Tag Archives: California

The California view of Texas’ budget situation

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I figure the folks at the LA Times enjoyed themselves writing this story. Texas Gov. Rick Perry delights in telling tales of his California “hunting trips” — hunting for businesses ready to flee the Golden State. But the latest budget … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Prop 8 overturned

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good. In a major victory for gay rights advocates, a federal judge on Wednesday struck down a California ban on same-sex marriage. Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision to overturn the voter-approved ban, known as Proposition 8, came in … Continue reading →

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

The Valero effect

Posted on April 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is just what all of our cash-strapped local budgets need right now. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not typically a big player in school finance debates. But an upcoming decision by the commission could strike a major … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Seeing gold in green

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Denying climate change and the adverse effects of carbon dioxide may be official policy of our Republican leaders, but word has apparently not filtered down to the business entrepreneurs whose capitalistic opportunism those Republicans usually lionize. “Energy is the biggest … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

If we’re looking for revenue to help deal with that budget gap…

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We could always follow the lead of many other states and adopt our own climate plan. Already, ten states in the Northeast have put their electric utilities under a cap-and-trade system known as RGGI. Eleven Western states and Canadian provinces … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Saturday video break: Demon sheep

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You really do have to see the now-infamous “Demon Sheep” ad to believe it. Remember that scene from Altered States where William Hurt breaks out of the isolation chamber and eats a deer, and wakes up the next morning with … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The SUPERTRAIN passes us by

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We knew we weren’t going to get much in the way of funding for high speed rail in Texas, but it still kinda stings to see just how little we got. The $3.75 million that the Lone Star State will … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Election tidbits for 9/23

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

– KTRK has another round of candidate videos, this time answering the question “How can you help Houstonians get to work?” – Peter Brown sends out another mailer, this one all about his blueprint for an “Even Better Houston”. You … Continue reading →

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Rodney Ellis

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Nice profile of State Sen. Rodney Ellis, which talks about his propensity for introducing long-shot bills, and his persistence in getting some of them passed over the course of multiple sessions. This bit summarizes it well: “Occasionally, Senator Ellis will … Continue reading →

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Solar power

Posted on March 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I’ve been a big advocate for wind energy on this site. Texas has done a lot to make itself a leader in that industry, and I believe it will pay many long-term dividends. But just as we … Continue reading →

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California breathin’

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We may get some cleaner air to breathe here in Texas thanks to California and President Obama. Obama ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to review the Bush administration’s refusal to allow California and 13 other states to set the nation’s … Continue reading →

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