Monthly Archives: December 2011

Austin mulls far-reaching bag ban

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This will be worth watching. The City of Austin might enact one of the broadest bag bans in the nation and prohibit disposable paper and plastic bags at all checkout counters starting in January 2016. In the meantime, starting in … Continue reading →

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Reducing prison population is hard

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

And we’re taking a step backwards. Last summer, when tough-on-crime Texas closed its first prison ever, legislative leaders were jubilant over downsizing one of the nation’s largest corrections systems by more than 1,000 beds. It was a first big step, … Continue reading →

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Texas SCV sues over Confederate license plate rejection

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In November, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles unanimously rejected an application for a specialty license plate displaying the Confederate battle flag. The Texas Sons of Confederate Veterans has now filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn that decision. The Texas … Continue reading →

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Don’t draw broad conclusions from muddled evidence

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I have a number of issues with the analysis presented in this Chron story about what happened in the runoffs and What It All Means. The results illustrate a continuation of a national trend of anger and frustration toward government … Continue reading →

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How do we know it was a challenge from the left?

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I find this story about the primary challenge that may or may not be between Rep. Lloyd Doggett and State Rep. Joaquin Castro to be frustrating because it makes a huge assumption that it never bothers to verify. Longtime Austin … Continue reading →

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Wentworth touts his redistricting commission

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

State Sen. Jeff Wentworth takes to the op-ed pages to tout again his bipartisan redistricting committee bill, the merits of which I daresay look a little clearer now given recent events. Last June, during the special legislative session, a bill … Continue reading →

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On calculating graduation rates

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Education Agency publishes graduation rates for all Texas public schools every year. Some people and organizations disagree with their methodology, saying they assume too many departing students wind up in school elsewhere or are homeschooled rather than counting … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

That’s logistics

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Michael Li, on why many an elections administrator likely spent the weekend pulling out their hair: The March 6 primary also remains in place for now, but adjustments are virtually certain- even if the Supreme Court rules quickly after the … Continue reading →

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Second school finance lawsuit filed

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We’re just getting warmed up. A coalition of property wealthy school districts jumped into the school funding fray Friday, filing a separate lawsuit claiming the current system has created another illegal statewide property tax and does not provide children with … Continue reading →

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Sullivan files against Sumners

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I was writing a long candidate update for the weekend on Friday that’s pretty much junk now, but not every election is affected by the SCOTUS stay ruling. One such election is for Harris County Tax Assessor, where on Friday … Continue reading →

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Who will be the Lege education expert post-Hochberg?

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In writing a political obituary for State Rep. Scott Hochberg, who announced his retirement from the House last week, Abby Rapoport spends a paragraph on his purported successor as the go-to education legislator. Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, is clearly … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for December 11

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t think the girls can wait two whole weeks more till Christmas. The Superfriends Christmas Party, and Superman saves Nic Cage. They seem to go together. The decline and fall of Western civilization is right on schedule. Apparently, many … Continue reading →

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Christie, Burks, Davis, Brown

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Those are your runoff winners. Jack Christie’s victory was the most dramatic, coming in his fifth attempt to defeat Jolanda Jones, an opponent he had forced into multiple runoff elections. Helena Brown was the other candidate who beat an incumbent, … Continue reading →

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No recall for New Braunfels Mayor

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like the can ban battle is over for now. A petition for an election to recall New Braunfels Mayor Gale Pospisil failed when organizers submitted an insufficient number of valid signatures. City Secretary Patrick Aten said that of the … Continue reading →

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The check will be in the mail a little longer

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The hard times keep coming for the Postal Service. The U.S. Postal Service said a plan to save $2.1 billion a year and fend off possible bankruptcy would effectively put an end to almost all overnight delivery of first-class letters … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Crimson and Clover

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Song #89 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Crimson and Clover”, originally by Tommy James and the Shondells, and covered by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Here’s the original: Can’t say I’ve ever been a big fan of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Runoff Day today

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Today is Runoff Day for the city of Houston. If you have not already voted in the City Council runoff elections, you have until 7 PM to do so. Go to www.harrisvotes.com and use the “Find Your Election Day Poll” … Continue reading →

