Monthly Archives: July 2021

Day 17 quorum busting post: Testify

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, Ms T. State Rep. Senfronia Thompson described to a U.S. House committee on Thursday occasions in 2010 and 2012 when white Republican poll watchers showed up at a Houston polling place where she and many other Black … Continue reading →

Posted in National news, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Justice Department sues over Abbott’s anti-migrant executive order

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Biden administration sued Texas on Friday, asking a federal judge to block Gov. Greg Abbott’s order that state troopers pull over drivers transporting migrants who pose a risk of carrying COVID-19 as a way to prevent the spread … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Paxton “wins” Trump endorsement

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Former President Donald Trump has backed Attorney General Ken Paxton for reelection, passing over primary challenger George P. Bush in bestowing the highly sought-after endorsement. “It is going to take a PATRIOT like Ken … Continue reading →

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Big XII accuses ESPN of sabotage

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting! In the long, sordid and divisive history of conference realignment, there has always been feverish levels of mistrust, backroom allegations and message board conspiracies when schools switch leagues. But in the decades of cloak-and-dagger maneuverings, political gamesmanship and rival … Continue reading →

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

Greg Abbott will blame you if you get sick

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

He will take no responsibility at all. With COVID-19 hospitalizations soaring past 5,000 statewide for the first time in nearly five months, state officials are stepping up vaccination outreach programs and promotional campaigns but Gov. Greg Abbott insists that the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Appeals court overturns verdict in firefighter pay parity lawsuit

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. An appeals court on Thursday reversed a ruling that declared Houston firefighters’ pay-parity measure unconstitutional, a major win for the fire union and one that could have far-reaching effects on city finances. The fire union won approval of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Will Delta change HISD’s plans?

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Remains to be seen. Houston Independent School District Superintendent Millard House II released a video Saturday confirming that the district’s “communicable disease team” is still fully operational as the district works to update its COVID-19 plan for the start of … Continue reading →

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SEC accepts UT and OU

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Time to start printing the money. The Southeastern Conference voted unanimously Thursday afternoon to invite the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Oklahoma to join their 14-member league during a meeting with the league member’s presidents and … Continue reading →

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Jake Ellzey wins CD06 special election runoff

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I confess, I had totally forgotten about this. State Rep. Jake Ellzey of Waxahachie beat fellow Republican Susan Wright on Tuesday to succeed her late husband, U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington, and pull off a major upset against a candidate … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2021 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

On the reaction by some people to the new mask recommendations

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I have one thing to say to this. Texas Republicans in Congress are fuming over new mask requirements on Capitol Hill and recommendations from the CDC that even vaccinated Americans begin masking again as an extra precaution in parts of … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

More criminal complaints against Deshaun Watson

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Yeesh. Multiple women have filed complaints with the Houston Police Department related to Texans’ quarterback Deshaun Watson, according to both sides in the football player’s civil sexual assault cases. Almost half of the 22 women who filed civil claims against … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of July 26

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is still standing strong with the quorum-busting Dem legislators as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | 1 Comment

July 2021 campaign finance reports: Harris County

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

PREVIOUSLY: Congress There will be plenty of crucial races in Harris County in 2022. Because of the Democratic sweep in 2018, all of the countywide offices are held by Dems, meaning this is the first non-Presidential year in which Democrats … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Universal masking” for school children recommended

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like a sensible idea, especially given that children under the age of 12 can’t get the vaccine yet. The American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday recommended that all children over the age of 2 wear masks when returning to … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

The I-45 survey

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Who thought this was a good idea? The fate of the massive $9 billion project may depend on how many people who agree with Smith or agree with Davies fill out an online poll — after 15 years of planning, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

UT and OU make it officially official

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Smell ya later, Big XII. After a week of speculation, the University of Texas at Austin announced Tuesday that alongside the University of Oklahoma it has asked to join the Southeastern Conference starting July 1, 2025. The news came a … Continue reading →

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

Day 13 quorum busting post: Just a reminder, the voter suppression bill still sucks

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll get to that in a minute, but first there’s this bit of business. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, signed a civil warrant for the arrest of state Rep. Philip Cortez, a San Antonio Democrat who rejoined his colleagues … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Still surging

