Monthly Archives: May 2015

Senate approves limited medical marijuana bill

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Wow again. Epilepsy patients in Texas would have access to medicinal oils containing a therapeutic component found in marijuana under legislation the state Senate passed Thursday. Senators voted 26-5 to pass Senate Bill 339, by Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, which … Continue reading →

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Gay acceptance in Harris County

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Not too shabby. Harris County, once known as reliably conservative, has become increasingly progressive on social issues such as same-sex marriage and the death penalty, according to a new poll by Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. The shifting … Continue reading →

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Anchia birth certificate bill passes out of committee

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. House Bill 537, by Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas), would allow same-sex parents to have both names on the birth certificates of adopted children. […] On Monday, the committee quietly voted 7-4 to advance HB 537, with Cook and … Continue reading →

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Adrian is in

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Speculation time is over. Ending months of speculation, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia has declared his candidacy for mayor of Houston Wednesday. Garcia, whose strong name recognition and deep law enforcement experience make him a likely frontrunner, will make his … Continue reading →

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Getting nasty in Pasadena

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell is not on the ballot this year, but he’s definitely involved in the Council elections. A political action committee (PAC) with ties to Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell contributed more than $20,000 to three candidates in the … Continue reading →

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To recuse or not to recuse

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

That is the question. More than a week after a judge who once worked for Rick Perry was tapped to hear an appeal in the former governor’s indictment, it’s still unclear whether he’ll see the case through. Legal experts say … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of May 4

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes everyone a Happy Star Wars Day as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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One marijuana reform bill passes out of committee

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This is a pleasant surprise. For the first time, a committee in the Legislature has approved a bill to decriminalize possession of marijuana, a move advocates hailed as a milestone moment in Texas. The state House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee passed … Continue reading →

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Stickland responds

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

He says he did nothing wrong. esponding to claims that he improperly registered witnesses at a committee hearing, state Rep. Jonathan Stickland released a statement Monday standing by his actions. During a Thursday night hearing of the House Transportation Committee, … Continue reading →

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Online voter registration bill appears to be dead

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. A group of Harris County officials have succeeded in scuttling a bipartisan bill that would have made Texas the 27th state to let citizens register to vote online. The proposal was co-sponsored by a majority of the House, but … Continue reading →

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On being transgender in Texas

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Good story. As celebrities like Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner and actress Laverne Cox seek to bring transgender issues to the mainstream, Texas is battling against the movement toward acceptance. There is no single definition for “transgender.” Broadly, it refers … Continue reading →

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Dan Wallach: 2015 Electric Power Usage Update

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Note: From time to time, I solicit guest posts from various individuals on different topics. While I like to think I know a little something about a lot of things, I’m fortunate to be acquainted with a number of people … Continue reading →

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I repeat, no one will be forced to perform a same sex wedding

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This really is a huge waste of time. For some gay rights advocates, a bill in the Texas Legislature that would allow clergy to refuse to marry same-sex couples would be acceptable if it just included four more words. As … Continue reading →

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Homestretch for the SA Mayor’s race

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Jeanne Russell, wife of San Antonio Mayoral candidate Mike Villarreal, makes the case for her husband in the Rivard Report. Many people who have known Mike and I professionally associate us most often with our work toward building a stronger, … Continue reading →

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Tesla going nowhere

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We have entered the period of the legislative calendar where bills that have not been voted out of committee or aren’t scheduled for a vote begin to get pronounced dead. Here’s the Tesla bill’s obituary. A crusade waged by Tesla … Continue reading →

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More on Hillary Clinton’s 50-state strategy

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Again, I like what I’m hearing so far. Hillary Clinton had a message to relay in private meetings with state and local Democrats during her highly-choreographed swings through Iowa and New Hampshire this month: let me help you. The implication? … Continue reading →

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More I-45 stuff

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From The Highwayman: Public meetings meant to debut the massive plan to remake Houston’s downtown freeway system might be coming to an end, but it’s hardly the last chance residents will have to poke and prod the plans. Years of … Continue reading →

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Dallas writes a letter to the Lege about Lyft and Uber

