Monthly Archives: January 2011

Senate stands down again

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

No vote on the rules till next week, so the 2/3 rule lives for a few more days. In an hour-long caucus behind closed doors, Texas senators decided today to put off for a week a potentially acrimonious public debate … Continue reading →

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Voters say they don’t want spending cuts

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

According to one poll, anyway. Voters gave Republicans an overwhelming victory in November, leaving the GOP with nearly two-thirds of the seats in the Legislature and every statewide office. Many have interpreted the election as a clear call for spending … Continue reading →

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More on paying for roads and other forms of transportation

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Given that the private toll road debate is set to gear up again in Texas, it is fortuitous that the Texas Public Interest Research Group, a/k/a TexPIRG, chose last week to release a report called Do Roads pay For Themselves? … Continue reading →

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There’s still no such thing as a rainy day

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Having been in denial about the size of the budget deficit, Governor Perry goes into denial about how to deal with it. Gov. Rick Perry on Monday said he was opposed to using the state’s rainy day fund to help … Continue reading →

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Time for a change in Farmers Branch

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good riddance. Farmers Branch Mayor Tim O’Hare announced this morning that he will not seek re-election in this suburb that gained national fame for its stance on illegal immigration. […] O’Hare did not endorse any candidates for mayor but attending … Continue reading →

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A few thoughts from Opening Day

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Just a few random bits from today’s festivities… – In the end and despite the teabagger footstomping, the Speaker’s Race turned out to be a big nothingburger, which was what most rational people expected all along. There were a few … Continue reading →

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We have a number for the hole

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There’s actually more than one number that can be used to accurately describe the state budget deficit, depending on what your perspective is, but however you look at it, it’s big and it’s no longer projected or theoretical. State Comptroller … Continue reading →

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Quittencourt

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I have one thing to say about this: Many things about Paul Bettencourt have been true for as long as he has inhabited public life. The former Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector hates when public money is spent on professional sports … Continue reading →

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Galveston commuter rail project off track

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Bummer. A depressed economy and a budget-cutting political climate have indefinitely delayed a proposed Houston-Galveston passenger rail line, a project that could have been under construction by now according to earlier predictions. Despite strong support from governments in Galveston County, … Continue reading →

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Please use the Rainy Day Fund

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t have any faith that those who need to hear this are listening, but as the 82nd Lege gets gaveled in today, it still needs to be said. A coalition of progressive organizations from throughout Texas called for “a … Continue reading →

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The Hammer goes to the slammer

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Judge Pat Priest sentenced Tom DeLay to three years in prison. The three-year sentence was on the charge of conspiring to launder corporate money into political donations during the 2002 elections. On the charge of money laundering, DeLay was … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

The audit on HISD’s magnet programs

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The long-awaited audit has arrived. Students in Houston ISD’s prestigious magnet schools could find themselves shopping for new campuses if district leaders act on a critical audit that suggests eliminating nearly half the programs. The long-awaited audit, released on Friday, … Continue reading →

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Krugman on the Texas budget deficit

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

By now, you’ve probably seen Paul Krugman’s column about the Texas budget deficit. He uses it to make some great points about the failure of the conservative slash-and-burn approach, but he missed a couple of facts that make it all … Continue reading →

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Rats of a feather

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

My schadenfreude-o-meter goes to 11. As convicted felon Tom DeLay prepares to find out Monday whether he will go to jail or get probation, his lawyer complained Friday that Travis County prosecutors offered immunity for testimony from two former DeLay … Continue reading →

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Steroid testing can never fail, it can only be failed

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s definition of insanity time. Don Hooton’s anti-steroid message aimed at young athletes has never been more in demand. The foundation he started six years ago in the wake of his teenage son’s suicide, attributed to steroid use, has grown … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for January 9

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Daniel Hernandez, the hero from yesterday’s tragedy in Arizona who may have saved Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ life. The best New Year blog post title that I saw. You do know that God is not mentioned in the Constitution, right? … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 2 Comments

Forensic Science Commission finally hears Willingham testimony

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

If you were hoping the state of Texas would be open to changing how arson investigations should be done, then the hearing was a disappointment. Still, some good things happened. Speaking at a special meeting of the Texas Forensic Science … Continue reading →

