshuffle its executive ranks and reduce the role engineers play in leading the sprawling … Continue reading →

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

Only some kinds of mistakes were made

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I probably shouldn’t be, but I was amused by this Chron story about the current state of the HPD fingerprint lab and the consultants who audited it. [HPD Assistant Chief Timothy] Oettmeier said consultants also had performed more in-depth technical … Continue reading →

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What happens to exonerees?

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We know that quite a few people who had been in prison have been exonerated and freed in recent years, and we know that a fund was created by the Lege last year to give them some compensation for their … Continue reading →

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So much for Abbott’s big “voter fraud” case

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Back in 2005, Attorney General Greg Abbott announced with a flourish a rash of arrests in South Texas on various counts of voter fraud. These arrests, some of which were announced while the Lege was debating a voter ID bill, … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Kaiser study on health care costs

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, state officials from HHSC Commissioner Tom Suehs up through Governor Perry have been claiming that the Affordable Care Act will cost the state of Texas a lot more than the CBO estimates. There’s quite a bit of … Continue reading →

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Grand jury hears Metro document shredding evidence

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Obviously, the District Attorney’s office is farther along in their investigation than I thought. A courthouse appearance today by Frank J. Wilson, the former Metropolitan Transit Authority president accused of destroying public documents, provided the first indication that prosecutors are … Continue reading →

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Worker’s Comp goes before the Sunset Commission

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The worker’s comp battle has moved to the Sunset Advisory Committee, with testimony being given about how the Division of Workers’ Compensation does its business. Elise Hu continues her reporting on the war of words between several former employees of … Continue reading →

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BRT for San Antonio?

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, San Antonio is seeking federal funds to build a streetcar line emanating from downtown. That’s not their only big transit plan in the works. As the On the Move blog reports, VIA has proposed changing one of … Continue reading →

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Here comes the EPA

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No one can say they weren’t warned. Objecting to how Texas regulates air pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday it is taking over the issuance of an operating permit for a Corpus Christi refinery and could step in … Continue reading →

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More on the Metro lawsuit settlement

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the Metro document shredding lawsuit has been pulled from the court docket in anticipation of a settlement agreement. The Chron has more on what that settlement agreement might entail. The proposed settlement of an open-records lawsuit against … Continue reading →

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Beyond DNA exonerations

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We’re all familiar with the way the Dallas DA’s office has handled using DNA to review cases in which a defendant’s guilt may have been in question. Now that most of the cases in which DNA evidence still exists have … Continue reading →

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

RV voters

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Really interesting story about a group of RV owners who “live” in a park in Polk County and vote there, but are seldom actually physically present. On the one hand, Escapees Inc. is a business catering to recreational vehicle enthusiasts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

And then there were three microbreweries

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Mike Brian Royo, the owner of what will soon be the third microbrewery in the Houston area, No Label Brewing Co. Royo, 32, and his wife, Jennifer, and his parents, Gilberto and Melanie, have leased space in an old … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of May 24

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is enjoying the last week of school before summer vacation as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.

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Emmett calls for “elections czar”

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett thinks we could use a dedicated elections supervisor. Proponents of an elections czar say an appointee would be insulated from accusations and lawsuits alleging partisanship in carrying out the duties of the office. In late … Continue reading →

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More “Buy America” complications

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the “It’s always something with Metro” department: The Federal Transit Administration plans to deny the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s request for a waiver from Buy America rules in connection with [a $15.8 million radio equipment] radio purchase from Motorola, FTA … Continue reading →

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White wants to “undo some of the damage” the SBOE has done to social studies

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Lord knows, there’s a lot of it to undo. Bill White wants to start with changing the Chair. Some Texans have called for a limited review to address some of the more controversial standards that will influence new history, government, … Continue reading →

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LSG forum on gambling

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Earlier this month, State Rep. Jim Dunnam, the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, sent out a letter to the Chairs of the House Republican Caucus, the Texas Conservative Coalition, and the Legislative Study Group proposing that they establish “a … Continue reading →

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Meet Joe Jaworski

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron had a profile of newly-elected Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski over the weekend. Jaworski said he will focus on improving the life of existing residents rather than encouraging construction on the west end. […] Jaworski said he wants to … Continue reading →

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More on the UT/Trib poll

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In response to my comments about the UT/Texas Trib poll, pollster James Henson was kind enough to send me the following: The number of independents is a function of how we present the results, not the methodology per se. We … Continue reading →

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Trib poll: Perry 44, White 35

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We finally have a non-Rasmussen result to discuss. Republican Rick Perry leads Democrat Bill White by nine percentage points — 44 percent to 35 percent — in the 2010 race for governor, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments