Tag Archives: The Lege

Pornhub blocks access from Texas

Posted on March 16, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure you’ve already noticed, but just in case… One of the most-visited pornography websites, Pornhub, disabled its site in Texas on Thursday over objections to a state law that requires age verification to prevent access to minors. People who … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Angela Paxton, Attorney General, Aylo, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Free Speech Coalition, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Pornhub, pornography, Texas, The Lege | 5 Comments

Texas Medical Board may issue guidance on abortion exceptions

Posted on March 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I trust you will forgive my skepticism about this. The Texas Medical Board will consider language to clarify what qualifies as a medical exception to the state’s abortion laws at an upcoming March 22 board meeting. The meeting agenda was … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Amanda Zurawski, Amy Bresnen, Attorney General, Center for Reproductive Rights, Election 2024, Election 2026, hospitals, Kate Cox, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Steve Bresnen, Supreme Court, Texas, Texas Medical Board, The Lege | 1 Comment

SB4 remains on hold

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Fine by me. No rush. The Supreme Court on Tuesday further delayed a new Texas law empowering state authorities to arrest and deport migrants that would transform immigration enforcement long left to the federal government. Justice Samuel Alito extended an … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged ACLU of Texas, American Gateways, Bastrop County, Congress, Donald Trump, DPS, El Paso, Election 2024, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Hidalgo County, immigration, Joe Biden, Justice Department, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, lawsuit, MALDEF, McLennan County, Mexico, SCOTUS, Senate, Steve McCraw, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, The Lege | 1 Comment

A closer look at Colony Ridge

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

There have been problems for awhile. Not the kind of problems that got the wingnuts all frothed up, but problems nonetheless. When the fast-growing Colony Ridge development outside Houston became a fixation of right-wing media last year, Texas’ Republican leaders … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, The great state of Texas | Tagged Attorney General, Colony Ridge, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Ernest Bailes, Greg Abbott, Jay Knight, John Harris, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Liberty County, Robert Nichols, TCEQ, Texas, Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, The Lege, Trey Harris | 1 Comment

There’s only one way forward after this primary

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The worst people you know had a very good week last week. It’s likely to get better for them after the runoffs. These headlines capture the essence of it: ‘Disastrous’: A shaken Texas House prepares for rightward shift after record … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Angela Paxton, Angie Chen Button, Averie Bishop, Ben Bumgarner, Brad Buckley, Caroline Harris Davila, Collin County, Craig Goldman, Dallas County, Daniel Lee, David Carstens, Dawn Richardson, Democratic primary, Denise Wilkerson, Denton County, Detrick DeBurr, Donald Trump, Election 2018, Election 2020, Election 2022, Election 2024, Elizabeth Wilkerson, Fort Bend County, Fred Medina, Frederick Frazier, HD108, HD112, HD118, HD121, HD14, HD26, HD37, HD52, HD54, HD55, HD61, HD63, HD65, HD66, HD67, HD94, HD97, Hugh Shine, impeachment, Jacey Jetton, Janie Lopez, Jeff Leach, Jennie Birkholz, Jennifer Lee, Joe Biden, John Lujan, John Raney, Ken Paxton, Kristian Carranza, Kronda Thimesch, Laurel Jordan Swift, Makala Washington, Matt Shaheen, Michelle Beckley, Morgan Meyer, precinct analysis, primaries, Rachel Mello, redistricting, runoff, SD08, Senate, Steve Allison, Tarrant County, Texas, The Lege, Tony Adams, Tony Tinderholt, vouchers | 4 Comments

Ousted Rep. Rogers has some thoughts about why he lost

Posted on March 9, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

He’s on the right track. It’s just a question of whether he takes it to the correct destination. The corruption that exists at the highest level of Texas state government would have made Governor “Pa” Ferguson blush. Governor Greg Abbott … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Election 2024, Glenn Rogers, Greg Abbott, impeachment, Ken Paxton, primaries, Texas, The Lege, vouchers | 4 Comments

Evaluating the polls

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This year we got a set of polls for various Democratic primary races from the UH Hobby Center. Because of the nature of some of the races and the fact that we don’t usually get this kind of polling data, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Amanda Edwards, Angeanette Thibodeaux, Annette Ramirez, Ashton Woods, Beto Cardenas, CD07, CD18, Charlene Ward Johnson, Christian Menefee, Clint Horn, Colin Allred, Congress, Danyahel Norris, Democratic primary, District Attorney, Ed Gonzalez, Election 2024, Harold Dutton, Harris County, Harris County Attorney, Harris County Sheriff, Harris County Tax Assessor, HD139, HD142, HD146, Jarvis Johnson, Jerry Ford, Karthik Soora, Kim Ogg, Lauren Ashley Simmons, Lizzie FLetcher, Michelle Bonton, Mo Jenkins, Molly Cook, Pervez Agwan, polls, Roland Gutierrez, Rosalind Caesar, SD15, Sean Teare, Senate, Shawn Thierry, Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas, The Lege, Todd Litton, Umeka Lewis-Piccolo | Comments Off

Initial thoughts on the 2024 primary

Posted on March 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Some opening considerations as we peruse the final unofficial voting data. Before you read my words, go check out Stace, Campos, Reform Austin, and the Texas Signal. Here we go: – Final turnout in Harris County was 176,396 for Dems … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged 14th Court of Appeals, Annette Ramirez, Armando Perez-Serrato, Barack Obama, Cameron County, CD12, CD23, CD32, Colin Allred, Congress, Constable, Democratic primary, Desiree Broadnax, early voting, Election 2012, Election 2018, Election 2020, Election 2022, Election 2024, Gillespie County, hand counting, Harris County, Harris County Tax Assessor, HD139, HD146, Hidalgo County, Jarvis Johnson, Joe Biden, judicial races, Julie Johnson, Michelle Bonton, Molly Cook, President, primaries, runoff, SD15, Senate, special election, Texas, The Lege, Todd Litton, turnout, Webb County | 2 Comments

Three Ken Paxton updates

Posted on March 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I missed these in the recent news rush, but spotted them all more or less at once via the Google News app on my phone. Doomscrolling for the win, I guess. Whistleblowers: Texas Supreme Court must reject Ken Paxton’s ‘scheme’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Attorney General, Bastrop County, Baylor College of Medicine, Blake Brickman, Brent Webster, bribery, crisis pregnancy centers, David Maxwell, Department of Family and Protective Services, FBI, impeachment, Ken Paxton, Lambda Legal, lawsuit, Lesley Henneke, Mark Penley, Michelle SMith, Nate Paul, PFLAG, Plume Health, QueerMed, Ryan Vassar, Supreme Court, telemedicine, Texas, Texas Children's Hospital, Texas Whistleblower Act, The Lege, transgender rights, Travis County, Yelp | Comments Off

Primary 2024 results: Democratic headlines

Posted on March 6, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

It’s going to be a late night and I have a couple of long days ahead of me, so I’m going to do some quick summaries based on what I now know, and will come back later to fill the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged 14th Court of Appeals, Allison Jackson Mathis, Amanda Edwards, Amber Boyd-Cora, Angeanette Thibodeaux, Annette Ramirez, Ashley Mayes Guice, Brendetta Scott, Brian Williams, Brittanye Morris, CD07, CD18, CD22, CD32, CD38, Charlene Ward Johnson, Christian Menefee, Colin Allred, Danielle Bess, Democratic primary, Denise Brown, Desiree Broadnax, District Attorney, Ed Gonzalez, Election 2024, Erica Hughes, First Court of Appeals, Fran Watson, Gemayel Haynes, Gordon Goodman, Harold Dutton, Harris County, Harris County Attorney, Harris County Sheriff, Harris County Tax Assessor, HD139, HD142, HD146, Jarvis Johnson, Jerry Davis, Jerry Zimmerer, Joe Biden, judicial races, Julia Maldonado, Julie Johnson, Kim Ogg, Lauren Ashley Simmons, Lillian Alexander, Lizzie FLetcher, Marquette Greene-Scott, Melissa McDonough, Mike Engelhart, Molly Cook, Nathan Johnson, Nicole Perdue, Pervez Agwan, Peter Kelly, President, Ramona Franklin, RK Sandill, Robert Schaffer, runoff, SD15, SD16, Sean Teare, Senate, Shawn Thierry, Sheila Jackson Lee, TaKasha Francis, Texas, The Lege, Todd Litton, Tracy Good, turnout, Velda Faulkner, Victoria Neave, Vivian King | 17 Comments

Primary 2024 results: Republican headlines

Posted on March 6, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Barbara Hervey, Brandon Gill, Brandon Herrera, CD12, CD23, CD26, Christi Craddick, Congress, Court of Criminal Appeals, Craig Goldman, Dade Phelan, Election 2024, Gillespie County, Greg Abbott, hand counting, Harris County, HD121, HD138, HD21, HD26, impeachment, Jacey Jetton, Jared Woodfill, judicial races, Ken Paxton, Lacey Hull, Michelle Slaughter, primaries, runoff, Sharon Keller, Steve Allison, Texas, The Lege, Tony Gonzales, vouchers | 2 Comments

The Fifth Circuit remains extremely on brand

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Of all the Fifth Circuits in the world, they’re the Fifth Circuitest. A new law empowering state authorities to arrest and deport migrants seeking asylum in the United States may soon take effect after an appeals court stepped in to … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged ACLU of Texas, American Gateways, Congress, Donald Trump, DPS, El Paso, Election 2024, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Greg Abbott, immigration, Joe Biden, Justice Department, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, lawsuit, Mexico, SCOTUS, Senate, Steve McCraw, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, The Lege | 1 Comment

Abortion and IVF roundup

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Texas IVF patients are dealing with a lot of uncertainty right now. Heather Burzlaff has four embryos in a freezer in Dallas and she doesn’t know what to do with them. After seven years of medications, egg retrievals and waiting, … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged abortion, adoption, Alabama, California, Congress, Election 2024, gay rights, Greg Abbott, IVF, Ken Paxton, Louisiana, mifepristone, Mihaela Plesa, SCOTUS, Senate, Supreme Court, telemedicine, Texas, The Lege | 1 Comment

Getting revenge is the best revenge

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I have one thing to say to these Republicans. State Rep. Glenn Rogers is mad as hell, and he’s not being shy about it. “Kiss my ass!” he recently told a statewide Republican official who had endorsed his primary opponent. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Dade Phelan, Election 2024, Election 2026, Ernest Bailes, Glenn Rogers, Greg Abbott, impeachment, Ken Paxton, Mike Olcott, primaries, Sid Miller, Stan Lambert, Ted Cruz, Texas, The Lege, Travis Clardy, vouchers | 3 Comments

HISD kids still not getting the Internet access they lost

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Just another thing by the wayside. Houston ISD has not provided at-home internet service to the vast majority of students who relied on a free Verizon program that the district canceled three months ago, leaving some of Houston’s most vulnerable … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged Board of Managers, Digital Promise, HISD, Houston, Internet, Mike Miles, New Education System, schools, T-Mobile, The Lege, Verizon | Comments Off

PFLAG sues Paxton over intrusive data requests

Posted on March 2, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Time for more deep breathing. An LGBTQ advocacy group is suing the Texas attorney general after his agency requested information that the group said would reveal the identities of its members, including those who sought to stay anonymous in recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Family and Protective Services, Ken Paxton, Lambda Legal, lawsuit, PFLAG, Plume Health, QueerMed, Supreme Court, telemedicine, Texas, Texas Children's Hospital, The Lege, transgender rights | 2 Comments

SB4 blocked by federal court

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge in Austin on Thursday halted a new state law that would allow Texas police to arrest people suspected of crossing the Texas-Mexico border illegally. The law, Senate Bill 4, was scheduled to take effect Tuesday. U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged ACLU of Texas, American Gateways, Congress, Donald Trump, DPS, El Paso, Election 2024, Greg Abbott, immigration, Joe Biden, Justice Department, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, lawsuit, Mexico, SCOTUS, Senate, Steve McCraw, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, The Lege | 1 Comment

Paxton sues Pornhub under the currently-enforceable state anti-porn law

Posted on February 29, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Welp. Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton this week sued a major online porn distributor in an effort to enforce a new state law mandating age verification and purported health warnings on adult websites. The lawsuit, filed in state court … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Angela Paxton, Attorney General, Aylo, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Free Speech Coalition, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Pornhub, pornography, Texas, The Lege | 1 Comment

You’re not going to fall for Greg Abbott’s BS about IVF, are you?

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s count the ways in which he dodged and weaved. Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday that he supports Texas families having access to in vitro fertilization treatments and has “no doubt” the state will address issues raised by a recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged abortion, Alabama, Congress, Greg Abbott, IVF, lawsuit, Texas, The Lege | 3 Comments

SCOTUS has its hearing on the stupid social media censorship law

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Some modest hope, perhaps, that we’ll get a not-terrible ruling. The Supreme Court cast doubt Monday on state laws that could affect how Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube, and other social media platforms regulate content posted by their users. The cases … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Computer and Communications Industry Association, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Facebook, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Florida, Google, Greg Abbott, Instagram, lawsuit, NetChoice, SCOTUS, Texas, The Lege, Twitter, YouTube | Comments Off

Let them fight

Posted on February 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Let them fight. A $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that passed the Senate overnight has sparked a battle between two of Texas’ most prominent Republicans, with Attorney General Ken Paxton calling U.S. Sen. John Cornyn an … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged Dade Phelan, Donald Trump, Election 2024, Election 2026, HD21, impeachment, Israel, John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, primaries, Senate, Texas, The Lege, Ukraine | Comments Off

More Dem primary polls from UH/Hobby Center

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I asked, and I received. Just months after a bruising campaign for mayor of Houston, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is leading her top challenger in the 18th Congressional District by five points, suggesting the closest race for the position … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Amanda Edwards, Angeanette Thibodeaux, Ashton Woods, Beto Cardenas, CD07, CD18, Charlene Ward Johnson, Clint Horn, Congress, Danyahel Norris, Democratic primary, Election 2024, Harold Dutton, Harris County, HD139, HD142, HD146, Jarvis Johnson, Jerry Ford, Karthik Soora, Lauren Ashley Simmons, Lizzie FLetcher, Michelle Bonton, Mo Jenkins, Molly Cook, Pervez Agwan, polls, Rosalind Caesar, SD15, Senate, Shawn Thierry, Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas, The Lege, Todd Litton | 1 Comment

The Shawn Thierry situation

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib covers one of the more important primaries in Harris County this cycle. That Senate Bill 14 would pass was not in doubt. The legislation, which would bar gender-transitioning care for children and teens, had universal Republican support and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Ashton Woods, censorship, Democratic primary, Election 2024, Equality Texas, gay rights, HD146, HGLBT Political Caucus, Jessica Gonzalez, Lauren Ashley Simmons, libraries, Shawn Thierry, Texas, The Lege, transgender rights | 3 Comments

Our one page ballot

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. Harris County voters and election workers can look forward to one major improvement in the upcoming March primaries: the county’s lengthy ballot now fits on one piece of paper, rather than two. The change is due to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Clifford Tatum, Election 2022, Election 2024, elections administrator, electronic voting machines, Harris County, Harris County Clerk, paper ballots, primaries, Teneshia Hudspeth, Texas, The Lege | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Really? That guy?

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

For some reason, the Chron endorses Rep. Harold Dutton in HD142. As a graduate of Fifth Ward’s storied Wheatley High School, Rep. Harold Dutton has never equivocated on his legislation that enabled the state takeover, or “giveaway,” as Dutton calls … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Ashley Mayes Guice, Bill Burch, Clint Horn, Danyahel Norris, Democratic primary, Election 2024, endorsements, Harold Dutton, Harris County, HD142, Juan Aguirre, judicial races, Julia Maldonado, Katherine Culbert, Lillian Alexander, Railroad Commission, Texas, The Lege | 2 Comments

SB4 lawsuit has its day in court

Posted on February 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what happens. Lawyers for the Biden administration and Texas faced off in a federal court in Austin on Thursday to argue whether a new state law that would allow police to arrest people suspected of crossing the Texas-Mexico … Continue reading →

Endorsement watch: Three big ones

Posted on February 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron races to finish up their primary endorsements before the start of Early Voting. Three more for your consideration: They endorse Rep. Lizzie Fletcher in CD07. Ever since Democratic voters picked her to take on and eventually defeat a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Ashton Woods, Beto Cardenas, CD07, Congress, Democratic primary, Election 2024, endorsements, HD146, Jarvis Johnson, Karthik Soora, Lauren Ashley Simmons, Lizzie FLetcher, Michelle Bonton, Molly Cook, Pervez Agwan, SD15, Senate, Shawn Thierry, Texas, The Lege, Todd Litton | 1 Comment

Interview with Rosalind Caesar

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Once more into HD139, where this time we meet up with political veteran Rosalind Caesar. Caesar currently serves on the Board of Harris County Municipal Utility District (MUD) 304, which provides “water, wastewater and in some cases, drainage services” to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Democratic primary, Election 2024, HD139, interviews, Rosalind Caesar, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Interview with Charlene Ward Johnson

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in HD139 is Charlene Ward Johnson, who has served on the HCC Board of Trustees since winning a special election to fill the seat left vacant by Rhonda Skillern-Jones in 2022. On the HCC Board she is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Charlene Ward Johnson, Democratic primary, Election 2024, HD139, interviews, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Interview with Mo Jenkins

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Believe it or not, early voting for the 2024 primaries begins next week. I have a full week of interviews to bring you to get us there. The first three will be for the open seat in HD139, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Democratic primary, Election 2024, HD139, interviews, Mo Jenkins, Texas, The Lege | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Allred and more

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Colin Allred in the Democratic primary for US Senate. Texas voters eager to see U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz retire to Cancun permanently, not just on a quick trip during a devastating winter storm, have a choice between … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged 14th Court of Appeals, Charles Spain, Colin Allred, Danyahel Norris, Democratic primary, Election 2024, endorsements, First Court of Appeals, Gordon Goodman, HCDE, HD139, Jerry Zimmerer, John McGee, Josh Wallenstein, judicial races, Meagan Hassan, Mo Jenkins, Peter Kelly, Richard Cantu, Richard Hightower, Roland Gutierrez, Senate, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Interview with Ashton Woods

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Moving to our next contender in HD146 we come to a familiar name. Ashton Woods has been a fixture on the scene as an organizer and activist since moving to Houston from New Orleans in 2005, just before Hurricane Katrina. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Ashton Woods, Democratic primary, Election 2024, HD146, interviews, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Interview with Lauren Ashley Simmons

Posted on February 6, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

We move over to HD146 for the next two days. This is the home of the latest problematic legislator, Rep. Shawn Thierry, who has drawn a pair of challengers after making some bad votes and troubling statements on book bans … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Democratic primary, Election 2024, HD146, interviews, Lauren Ashley Simmons, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Interview with Danny Norris

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

For the next two weeks I will have interviews with various legislative candidates – for HDs 139, 142, and 146, for SD07, and for CD38. This will get us up to the start of early voting, which begins on February … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Danyahel Norris, Democratic primary, Election 2024, HD142, interviews, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

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