Monthly Archives: February 2011

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 31

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is ready to retire the phrase “blue norther” for another year as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.

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Are you ready for the next big budget deficit?

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s coming in the next legislative session. Pressed by Democratic senators on the Finance Committee, John Heleman said the state will have a $10 billion structural deficit in future budgets largely because the business tax has underperformed and the 2006 … Continue reading →

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Is this the year a statewide smoking ban passes?

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. The latest from Gov. Rick Perry’s preferred polling firm, Baselice & Associates, shows that 70 percent of Texans support a ban on indoor smoking, including in restaraunts and bars. The sentiment appears to cut across party lines. The ban … Continue reading →

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Clergy still pushing for immigration reform

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Glad to see it. Just two days after President Barack Obama renewed a call for immigration reform, a group of Houston religious leaders said Thursday that despite a discouraging political climate, they see signs of change. “I feel the people … Continue reading →

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Update on the HD48 election contest

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Patricia Kilday Hart sums up the state of things in HD48, where there’s a recount of the recount and a lot more testimony to come. I have no idea what to expect from this, but I think she’s right that … Continue reading →

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Council gives final approval to Dynamo Stadium deal

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The last hurdle has officially been cleared. With two unanimous votes at City Council on Wednesday, the Dynamo cleared the last public hurdles they need to build their new stadium on the East End. “I think it’s a very important … Continue reading →

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Business leaders urged to oppose “cuts only” approach to the budget

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck with that. Former Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby is helping lead an effort to rally Texas business leaders against what he calls a “catastrophic” cuts-only approach to balancing the state’s budget in the face of a massive shortfall, estimated … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Superintendents speak out against school funding cuts

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

More of this, please. Speaking at a press conference during the Texas Association of School Administrators’ Midwinter Conference, superintendents and trustees urged the Legislature to use the Rainy Day Fund and search for new revenue through fees instead of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Some reactions to LBB recommendations

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman asks around about three of the Legislative Budget Board recommendations for raising revenue. First, the suggestion to allow liquor sales on Sunday, which it projects would generate an extra $7.4 million. Not surprisingly, the liquor industry favors this, … Continue reading →

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Yet another threat to light rail expansion

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Great. The House could vote as soon as mid-February on a plan by the conservative House Republican Study Committee to end the 35-year-old Federal Transit Administration’s “New Starts” program,” which pours $2 billion-a-year into urban transit projects such as Houston … Continue reading →

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Bye-bye, Pre-K

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We don’t need these things in the Century of Texas. Just how important is full-day pre-kindergarten for the state’s youngest and most disadvantaged kids? Is it more important than after-school tutoring? Than canceling music and art classes? As they brace … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Dynamo Stadium rebate plan

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this is interesting. The city is poised to strike a 30-year deal giving back $3 million in projected sales tax to the Houston Dynamo as they prepare to construct their $60 million stadium. City officials say the tax rebate … Continue reading →

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On garbage fees and single stream recycling

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You might have seen this blurb a few days ago about Solid Waste director Harry Hayes making a pitch to Mayor Parker to expand single stream recycling to every home in Houston: To reach 100 percent, Hayes told City Council … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Furloughs or layoffs?

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe instead of firing 100,000 teachers, it would be somewhat less awful to allow for furloughs and salary cuts instead. “One of those burdens that we have placed on our school districts is that they cannot decrease your salary. They … Continue reading →

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On the road to nowhere

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Use your own favorite cliche for this. Texas soon will be shelling out more per year to pay back money it borrowed for road construction than it spends from its quickly vanishing pile of cash to build new highways. Legislative … Continue reading →

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Time once again to play “Guess the economic impact”

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

So just how much money does Dallas Arlington North Texas hope to rake in from Super Bowl XL? Opinions differ. Yeah, I’m shocked, too. A larger stadium, an improving economy and die-hard fan bases for the Green Bay Packers and … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments