Tag Archives: Election 2010

HD48 election contest still going on

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There’s still some more testimony to be heard in the election contest between Dan Neil and Rep. Donna Howard in HD48. That and closing arguments are scheduled for today. There was a key development in the contest on Thursday just … Continue reading →

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Update on the HD48 election contest

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Patricia Kilday Hart sums up the state of things in HD48, where there’s a recount of the recount and a lot more testimony to come. I have no idea what to expect from this, but I think she’s right that … Continue reading →

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Eversole’s trial set for February 22

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Indicted County Commissioner Jerry Eversole got his wish for a speedy trial. Eversole’s jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 22. Thursday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge David Hittner is mixed news for the Eversole camp. Eversole’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, said … Continue reading →

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The national folks notice Texas’ budget situation

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve probably seen this by now, but just in case you haven’t, here it is. Texas Gov. Rick Perry likes to tell Washington to stop meddling in state affairs. He vocally opposed the Obama administration’s 2009 stimulus program to spur … Continue reading →

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Yeah, it is too early to be polling for 2012

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

But that won’t stop anyone from doing them. 2012 could be the year Democrats are finally competitive for President in Texas…but only if the Republicans nominate Sarah Palin. There are vast differences in how the various different potential GOP contenders … Continue reading →

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Defining “emergency” down

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Perry finds a few more “emergencies” for the Lege to deal with. Today, Gov. Rick Perry added two more issues, including controversial voter ID legislation, to his list of “emergency items” that legislators can begin deliberating on right away … Continue reading →

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The state of denial

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Well, what did you expect? How bad is the budget crisis in Texas? Ask the Republicans who run the state, and they’ll tell you it’s in the eye of the beholder. The way they see it, the $8 billion drop … Continue reading →

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Senate stands down again

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

No vote on the rules till next week, so the 2/3 rule lives for a few more days. In an hour-long caucus behind closed doors, Texas senators decided today to put off for a week a potentially acrimonious public debate … Continue reading →

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Voters say they don’t want spending cuts

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

According to one poll, anyway. Voters gave Republicans an overwhelming victory in November, leaving the GOP with nearly two-thirds of the seats in the Legislature and every statewide office. Many have interpreted the election as a clear call for spending … Continue reading →

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A few thoughts from Opening Day

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Just a few random bits from today’s festivities… – In the end and despite the teabagger footstomping, the Speaker’s Race turned out to be a big nothingburger, which was what most rational people expected all along. There were a few … Continue reading →

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Sheriffs not sold on Arizona immigration bill

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Texas’ sheriffs are not very enthusiastic about being charged with enforcing federal immigration laws. Texas has 254 sheriffs, and while opinions vary about whether illegal immigration should be their problem, some Republicans are pushing measures that won’t give them a … Continue reading →

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Petition for new HCDP Chair

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know how I feel about this, but it’s out there so I feel I should say something. The time has come for new leadership in the Harris County Democratic Party. After November’s defeat, we should look to new … Continue reading →

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Still more on class size limits

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Real good article in the Press about class size limits and the possible effects of raising them, which I’ve written about before. A couple of points: A famous education study done in Tennessee in the 1980s shows class size matters. … Continue reading →

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What now for Sylvia Garcia

Posted on December 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This story about Sylvia Garcia’s last Commissioners Court meeting leads to the obvious question of what she might do next. A former Houston city controller and an attorney who hasn’t practiced for more than 25 years, she’s still interested in … Continue reading →

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Howard files formal response to Neil’s election contest

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Just before Christmas, Dan Neil filed an election contest that challenged the result of his race against Rep. Donna Howard in HD 48, in which Neil lost by 12 votes. Howard filed a response called “special exceptions” at that time, … Continue reading →

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More non-specific cuts discussed: Film at 11

Posted on December 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this story about impending budget cuts to public higher education. Colleges and universities expect double-digit cuts. Financial aid may be cut, too. “There’s no way to get through this without somebody being impacted,” … Continue reading →

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Preparing to implement Prop 1

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Proposition 1, originally known as Renew Houston but now apparently dubbed “Rebuilding Houston”, was passed by voters last month, which means that the Mayor and City Council must come up with a way to raise the $125 million per year … Continue reading →

