Monthly Archives: January 2013

PPP polls Texas

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Texas voters- even Republicans- have had enough of Rick Perry. PPP’s newest poll finds that only 31% of voters think Perry should seek reelection next year, compared to 62% who think it’s … Continue reading →

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Until there’s something to talk about we’ll talk about the talk

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I have two things to say about this. Attorney General Greg Abbott doesn’t want to talk about whether he is running for governor, but he is in overdrive on all the issues that make him a leading contender for the … Continue reading →

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Tell us more about these HCC concerns

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron expresses some concerns about recent happenings with the HCC Board of Trustees. As many longtime Houston residents are well aware, HCC has too frequently been plagued by problems involving the approval of contracts to board members’ supporters and … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of January 28

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is ready for a ruling in the school finance lawsuit as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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How about Ellis 2014?

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Michael Hurta makes an observation. The only Democratic legislator in Texas who is not up for reelection in 2014 yet also has seven figures in his campaign bank account is Rodney Ellis. Will we hear any Ellis for Governor rumors … Continue reading →

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The 311 app is here

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been waiting for this. The brand-new Houston 311 app will allow residents to file a complaint and then track its progress. The program officially goes live Tuesday, city officials said. Here’s how the 311 app works, city spokesman Chris … Continue reading →

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Yet another report saying we should expand Medicaid in Texas

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the fiscally responsible thing to do, in addition to being the morally correct thing to do. Expanding Medicaid is a “smart, affordable and fair” decision for Texas, according to a report issued by Billy Hamilton, a non-partisan consultant commissioned … Continue reading →

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How would you pay for extra school security?

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Would you be willing to tax yourself for it? Texas school districts could create special taxing districts to fund more security under a proposal unveiled Tuesday by three Houston-area lawmakers. The Texas School District Security Act would allow school boards … Continue reading →

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January finance reports for area legislative offices

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Just to complete the tour of semiannual finance reports, here’s a look at the cash on hand totals for area legislators. First up, the Harris County House delegation. Patricia Harless, HD126 – $308,221 Dan Huberty, HD127 – $69,058 Wayne Smith, … Continue reading →

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What we need is better choice

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

With all the talk about “school choice” floating around, it’s important to remember that in Houston at least we already have a lot of options from which to choose. Houston’s urban school leaders vowed Wednesday to continue efforts to expand … Continue reading →

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Zack Kopplin

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Remember the name Zack Kopplin. Rice University sophomore Zack Kopplin says he has been called the Antichrist, a godless liberal and, bizarrely, the cause of Hurricane Katrina. Kopplin, 19, has gained notoriety for championing the fight against his home state … Continue reading →

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Another setback for open beaches

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

At this rate, the concept of “open beaches” is on its way to becoming an anachronism. The Texas Supreme Court dealt another blow Friday to the Texas Open Beaches Act in a case pitting beachfront property owners against the city … Continue reading →

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January finance reports for Harris County offices

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

For the most part, it’s way too early to start thinking about the 2014 Harris County elections – we have a legislative session and a city election cycle to get through first – but since January 15 is a reporting … Continue reading →

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Is there a way forward on expanding Medicaid in Texas?

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a little hard to know what to make of this. The Affordable Care Act is the federal law that Texas Republicans love to hate, but one top lawmaker says expanding health care for the working poor could happen if … Continue reading →

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Trace cases to be prosecuted as felonies again

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

So says our new DA. Newly elected Harris County District Attorney Mike Anderson said Thursday he will prosecute as felonies drug cases that involve trace amounts of crack cocaine, reversing his predecessor’s stand on the so-called “trace cases.” “If there … Continue reading →

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Are you ready for the hipness?