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Yet another effect of the drought

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Bacteria. One expert used simple rhyme to explain the reason behind high levels of bacteria in Texas waterways. “The solution to pollution is dilution.” Increased bacteria levels in rivers and streams due to decreased flow that typically dilutes runoff pollution … Continue reading →

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“Says I, I’ll try cider, I’ve heard that it’s good”

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We know all about the local beer-brewing scene here, but did you know there was a burgeoning trade in cider as well? By the time Jake Schiffer was ready to incorporate Leprechaun Cider Co. in the spring of 2010, he … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS issues a stay

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. The Supreme Court, working late on a Friday, agreed to rule on the constitutionality of three redistricting plans for the two houses of the Texas legislature and its 36-member U.S. House of Representatives delegation, and put on hold temporarily … Continue reading →

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Friday random however many: The airing of grievances

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Last week was about all-purpose songs that we hate. This week, in the spirit of the season, let’s discuss Christmas songs that we can’t stand. Here’s a list from the Chron, some of which will be familiar to Mellowmas fans. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Runoff overview: District B

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the final runoff overview story, for the District B race. The District B runoff election is a classic case of the candidate who touts his experience versus the newcomer who makes the case for a different approach. A vote … Continue reading →

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From the “You don’t like me! You really don’t like me!” files

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This is Rick Perry’s latest TV ad, uploaded to his Presidential campaign’s YouTube channel, in which he promises to end President Obama’s war on religion. No, I don’t know what he’s talking about either, but that’s not important. Look at … Continue reading →

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Allowing alcohol sales in Buda and Kyle

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

More Texas towns seek to loosen restrictions on selling alcohol. A political action committee hoping to make Buda and Kyle wet said it has collected enough signatures to put language easing laws regulating alcohol sales on each city’s ballot. The … Continue reading →

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This is not the cure for polarization you’re looking for

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This op-ed on how to “free Congress’ mind” seems to be unaware of the fact that one of its proposed solutions is not some theoretical construct. Because most voters say they want compromise, we could also try to change electoral … Continue reading →

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Final early vote totals for the 2011 runoff

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the final early vote tally for the 2011 City of Houston runoffs. A total of 23,030 in person and absentee ballots were cast in Harris County. Add in Fort Bend and the absentee stragglers, and I figure maybe 23,500 … Continue reading →

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UH heads to the Big East

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I wish them all the best. The Big East Conference officially announced the additions of the University of Houston, Boise State, Central Florida, San Diego State and SMU on Wednesday. UH, Central Florida and SMU are being added as all-sports … Continue reading →

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Expand the Senate?

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I think there’s a lot of merit to this. From state Sen. Kel Seliger, a member of the smaller-government Republican Party and an architect of the Legislature’s redistricting maps that were nixed by federal judges last week, comes this: Consider … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of December 5

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance thinks that if Herman Cain had just married all those women he could be where Newt Gingrich is today as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Three for HD144, Lee for HCDE

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Since Monday night, I have heard of three people who are interested in running for HD144, the State Rep district that was drawn to favor the election of a Democrat by the San Antonio court. For the record, the 2008 … Continue reading →

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African-American State Reps state their map objections

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Black-lawmakers-blast-revised-Texas-voting-maps-2346838.php Contending that African Americans have been an afterthought during the contentious yearlong redistricting process, four Houston lawmakers on Monday voiced their objections to the interim House map a three-judge panel drew recently. “A lot of emphasis over the past … Continue reading →

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More on Lykos versus the cops

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s another Chron story about the recent dust-up between Harris County DA Pat Lykos and six Harris County police groups that don’t like her policy that trace amounts of crack will not be prosecuted as felonies. Two points that are … Continue reading →

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Do over!

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This should come as a surprise to no one. Steve Munisteri, chair of the Republican Party of Texas, told party members last week that, if the court-drawn interim maps stand, he would seek to have Republican candidates for the Texas … Continue reading →

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November was like 2007, December is more like 2005

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the daily report for the first six days of Early Voting in the runoff. There have been 17,568 votes cast so far, with today still to go. That means there have been more early votes cast in Harris County … Continue reading →

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