Monthly Archives: February 2011

Why aren’t we tracking this?

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This sounds like a job for the Legislature. The number of parolees being tracked with ankle monitors in Texas has mushroomed to nearly 3,000 in the last two years. About 600 reside in Harris County. The county also has 150 … Continue reading →

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Sonogram bill coming up for a vote

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Sen. Dan Patrick’s “I know what’s best for you ladies” sonogram bill SB16 is on the schedule for today. I had previously expressed pessimism that there was anything to be done to prevent its passage based on the expected support … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sacrifice is for the little people

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You almost have to admire the gall. Milton Rister, director of administration in Gov. Rick Perry’s office, just asked Senate budget writers for a net increase of $81.5 million in state funds for the next two years. If I took … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Texas On The Brink”

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Texas On The Brink is a report that has been produced annually since 2003, originally by State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh but now being continued by the Legislative Study Group. It shows how Texas compares to other states in a variety … Continue reading →

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

Metro in the President’s budget

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

They did all right. Houston Metro’s expansion is getting a $200 million boost in Obama’s budget request to Congress. The money for the North Corridor and the Southeast Corridor projects is $50 million more than the $150 million set aside … Continue reading →

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The Rodriguez response to “sanctuary cities”

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

More like this, please. Freshman state Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, filed SB 600 on Friday, which would prevent law enforcement from asking the immigration status or nationality of a witness to or victim of a crime “except as necessary … Continue reading →

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The balanced budget fantasy

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There’s really only one thing to say about this. One of Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign staples last year was that America would be a far better place if it were more like the Lone Star State — limited government, fewer … Continue reading →

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You should now be avoiding Buffalo Speedway

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. Road work designed to solve traffic jams at Buffalo Speedway and U.S. 59 is scheduled to get under way Tuesday, Feb. 15. Work will begin on the east side of Buffalo Speedway between Bissonnet Drive and U.S. 59, with … Continue reading →

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Census data is on its way

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Via Greg, who is predictably jazzed about it, the state of Texas expects its detailed Census data this week, meaning that the redistricting battle is set to begin in earnest. Demographers expect the data to validate projections of surging growth … Continue reading →

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Do we now expect to get those federal education dollars?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall that last year, Congress passed a supplemental appropriations bill that included $830 million in education funds for Texas, but which came with the requirement that Texas maintain its spending levels on education for the next three fiscal … Continue reading →

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Furloughs and pay cuts: Not just for school districts

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For public universities, too. Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of the University of Texas System, asked state senators on Wednesday for flexibility to cut pay for faculty and staff and mandate furloughs to cope with budget cuts topping 20 percent. […] Kicking … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

San Antonio still in for Austin rail line

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I wish them the very best of luck with this. San Antonio officials will continue to pursue a passenger rail line that one day could connect the Alamo City to Austin, a transit project that’s already been in the works … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Get ready for another Medicaid lawsuit

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the very likely outcome if proposed cuts to Medicaid reimbursement rates go through. “You cut rates an additional 10 percent, I’m not sure I can comply with the access provision,” Thomas Suehs, commissioner of the state Health and Human … Continue reading →

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What about Bob?

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Chron columnist Jerome Solomon has a question for Houston Texans owner Bob McNair. Texans owner Bob McNair, who won’t talk about the CBA negotiations, should come out strongly against a lockout. Though he has pocketed plenty as an NFL owner, … Continue reading →

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One Republican for the Rainy Day Fund

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

State Sen. Kevin Eltife says what I suspect more than a few Republican legislators are thinking. “We have to find more revenue,” the former Tyler mayor and senator of seven years said [Thursday] morning during a committee hearing. “It’s insane … Continue reading →

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Metro seeks input for commuter rail line to Fort Bend

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Metro is taking another step forward on the commuter rail line along US 90A to Fort Bend County that was part of the 2003 Metro Solutions referendum. Kimberly Slaughter, Senior Vice President of Service Design & Development for Metro, unveiled … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for February 13

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For those of you who need the reminder, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. You may now commence panicking as needed. Don’t mess with the Girl Scouts. They play for keeps. The bad faith of mandate critics. When you elect idiots, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

About those land sales…

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The current fiscal year’s budget for the City of Houston includes revenue from the sale of some city-owned property to make it balance. This article talks about this and what might happen if they don’t sell before the end of … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Lawsuits filed over Super Bowl experiences

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A couple of ticket-related issues from Super Bowl XLV will be going to the courthouse. Two ticket holders, Mike Dolabi, who lives in Tarrant County, and Steve Simms, a Pennsylvania resident, filed the lawsuit in federal court late Tuesday night … Continue reading →

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Walle files bills to address school ticketing

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A couple of weeks ago I noted a Texas Appleseed report that discussed an increase in “Class C misdemeanor ticketing and arrest of students for low-level, non-violent behavior that historically has been handled at the school level”, which it believes … Continue reading →

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The bingo business

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Really interesting story about how bingo, which is legal in Texas as a charitable fundraiser, operates without a whole lot of scrutiny. In June 2006, police responded to a call from Daytime Bingo Hall in Midland reporting that $100,000 in … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: When an evil boy meets an evil girl

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the age-old story. May your Valentine’s Day be filled with maniacal laughter, robot armies, and anything else your heart desires.

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Amazon abandons Texas

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

More job losses, and we haven’t even started firing teachers yet. Online retail giant Amazon.com will close its suburban Dallas distribution center amid a dispute with the state over millions in uncollected state sales taxes, The Associated Press reported Thursday. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

DeLay wants a do over

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck with that. Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s legal team on Wednesday filed a motion asking for a retrial for the former congressman, convicted last November on charges of money laundering and conspiracy. The motion, filed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

The business margins tax and the auto repair shops

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Among other problems with the business margins tax, small business owners have complained that it’s less fair to them than it is to the big guys. This op-ed explores one example of that. Mom-and-pop auto repair shops across Texas are … Continue reading →

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Texas lags on rail: Film at 11

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I’m pretty sure we’ve seen this story before, but here it is again anyway. According to a study commissioned by the Texas Transportation Commission, during the next 20 years, more than $300 billion in 2009 dollars needs to be invested … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Howard declared the winner in HD48

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

At long last. Rep. Donna Howard won the House District 48 seat by four votes over Republican Dan Neil, according to state Rep. Will Hartnett, R-Dallas. Hartnett was appointed to investigate their election after Neil challenged the results. […] Hartnett’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Friday random ten – A little jazz break

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I still have a few entries to go in the Rolling Stone Top 500 list, but I wanted to take a break from it this week for a small diversion. I recently played the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s “Take 5” as … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Larry Taylor’s conflict of interest

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

KHOU takes a look at State Rep. Larry Taylor. In four years, the co-chairman of oversight of a state insurance agency made more than $300,000 off the company he is supposed to oversee on behalf of consumers in Texas. State … Continue reading →

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KBH says she’ll support a weaker DREAM

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Where were you in December, Senator? Weeks after a hunger strike orchestrated by college students in San Antonio failed to sway her vote on the DREAM Act, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison told business leaders Tuesday that she now would work … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sonogram bill passes out of committee

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. One of Gov. Rick Perry’s designated “emergency” pieces of legislation cleared an early hurdle on Wednesday when the Senate State Affairs Committee voted in favor of a bill that would require a physician to perform a sonogram on … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of February 7

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is hoping for a swift and player-friendly resolution to the NFL labor situation as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Still estimating the impact

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Despite the awful weather, the sort of people who make projections about the economic impact of hosting a Super Bowl still think it was a pretty good week for Dallas Arlington North Texas. Winter weather delivered a blow, but the … Continue reading →

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The Trib talks to Rob Eissler

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here are a few brief video clips from the Texas Tribune conversation with State Rep. Rob Eissler, who is the House Public Education Committee chair. The full audio is here. Eissler, who believes the Rainy Day Fund will at least … Continue reading →

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