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Because ready or not, here it comes. A rapper, a ballerina and a host of top chefs are among the locals who will be featured in a new Houston image campaign launching next month. The $425,000 promotional blitz targeting readers … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for January 27

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Jimmy Carter makes a stand for equality. I hope many of his fellow Baptists follow him. There are a lot of things we don’t know about gun violence. The HP Lovecraft problem. On “healthwashing” Girl Scout cookies. When a (Yankees … Continue reading →

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It’s Sylvia versus Carol in the runoff

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty much as expected. Here’s the vote totals from the County Clerk: Candidate Votes Pct ========================= Garcia 7,416 45.37 Alvarado 6,803 41.62 Bray 1,014 6.20 Olmos 461 2.82 Martinez 403 2.47 Reyes 125 0.76 Selva 73 0.45 Delgado 52 0.32 … Continue reading →

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From the “Anyone can call themselves an expert” department

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Now see, this is what happens when you go soliciting expert witnesses on Craigslist Joseph Bast, president and CEO of the Chicago-based Heartland Institute, is a witness for Texans for Real Efficiency and Equity in Education, or TREE, a group … Continue reading →

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Hog killin’ update

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Because I know you like to know about this sort of thing. After a competition to kill feral hogs left more than 1,000 of the destructive animals dead in Hays and Caldwell counties, plans are emerging to further control the … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Unchained Melody

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Song #34 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Unchained Melody”, originally by Todd Duncan and covered by the Righteous Brothers. Here’s the original: I’m willing to bet you’ve never heard that version before. You can see the bones … Continue reading →

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Election Day in SD06

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s highly unlikely that this will settle anything, but today is Election Day in SD06. If you live in SD06 and have waited till today to cast your ballot, you can find your polling place here or here. I’ve already … Continue reading →

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Inside baseball with the hospital district

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to learn from this article about the political relationship between the Harris County Hospital District and Commissioners Court. You have to wonder if David Lopez ever feels like he’s in the circus. When … Continue reading →

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The Real Housewives of the Oilpatch

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Sure, why not? A reality television show developer has traveled from California to Texas in hopes of spinning the “Real Housewives” concept into an oil field drama. Matt Stroud, a development producer for CrashHat Entertainment, recently released a casting call … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: For the sake of randomness

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

You know what I haven’t done in awhile? A Friday random ten that was actually random. So here we go. 1. Mrs. Robinson – Pomplamoose 2. Say What! – Stevie Ray Vaughan 3. Adios, Lorena – Eddie From Ohio 4. … Continue reading →

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Optimism abounds at inauguration time

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Inauguration time is always a good time to be optimistic. Texas Democrats haven’t had a lot to cheer about in recent years. As San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is quick to remind you, the political score in Texas is 29-0. … Continue reading →

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Another reason why spending caps are a bad idea

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There are many reasons why, but this is one we haven’t encountered before. Several political observers well-versed in the state’s finances say that lawmakers could hit the state’s spending limit this session, complicating efforts to access the $11.8 billion in … Continue reading →

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The case against Metro advertising

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Ed Wulfe isn’t happy with talk about Metro putting ads on buses and trains. In the late 1970s, Houston voters overwhelmingly defeated a local referendum to allow ads on bus shelters. Soon after, Houston City Council banned all new billboards … Continue reading →

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Will we have enough power?

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe not. From the EDF. It’s understandable that no one seems to have noticed a strongly worded letter to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) last Monday demanding more action to … Continue reading →

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The state begins preparing its excuses for its WHP screwup

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The fail is strong in this one. State health officials continue to insist that they have signed up more than enough providers to replace Planned Parenthood across most of Texas. Areas of limited coverage — including San Angelo, Corsicana and … Continue reading →

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More STAAR changes proposed

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Everyone’s least favorite standardized test is a fat target these days. State Sen. Kel Seliger, the Amarillo Republican who chairs the Senate Higher Education Committee, filed a bill Tuesday offering broad changes to student assessment and high school graduation requirements … Continue reading →

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Pushing for equality in Waco

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Glad to hear it. A group of Waco residents is seeking a city ordinance to bar public and private employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. Advocates of the measure plan to propose it Thursday to the city’s … Continue reading →

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Final SD06 early voting turnout

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the final daily record of early voting in SD06. Tuesday was the strongest day as expected, with a bit over 1,000 ballots being cast, but that just got the total to 8,245. With four more days for mail ballots … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of January 21

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes President Obama all the best at the start of his second term as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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