Monthly Archives: September 2010

True culture warriors never sleep

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

There’s no possible way that this can end well. The [State Board of Education] will consider a resolution next week that would warn publishers not to push a pro-Islamic, anti-Christian viewpoint in world history textbooks. Members of the board’s social … Continue reading →

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Progress on food stamps

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. With hundreds of new workers on board, Texas has dramatically improved its speed and accuracy processing food stamp applications, Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs [told] state lawmakers [last week]. But he’ll also tell the joint … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of September 13

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance salutes the Houston Texans for vanquishing their nemesis the Colts in the season opener as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.

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I-Day Houston

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the Inbox, from the League of Women Voters: The League of Women Voters of the Houston Area and the American Society of Civil Engineers are set to host two debates, a candidate meet-and-greet, and infrastructure townhall meetings during the … Continue reading →

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Interview with Diane Trautman

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Diane Trautman was the Democratic nominee for Harris County Tax Assessor in 2008 against then-incumbent Paul Bettencourt. With Bettencourt announcing his resignation approximately five minutes after he won re-election, the office is on the ballot again this year, and Trautman … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Judy Dougherty

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. These Q&As are primarily intended for candidates who were … Continue reading →

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Poll shows Renew Houston with a lead

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The supporters of the Renew Houston effort, now known as Proposition 1 on the ballot, have released a poll showing solid support for their proposal. The Vote FOR Proposition 1 campaign released a new poll today that shows voters approving … Continue reading →

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Helping middle schoolers

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You’d think this would be a pretty basic thing to do. Texas Sen. Florence Shapiro was stunned a few years ago when state auditors answered her request with a white surrender flag: They could not tell her which programs designed … Continue reading →

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County says it’s as ready as it’s going to be for the election

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We won’t have as many voting machines as we’d originally planned, but the Harris County Clerk thinks we’ll have enough to get by. In addition to the [3100 new machines Commissioners Court authorized them to buy], the county has received … Continue reading →

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If the story of the SBOE were told as a fairy tale

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It would look something like this: The truly scary thing is that none of that was made up. If you want there to be a happy ending, I recommend supporting Rebecca Bell-Metereau and Judy Jennings. Thanks to Harold Cook for … Continue reading →

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What could be done with the Wal-Mart site instead

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If you read through my previous post, you may be wondering “if not Wal-Mart there, then what?” For that, I turn to Andrew Burleson, wearing his President of the Houston Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism hat, who … Continue reading →

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Interview with Ann Harris Bennett

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Ann Harris Bennett is the Democratic nominee to succeed retiring Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman. Bennett is a 14-year employee of the county, having worked as the Court Coordinator for the 55th and 152nd District Courts. As we know, there’s … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Natalie Cokinos Oakes

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. These Q&As are primarily intended for candidates who were … Continue reading →

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Falkenberg’s Wal-Mart strawman

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Where to even begin with this bizarre Lisa Falkenberg column? I’ll probably get banned from my favorite Heights coffee house for saying so, and it’s not that I’m a fan of Walmart. Some of their business practices led me years … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Arizona Green Party sues to kick its own candidates off the ballot

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Just when you think you’ve seen it all… The state Democratic Party is alleging possible voter fraud in what it called a scheme to undermine its candidates by recruiting “sham” Green Party hopefuls. In a complaint filed late Monday, the … Continue reading →

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RIP, David Thompson

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

What a terrible shock. We loyal patrons of Murder by the Book, Houston’s go-to place for all things murder and mystery, are devastated to learn of David Thompson’s sudden passing yesterday. David, a Murder by the Book fixture for 21 … Continue reading →

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Rick Perry’s manly man event

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Say what? In an invitation circulating this week, Governor Rick Perry is inviting some of his closest, wealthiest friends to a “Wild Game” dinner in Houston–just not their wives. The invitation from Perry’s State Finance Chair James H. Lee boasts … Continue reading →

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Interview with Loren Jackson

