Tag Archives: Jason Villalba

Republicans for Allred

Posted on October 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Since moving to The Woodlands about two years ago, former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger — one of the most vocal GOP critics of Donald Trump — says he’s met several Texas Republicans … Continue reading →

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Hispanic Policy Foundation poll: Abbott 44, Beto 43

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

At long last, some new polling data, and this one is eye-catching. A year before they could meet in a showdown for the state’s top office, Gov. Greg Abbott and expected Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke are virtually tied, according to … Continue reading →

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Time to investigate

Posted on August 8, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

So, hey, that conversation we now know Dennis Bonnen had with MQS? The subject of that conversation, which involved a quid-pro-quo access-for-political-activity proposal, may be a violation of house rules. So, the relevant committee will have a look-see to check … Continue reading →

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Our typically feckless state leaders

Posted on June 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Way to set an example for the rest of us, y’all. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick frequently talk tough about illegal immigration, but they refuse to publicly support the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy that’s spurred outrage for … Continue reading →

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2018 primary results: Legislative

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Statewide Dem totals Statewide GOP totals Harris County Dem totals Harris County GOP totals (Please note that all results were coming in very slowly. I expect there will still be some precincts not yet reported by the time this publishes. … Continue reading →

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Going beyond “thoughts and prayers”

Posted on November 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

There are things we could do to reduce the prevalence of gun violence, if we wanted to. At a news conference organized by Texas Gun Sense at the state capitol on Wednesday, state Reps. Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass, and Nicole … Continue reading →

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LGBT anti-discrimination bills voted out of House committee

Posted on May 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

One bit of good news this week. In an unprecedented vote, a House committee on Wednesday approved two bills to prohibit housing and employment discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Dallas Republican Rep. Jason Villalba split with his … Continue reading →

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Still talking vaccines and measles

Posted on February 26, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Because it keeps needing to be talked about. Earlier this month, Dr. Peter J. Hotez, a pediatrician at Baylor College of Medicine and director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, detailed a disturbing prediction for 2017 in … Continue reading →

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The coming measles outbreak

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I hope we’re wrong about this. Peter Hotez used to worry mostly about vaccines for children in far-away places. An infectious diseases researcher at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, Hotez is developing shots against diseases in poorer countries … Continue reading →

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First rideshare legislative hearing

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There will be a lot more where this came from. Representatives from Uber and Lyft urged lawmakers to adopt statewide regulations for the ride-hailing industry during a Texas Capitol hearing on Wednesday, citing what they called burdensome local ordinances that … Continue reading →

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Anti-vaxxers gain ground in Texas

Posted on April 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a lesson in here that we need to learn. On a Friday night little over a year ago, a Texas mother of three was attending a school dance when she got a text message that stopped her cold. A … Continue reading →

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On succeeding, and defending, Ken Paxton

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Ross Ramsay: While Ken Paxton fights to avoid convictions and jail time on indictments alleging securities violations — and to keep his job as Texas attorney general — a muted and unofficial conversation about who will succeed him is already … Continue reading →

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The new closet

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From this Observer story about how Democrats finally managed to put a stake through Rep. Cecil Bell’s awful anti-same-sex-marriage-license bill, comes word of the legislative preference that dare not speak its name: [Rep. Jason] Villalba’s statements were a clear reminder … Continue reading →

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Joining together for equality

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Good to see. Standing alongside Democrats, a representative for the state’s powerful business lobby Tuesday denounced two proposed amendments to the state constitution aimed at bolstering protection for people acting on religious beliefs, which detractors say would legalize discrimination against … Continue reading →

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Let Indiana be our guide

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Chron business columnist Chris Tomlinson has a warning for us. Watching Indiana Gov. Mike Pence call for a revision to a week-old religious freedom law this morning should be required viewing for every Houston politician and business person. After refusing … Continue reading →

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Targeting straight ticket voting

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From Trail Blazers: Texas is one of only 10 states still doing straight-ticket voting but a North Texas legislator is hoping to change that. At a hearing today, Rep. Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton) told the Elections Committee that doing away with … Continue reading →

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Krause re-files Villalba’s anti-gay bill

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. One of the state’s most anti-gay lawmakers is going forward with a “religious freedom” amendment dropped by another representative earlier this week amid opposition from the Texas Association of Business. Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) announced Monday he would “reconsider … Continue reading →

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One anti-gay bill pulled

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One down, too many to count to go. A House Republican will no longer seek to amend the Texas Constitution to prohibit state and local governments from “in any way” restricting the free exercise of religion, leaving several conservative legislators … Continue reading →

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Discrimination is bad for business

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Good for TAB. The Texas Association of Business has come out against two religious freedom resolutions that critics say would enshrine a “license to discriminate” against LGBT people in the Texas Constitution. TAB, which is the state’s powerful chamber of … Continue reading →

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Abbott waffles on vaccinations

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Come on, dude. Weighing in on a national debate, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made clear this week that he supports laws that include exemptions to requirements that parents vaccinate their children. “Abbott recognizes the public health benefits of vaccines and … Continue reading →

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

Ending exemptions for vaccines

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Hear, hear. A Texas Republican is taking aim at a provision in state law that allows parents with personal or religious objections to vaccines to opt their children out of school immunization requirements. State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, said Friday … Continue reading →

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Tesla brings the lobbyists

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Nothin’ but good times ahead if you’re a Republican-connected lobbyist, thanks to Tesla and the auto dealers. Locked in a brawl with auto dealers, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is unleashing some of the most powerful lobbyists and consultants in … Continue reading →

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Villalba gets defensive about his pro-discrimination bill

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know if Rep. Jason Villalba is willfully dense or just confused, but either way this is a big pile of BS. State Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) remains adamant that a proposed constitutional amendment he filed earlier this month … Continue reading →

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Republicans will push pro-discrimination bills

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Two days after the Plano City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people, a Texas legislator filed a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit the ability of cities to enforce … Continue reading →

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Yes, Greg Abbott owns the RPT platform

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry, Greg. You can mumble all the vague platitudes you want, but this baby’s all yours. In the wake of the GOP’s approval of a platform that includes a hardline stance on immigration, Attorney General Greg Abbott finds himself at … Continue reading →

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Sriracha post-mortem

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Motley Fool wonders if State Rep. Jason Villalba should get the credit for the resolution of the Great Sriracha Dispute of 2014. In early January, Texas state representative Jason Villalba made a public invitation to David Tran to pack … Continue reading →

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Sriracha dispute settled

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The City of Irwindale’s long national nightmare is finally over. Sriracha’s spicy relationship with the City Council cooled off a bit Wednesday after officials unanimously dismissed a lawsuit and public nuisance declaration against manufacturer Huy Fong Foods. The standoff between … Continue reading →

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The other reason why Huy Fong won’t move to Texas

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

In a word, water. Huy Fong Foods, which is staying put for now, is different from Toyota and other companies that have recently been wooed or moved to Texas. It is an agribusiness, relying on thousands of tons of local … Continue reading →

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The Sriracha delegation arrives in California

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Can you feel the excitement? The self-styled “sriracha delegation” of Texas lawmakers heads to Irwindale, Calif., on Monday to woo the maker of a popular hot sauce to the Lone Star State. And the makeup of the delegation makes clear … Continue reading →

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Sriracha for San Antonio?

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Jason Villalba will finally make his pilgrimage to California to visit Huy Fong Foods and try to convince them to pick up stakes and move to Texas. State and city officials are hoping to woo the CEO of … Continue reading →

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Even if the Sriracha factory moves, that doesn’t mean it will move to Texas

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a lot of competition for them. After months of heated negotiations with the city of Irwindale over the smell of Sriracha hot sauce, Huy Fong Foods Chief Executive David Tran is appealing to a higher power: a member of … Continue reading →

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Sorry, the Sriracha factory will not be coming to Texas

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The ongoing battle between the makers of Sriracha sauce and their hometown flared up again last week. The Irwindale City Council has voted unanimously to declare the spicy smell of Sriracha hot sauce production a public nuisance. Once the council … Continue reading →

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Still seeking Sriracha for Texas

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Jason Villalba has a dream. Rep. Jason Villalba wants to move production of his favorite spicy condiment to the North Texas area. A plant in Dallas, Richardson, Plano, or another Texas community could help bring jobs to the … Continue reading →

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Monday House action

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The main action on Monday in the House was the House Redistricting Committee hearing. Where there’s a redistricting hearing, there’s Greg with a liveblogging session. Pay close attention to the stuff Greg writes about the questions that the Dems, in … Continue reading →

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