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No more plastic bags in Brownsville

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It will be very interesting to see how this plays out. The eyes of retail will be on Brownsville this week as the city forges ahead as the first in Texas to ban single-use plastic bags. The ordinance against the … Continue reading →

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Austin gay divorce upheld

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Gay divorce seekers are one for two in the state of Texas. Over the objections of state Attorney General Greg Abbott, an Austin appellate court has upheld the divorce of a lesbian couple married in Massachusetts. When a lower court granted … Continue reading →

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No more texting while driving in Seguin

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Add another city to the list of those that have banned the practice. Seguin has joined several area cities in banning texting and using applications on cell phones while driving. The new ordinance went into effect [last] Saturday, joining bans … Continue reading →

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Arizona Congresswoman shot

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Horrible. Six people were killed and 12 others wounded — including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords — in a shooting outside a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store where the congresswoman was holding a constituent meeting, police said. The suspect in the shooting … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Disco makes everything better

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

How can I possibly mention an album side-length disco version of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” without providing a video? That’s the first rendition of that song I ever heard. Made for a few weird moments the first time I … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged | 1 Comment

Historic preservation has been preserved

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Swamplot: THE RESULTS ARE in, and it looks like the great campaign todissolve Houston’s historic districts has been a bit of a bust. Houston planning director Marlene Gafrick reports that the “survey period” for Heights East, Heights West, Heights South, … Continue reading →

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Sheriffs not sold on Arizona immigration bill

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Texas’ sheriffs are not very enthusiastic about being charged with enforcing federal immigration laws. Texas has 254 sheriffs, and while opinions vary about whether illegal immigration should be their problem, some Republicans are pushing measures that won’t give them a … Continue reading →

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We’ll take it if you don’t want it

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Dallas would like the FTA to know that they will gladly take any federal streetcar funds that Fort Worth doesn’t want. That’s the message the Regional Transportation Council, with the support of Dallas leaders, is sending to the Federal Transit … Continue reading →

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Metro restarts some light rail construction

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As if to punctuate Gilbert Garcia’s op-ed, the news for Metro at the start of 2011 is good. Last month, the Federal Transit Administration sent the first $50 million of the grant money for use on the North and Southeast … Continue reading →

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Overexposure alert

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The following is from the most recent HCDP email: “Blueprint for a Blue Harris County” This Saturday,  January 8th A Blueprint for a Blue Harris County, is a Democrats-only event scheduled for this Saturday, January 8th from 12:00 – 3:00 … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: The Top 500, part 8

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As we ended the old year, so we begin the new year with another set of songs in my collection from the Rolling Stone Top 500 list. 1. Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone – The Temptations (#168) 2. Dancing Queen … Continue reading →

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Will we re-fight the toll road privatization battle?

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. I’m a little dubious, however. Over a long July Fourth weekend two years ago, with time running out on a chaotic special session, the Legislature refused to extend authority for the Texas Department of Transportation to contract with private … Continue reading →

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Revising the city ethics code

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know enough about the specifics of this to draw any firm conclusions, but it sounds reasonable enough from the description. The city is poised to significantly tighten its ethics rules, closing loopholes that allow lobbyists to avoid registration … Continue reading →

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Big Tobacco wants higher taxes on Little Tobacco

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not sure why we’re even talking about this since the Republicans aren’t interested in anything other than slashing and burning, but for the record: Texas is only one of two states that do not impose a fee on off-brand … Continue reading →

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San Antonio streetcar study

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Fort Worth may have punted on streetcars, but San Antonio is still moving ahead. It’s not a green light, but it is a boost nonetheless for VIA Metropolitan Transit’s plans to build two streetcar lines downtown. The transit agency recently … Continue reading →

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Cohen looking at City Council

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Former State Rep. Ellen Cohen is exploring a run for City Council in the updated District C. “It has a real appeal to me,” added Cohen. Potential candidates do not have to register until August at the earliest, though Cohen … Continue reading →

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The pushback on class size limits

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The DMN continues its commendable work on the upcoming legislative fight over class size limits by writing about the skeptics of smaller class sizes. The most comprehensive assessment dates back just as far as the Texas law, to a four-year … Continue reading →

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