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Next up is Loren Jackson, who is finishing up the unexpired term of Harris County District Clerk that he won in 2008 after incumbent District Clerk Charles Bacarisse resigned to run in the GOP primary for County Judge. Jackson has … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Donna Roth

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. These Q&As are primarily intended for candidates who were … Continue reading →

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The 380 agreement

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the proposed 380 agreement between the city and Ainbinder for the site now known as “Washington Heights”. It’s all fairly dense legalese, and I confess my eyes glazed over while reading it. If there’s something in here that’s unexpected … Continue reading →

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The elections administrator

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron takes a look at the elections administrator proposal that has been under study. The idea of an elections administrator percolated during the spring as a way to cloak the function in a mantle of nonpartisanship, and incidentally, to … Continue reading →

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These are not the small businesses you’re looking for

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Perry released his first TV ad today. It’s a positive, morning-in-Texas kind of spot, with a montage of small businesses in Austin. Only it turns out that at least two of the owners of those businesses that are visible … Continue reading →

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UT/TT poll: Perry 39, White 33

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Another poll result. Republican Gov. Rick Perry leads his Democratic challenger, Bill White, by 6 percentage points — 39 percent to 33 percent — in the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Libertarian Kathie Glass has the support of 5 … Continue reading →

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Interview with Billy Briscoe

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We turn our attention now to Harris County races, and we’ll start with the race for what I have called the least useful office in the county, County Treasurer. This is partly a reflection of the office itself, whose powers … Continue reading →

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Metro responds to FTA, and CAF responds to Metro

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Over the weekend, Metro posted a letter from CEO George Greanias to the FTA in response to the findings of the FTA from their investigation into Buy America compliance. Basically, Metro says they agree with the FTA’s findings, have issued … Continue reading →

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Feds reject Texas’ application for education funds

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. The U.S. Department of Education has rejected Texas’ application for $830 million in federal money for schools and asked the state to resubmit its request without conditions. The rejection was based on a line in the state’s application that … Continue reading →

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Those road congestion blues

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m more interested in the methodology used to determine the list of Texas’ most congested roads than I am in the roads themselves, since most of us could have named the roads on that list without doing any work. Like … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 12

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Are you ready for some football? Congratulations, Patrick! Because it can. Any other questions? Black is the new green. Can you even imagine a world without “The Simpsons”? “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother … Continue reading →

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Another debate Rick Perry won’t attend

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This one will be in Houston. The latest debate, set for Oct. 3, is to be hosted by the Harris County League of Women Voters and the Harris County Department of Education. Perry has refused to debate until Democrat Bill … Continue reading →

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Yes, let’s enroll more kids in CHIP

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

What a great idea. The Obama administration today ballyhooed a new Urban Institute report that suggests a path to enrolling 5 million kids in government-sponsored health insurance who are eligible but not signed up. The report says increasing the number … Continue reading →

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Video-enabled radar guns

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m just curious what people think of this: Plano could soon become one of the nation’s first cities to equip police with laser speed guns that also capture video. Police say the handheld equipment would provide courts with indisputable evidence … Continue reading →

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SN22 public forum and panel discussion about the Wal-Mart

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: OPPORTUNITIES AND INCENTIVES FOR RETAIL DEVELOPMENT IN THE URBAN CORE: A PUBLIC FORUM AND PANEL DISCUSSION PLANNED IN LIGHT OF MAYOR PARKER’S INTENT TO PROVIDE TAX INCENTIVES FOR A SHOPPING CENTER ON YALE STREET AT KOEHLER (HEIGHTS … Continue reading →

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The state of the Lottery

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman has an interesting two-part story about the state of the Texas Lottery today. Part One is about the declining fortunes of Lotto Texas and what that means for the state’s finances: Consider: • In 1994, 70 percent of … Continue reading →

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Cutting TEXAS grants

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Paying for college keeps getting harder for a lot of people in Texas. Each year since 2003, the TEXAS grant program has had more applicants than it’s been able to help. In 2009, lawmakers added $110 million to the program. … Continue reading →

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