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Where the state cuts meet the local budgets

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Via Grits, an editorial in the Longview News-Journal of interest: Routine mental health services were the first to fall during the 2003 budget crisis, which was preceded by pre-session cuts the fall and summer of 2002. East Texas mental health … Continue reading →

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All eyes on the Senate

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this: Republicans hold a 19-12 majority in the Senate, but 21 senators need to agree to bring the bill to a vote, so Democrats have two members who can make a stand on … Continue reading →

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We have a Census number

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here you go. After knocking on 50 million doors and handling tens of millions of surveys, the Census Bureau on Tuesday announced that the official population of the United States is now 308,745,538. The 2010 census also shows America’s once-torrid … Continue reading →

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Neil files for election contest in HD48

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was inevitable. Republican Dan Neil is continuing his challenge of state Rep. Donna Howard’s razor-thin election night victory with an appeal to the Texas House of Representatives. Neil, who trailed Howard by 12 votes after a recount … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Eversole indicted

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This has been so long in coming I was beginning to wonder if it would ever arrive. Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole pleaded not guilty to federal bribery and income tax charges today. Eversole is charged with accepting … Continue reading →

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The pension problem

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know enough about the particulars of the city’s pension problems to be able to sort out the competing claims made in this story. I do know that the current system is not sustainable, and that the fight to … Continue reading →

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Prop 1 opponents file “We think the voters are stupid” lawsuit

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m really angry about this. Opponents of Proposition 1, Houston’s recently-passed drainage fee, filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday against Mayor Annise Parker and the City of Houston. The lawsuit calls Prop 1 “illegal” because “the ballot language does not accurately … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Kuempel wins his father’s seat

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We have a full House again. John Kuempel, son of the late state Rep. Edmund Kuempel, won a special election Tuesday to fill his late father’s seat, state election officials said. With all precincts reporting, John Kuempel, 40, received 65 … Continue reading →

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You’re gonna miss it when it’s gone

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

So long, stimulus dollars. You were nice while you lasted. Texas’ $16.4 billion share of federal stimulus money winds down next year, a fading boon that will affect Houston jobs and research from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to the … Continue reading →

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Ritter switches

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Republicans get their 100th member. State Rep. Allan Ritter of Nederland said Saturday that he will leave the Democratic Party and become a Republican, probably giving the GOP a two-thirds majority in the Texas House. He may not be … Continue reading →

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Some Garcia 2002 numbers

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

When I did an analysis of County Commissioner Precinct 2 for this year’s election, I said that I couldn’t include a comparison from 2002 because I didn’t have precinct-level data for that year. I got an email the other day … Continue reading →

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The city vs ATS

Posted on December 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an update on the red light camera lawsuit in which the city is seeking guidance on how to go about terminating its contract with red light camera vendor ATS, and ATS is seeking to overturn the referendum. “We were … Continue reading →

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More evidence that expanded gambling is doomed

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From the latest TPJ Lobby Watch: Gambling interests with stakes in the legalization of casinos or slot machines bet heavily on Democratic House candidates going into the Republican-dominated 2010 elections. Political bookies widely expected the GOP to expand its slim … Continue reading →

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Howard still wins after recount in HD48

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Her margin is margin is a bit smaller, but still greater than zero, and that’s what counts. With the votes counted again, the Austin Democrat beat Republican challenger Dan Neil by just 12 votes, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said … Continue reading →

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Travis County DA to investigate Double Dip Driver

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Republican wave helped him survive re-election this year, but State Rep. Joe Driver’s troubles aren’t over just yet. Assistant District Attorney Gregg Cox, head of the public integrity unit, which oversees official corruption cases, said Tuesday that prosecutors had … Continue reading →

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Red light camera lawsuit

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m trying to understand exactly what this is all about. Here’s the little sidebar summary, which captures the basic facts pretty well: The city of Houston • filed a “pre-emptive lawsuit” in U.S. District Court Nov. 15 seeking a judge’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

More on Latino turnout

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Greg adds in his opinion on the Latino turnout question, and as usual it’s worth your time to read in full. Two things for me to comment on. First: If there is a one point that I’ve been reluctant to … Continue reading →

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