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

They would like for the Lege to not overrule them on regulating these transportation network companies. Dallas city leaders, writing to House Speaker Joe Straus, have underlined their opposition to a bill that would create statewide rules for “transportation network … Continue reading →

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Get out of solar’s way

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Keep an eye on this. “Hawaii is a postcard from the future,” said Adam Browning, executive director of Vote Solar, a policy and advocacy group based in California. Other states and countries, including California, Arizona, Japan and Germany, are struggling … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for May 3

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

There’s still work to be done on Title IX. I had a friend in college named Dave. In our senior year, he lived off campus and wanted to have the phone number 520-DAVE. He managed to convince the person who … Continue reading →

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Texas’ uninsured rate drops dramatically

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Amazing what can happen when a government actually tries to solve a problem, isn’t it? The rate of Texans without health insurance has fallen 8 percentage points since enrollment in the federal Affordable Care Act began, according to a new … Continue reading →

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As Jonathan Stickland turns

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Cue dramatic organ music. The chairman of the House Committee on General Investigating and Ethics said Friday he plans to investigate allegations that witnesses were signed up improperly to speak at a transportation committee meeting from which state Rep. Jonathan … Continue reading →

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Karbach’s new brewery

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, Houston has a lot of craft breweries, with the venerable Saint Arnold being the biggest, oldest, and best known. With the forthcoming opening of their new facility, I’d say Karbach is making a strong case to be … Continue reading →

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Cheating at chess

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Scandal! Gaioz Nigalidze’s rise through the ranks of professional chess began in 2007, the year the first iPhone was released. In hindsight, the timing might not be coincidental. On Saturday, Nigalidze, the 25-year-old reigning Georgian champion, was competing in the … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: God Bless The Child

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Possibly Billie Holliday’s best-known song: Yeah, that song has no relevance to today’s society at all. Billie Holliday would have been 100 years old in April. Coverville had a nice tribute to her last week. “God Bless the Child” was … Continue reading →

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Three bad bills

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Bad bill #1: State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, has been trying for months to pass legislation that would make it tougher for local entities to bring in more tax revenue by taking advantage of rising property values. On Thursday, he … Continue reading →

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Texans like having health insurance

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Who knew? A first-of-its-kind survey asking Texans if health insurance is necessary found an overwhelming majority believe having coverage is critical for them and their families, with 50 percent calling it “absolutely essential.” The Texas Medical Center commissioned Nielsen to … Continue reading →

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Transgender activists rally at the Capitol

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

They’re working for understanding and playing defense. Elder was one of two dozen transgender Texans and their advocates who rallied outside the Texas Capitol early Monday, just three days after gold medal decathlon winner Bruce Jenner declared, “I am a … Continue reading →

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Changing pothole procedures

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Parker seeks to reduce the number of campaign issues for this fall by half. City officials are hoping to replace more concrete segments of streets in lieu of simply patching over Houston’s many potholes, part of an emergency response … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 13

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Lucky thirteen… 1. Touch Me (I Want Your Body) – Samantha Fox 2. TRACKS (TALL BODIES) – Chelsea Wolfe 3. Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do) – Aretha Franklin 4. Waterfall (Psychedelic Teepee Twelve) – … Continue reading →

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Here come the HERO appeals

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

So many appeals. Andy Taylor, attorney for the plaintiffs, said he will continue an appeal he has pending at the Texas Supreme Court, which has made no decision on whether it will hear the case. He has a response due … Continue reading →

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What about Bernie?

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Hillary Clinton has some company in the Democratic primary for President. There’s one question Democrats face as they head into the 2016 presidential election. How should they feel about Hillary Clinton? The coalition Barack Obama built happily came out to … Continue reading →

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Medical marijuana gets its committee hearing

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t know that it will get more than just that committee hearing, however. House Bill 892 would legalize oils containing CBD, a non-euphoric component of marijuana known to treat epilepsy and other chronic medical conditions. By 2018, the measure would … Continue reading →

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Uber sues Houston

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all about the secrecy. Uber is once again suing to keep its secrets. The ride-hailing service filed suit in Houston last week to block the release of public records that would reveal how many drivers it has licensed in … Continue reading →

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