Monthly Archives: June 2016

Justice Department appeals Hanen sanctions to Fifth Circuit

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this over the weekend. Escalating its constitutional battle with a federal judge over the ethics of government lawyers in the major test case on presidential power over immigration, the Justice Department late Friday night asked a federal appeals court … Continue reading →

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Rep. Filemon Vela has a few words for Donald Trump

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Well, all righty then. U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela took a poison pen to the Republican presumptive presidential nominee, Donald Trump, in an open letter Monday morning. “Mr. Trump, you’re a racist and you can take your border wall and shove … Continue reading →

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Please don’t compare George Scott to Dave Wilson

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, come on. I was a bit confused when conservative blogger George Scott told me he planned to strap on ice skates before heading to his swearing-in ceremony this past week as a Katy school board member. Was this … Continue reading →

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Hillary Clinton on the Trump effect in Texas

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton posed a wild notion in a new interview: She could carry Texas in the fall. In a newly published New York magazine interview with reporter Rebecca Traister, … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Don’t know much about international relations

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sheesh. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday continued his campaign against the controversial Iran nuclear deal, urging fellow governors nationwide to ignore President Obama’s suggestion to lift economic sanctions. In a two-page letter, issued after he met in Dallas with … Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Reimagining Lower Westheimer

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. Lower Westheimer is one of Houston’s most well-known streets, but on some fronts its reputation isn’t a positive one. Narrow and bumpy, the street is both a hub of retail and recreation activity and also … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for June 5

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

An oral history of Cop Rock. Your guide to familiarizing yourself with all of the Clinton crap of the 90s. What A-Rod’s eight-year-old daughter thinks of him. “General principle: Whenever you hear anyone invoke Revelation 22:18-19 in this way, understand … Continue reading →

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Groups ask Fifth Circuit to block Judge Hanen order

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. A coalition of civil and immigrant rights groups on Friday asked an appeals court to stop a federal judge’s order that requires the Obama administration to turn over the confidential information of thousands of undocumented immigrants. The filing in … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Still no indies

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder that no matter who or what may be the flavor of the month, the deadline for filing as an independent candidate for President in Texas was last month. If an independent presidential candidate wanted to get on … Continue reading →

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Elsewhere in the local control follies

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Well, at least it’s not about bathrooms. El Paso is billing its effort to provide the indigent and undocumented with new municipal ID cards as a way to enhance public safety and build community. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott seems to … Continue reading →

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Another story on how Texas’ uninsured rate has fallen under Obamacare

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Same book, next chapter. A study released Tuesday shows that the rate of Texans without insurance has dropped to its lowest point since the late 1990s because of the Affordable Care Act, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: La La Land

Posted on June 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here come the Go-Gos: That’s from their 2000 reunion album “God Bless The Go-Go’s”, which I bought on a whim while perusing at a record store, as one did back then. The video is from a 2001 concert at Central … Continue reading →

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The story of Trump University in Texas

Posted on June 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

A fascinating read. Long before Trump University fell in the crosshairs of Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton, one of Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans drew a bead on the now-defunct school: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Abbott, then the state’s attorney general, … Continue reading →

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Straus wants to study school finance

Posted on June 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I appreciate the effort, but I plan to keep my expectations low. Citing a recent Texas Supreme Court decision that upheld the state’s public school funding system while deeming it “undeniably imperfect,” state House Speaker Joe Straus on Thursday ordered … Continue reading →

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

Tesla tries another approach to getting access to Texas

Posted on June 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

If at first you don’t succeed, change your strategy. Tesla Motors’ Lone Star ambitions won the blessing of the Texas GOP at the party convention in Dallas this month, paving the path towards a possible end to the three years … Continue reading →

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

Cain retains lead in HD128 after recount

Posted on June 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all over. After a recount, Briscoe Cain remains the winner in his Republican primary challenge to state Rep. Wayne Smith of Baytown. Cain, an attorney from Deer Park, edged out Smith, a longtime incumbent, by 23 votes last month … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: In the city, part 13

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More love for my hometown. 1. Southside Chicago Waltz – Black 47 2. St. Anne’s Reel/Staten Island Hornpipe – Flying Fish Sailors 3. St. Louis Blues March – Glenn Miller 4. Streets Of Bakersfield – Beau Jennings 5. Streets Of … Continue reading →

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5th Court of Appeals refuses to toss Paxton indictments

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry, Kenny. A Dallas appeals court on Wednesday upheld Attorney General Ken Paxton’s three felony fraud indictments, a decision he is likely to appeal to the highest criminal court in the state. “We are gratified but not surprised that just … Continue reading →

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Abbott orders state agencies to obey the law

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Better late than never. Gov. Greg Abbott and Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Wednesday ordered state agencies to stop paying departing employees by placing them on “emergency leave.” “Pursuant to this directive, the use of emergency leave, administrative leave or other … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS declines to hear Ted Cruz birther lawsuit

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Not that it really matters at this point. The Supreme Court declined Tuesday to hear a lawsuit arguing that Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is ineligible to be president because his Canadian birth means he is not a “natural born … Continue reading →

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On big money high school stadiums

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Monthly is against ’em. As a part of a $220 million bond package, McKinney ISD is adding an opulent events center and 12,000-seat high school football stadium that will cost a total of $62.8 million. According to the Dallas … Continue reading →

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My vision for Metro: Expansion

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Part 1: Buses Part 2: Marketing itself One of the things that new Metro Chair Carrin Patman has been talking about is a regional transportation plan, to get everyone – including cities and counties not currently involved with Metro – … Continue reading →

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Patrick doubles down on potty politics

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s potties all the way down. Declaring that “this fight is just beginning,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Tuesday escalated his battle against guidelines in Texas and across the country that allow students to use the bathroom that corresponds with … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

On finding the next HPD Chief

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know about this. Mayor Sylvester Turner has chosen to select Houston’s next police chief through a private executive search firm, taking the position that the applications and résumés of job candidates do not have to be made available … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 30

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance remembers the men and women who died while serving in our nation’s armed forces as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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My vision for Metro: Marketing itself

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Part 1: Buses Metro Board member Christoph Spieler has said that Metro turns over 20 percent of its ridership each year, just due to the natural comings and goings of life. As such, Metro doesn’t have to expend effort to … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Justice Department asks Judge Hanen to reconsider his last order

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t hurt to ask, I guess. The Obama administration has asked a Brownsville-based judge to rethink an order that requires the federal government to turn over the private information of thousands of undocumented immigrants. The May 19 order from U.S. … Continue reading →

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Lone Star Project requests investigation of severance packages

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Today, Lone Star Project Director Matt Angle sent letters to the Texas Rangers, the State Auditor and the Travis County District Attorney requesting formal investigations into a series of questionable payments made by Attorney General Ken Paxton, … Continue reading →

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Welcome to hurricane season

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Looks normal so far, but you know how that can go. Federal officials on Friday predicted between four and eight hurricanes will form in the Atlantic Ocean this year, and up to to four of those could become a major … Continue reading →

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