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Hospitalizations. The number of lab-confirmed COVID hospitalizations in Texas broke 4,000 on Friday for the first time since March, a worrying sign of the pandemic’s quick resurgence since the Delta variant was discovered in the state. […] As of Saturday, … Continue reading →

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UT and OU make their official move to exit the Big XII

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s just a matter of time now. And money. Always money. The University of Texas at Austin announced Monday morning that it will not renew its sports media rights contract with the Big 12 that is set to end in … Continue reading →

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A Deshaun Watson sighting

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. Deshaun Watson made a shrewd move Sunday when he reported early for training camp with the other quarterbacks and rookies. Watson showed up at NRG Stadium for the first time since the end of last season, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

July 2021 campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s July, and that means its campaign finance report season. I’m going to do a tour through the finance reports as I have done before, beginning with Congressional reports. I have posted reports from January 2021, which is the completion … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The case against moving the Paxton trial back to Collin County just got more interesting

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

All right, settle in for a minute, this is going to take a bit of explaining, and there’s no accompanying published news story that I know of. Way back in March of 2017, visiting District Court Judge George Gallagher (from … Continue reading →

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The A&M and AAC responses to UT and OU and the SEC

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Moving from denial to bluster. Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork has a message for any newcomers to the Southeastern Conference: “We’re ready.” Texas and Oklahoma are preparing to exit the Big 12 and join the SEC, just as A&M … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for July 25

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

“Sorry, Leonard Leo. If you wanted someone without a sense of humor, you probably shouldn’t have tapped a 44-year-old from Teaneck, New Jersey. Also, your party should probably have nominated a senate candidate who wasn’t credibly accused of sexual impropriety … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 9 Comments

It’s not vaccinated people that are dying

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Numbers don’t lie. It’s the unvaccinated that die. Of the 8,787 people who have died in Texas due to COVID-19 since early February, at least 43 were fully vaccinated, the Texas Department of State Health Services said. That means 99.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

More masking

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

In Travis County. Public health officials in Austin and Travis County are now encouraging vaccinated people to wear masks both indoors and outdoors, and for those unvaccinated to stay at home except for essential needs — the first major city … Continue reading →

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One more with UT, OU, and the SEC

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s happening. I know, it’s early, and there’s resistance, and stuff can happen, but come on. It’s happening. Texas and Oklahoma are prepared to inform the Big 12 they will not renew their media rights agreement with the league when … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Day 11 quorum busting post: The Beto factor

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Early on I mentioned how one potentially limiting factor in the Democratic exodus to Washington DC was funding, as housing and feeding 50+ people in the Capitol for up to four weeks would run into some money. Turns out, Beto … Continue reading →

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Sure, let’s have a fraudit here in Texas

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

What could possibly go wrong? Republican House members are seeking a forensic audit of the November election results, but only in Texas’ largest counties that mostly went for Democrat Joe Biden. Legislation filed by Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, requires … Continue reading →

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One million reasons why Greg Abbott thinks the grid is just fine

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Or 2.4 billion reasons, depending on how you want to count it. The Texas electric grid collapse during the February winter storm killed hundreds of Texans and caused an estimated $295 billion in damages, while generating seismic gains for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Some legislators want to keep UT out of the SEC

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

This is kind of hilarious. As the college athletics world roils over the possibility of the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma leaving the Big 12 conference, a group of Texas legislators with ties to other universities in … Continue reading →

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When might SCOTX rule on the line item veto thing?

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The short answer to that question is “who knows, when and if they feel like it”. I’m just going to focus on the analysis part of this, because that is what interests me more. Legally, the case hinges on whether … Continue reading →

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The fourth wave

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

We’re not ready. One local hospital is reinstating visitor limits and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is mulling a change to the county’s threat level amid a wave of COVID-19 variant cases that medical leaders warned Tuesday could overwhelm area … Continue reading →

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Another State Bar complaint against Paxton

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

He certainly deserves all the trouble this has brought him. Whether any of it leads to actual consequences, we’ll have to see. Four former presidents of the State Bar of Texas joined a group of high-profile lawyers on Wednesday to … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment