Monthly Archives: April 2005

The Texas tort burden by the numbers

Posted on April 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Dwight has located and summarized the 2002 Texas Liability Insurance Closed Case Annual Report (pdf), which provides data on the burden borne by the Texas business community as a result of the tort system. The information it provides may surprise … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Comments Off on The Texas tort burden by the numbers

Oppose Boltonism in all its forms

Posted on April 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Poor Man makes a connection that had eluded most of us (well, me, anyway) until now. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Oppose Boltonism in all its forms

Rep. Aaron Pena, blog evangelist

Posted on April 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Aaron Pena has gotten his colleagues on board the blogging train with Lone Star Rising, a group blog for House Dems. There’s three posts up so far, all by blogging newcomers, with more sure to follow. Also noted … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 1 Comment

A more meaningful version of fame

Posted on April 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

My slightly belated congratulations to John Cobarruvias of HoustonDemocrats.com for being recognized by KHOU for his good works as a volunteer with Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings. “We help everbody who has a defect with a homebuilder,” said Cobarruvias. “We do … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

HB1348 still not feeling the love

Posted on April 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

HB1348, the Smith/Eiland campaign finance reform bill, still gets no respect. All 63 members of the House Democratic caucus have signed on as co-authors of the bill, as have 30 of the 87 House Republicans, the Democrats announced. But Democrats … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

No RFIDs in registration stickers

Posted on April 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news on the PLOB front – Scott reports that HB2893 has been amended to remove the requirement of RFID tags in vehicle registration stickers. That’s certainly a relief, but there are still some privacy issues with the bill, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

My fame clock keeps ticking

Posted on April 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, I was featured on the “Inside the Blogs” feature of CNN’s Inside Politics yesterday. Here’s CNN’s Jacki Schechner: On the other side of the political spectrum, before we run out of time here, we go over to Off the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 12 Comments

The latest TRMPAC casualty – Beverly Woolley

Posted on April 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Rep. Beverly Woolley, come on down! You are our next contestant on The Price (For Getting Favorable Legislation) Is Right! A Houston legislator who chairs the committee that sets bills for House debate once promised a gambling promoter that she … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

WWJD?

Posted on April 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

This editorial, which takes Roy Moore and the Alabama Christian Coalition to task for their stance that public education is a gift and not a right, is outstanding. Take their stance on whether or not Alabama’s children should have the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 6 Comments

And so the real work begins

Posted on April 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Bob McNair is tanned, rested,and ready to knock ’em dead with his proposal to host the 2009 Super Bowl. “We think it’s a very strong proposal,” Texans owner Bob McNair said Tuesday. “We’re going to have to do even more … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 4 Comments

Checking in on the DeLay barrage

Posted on April 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s start our Tour DeLay today with the top story in the Chron, which is a recap of the Abramoff saga. Not much really new there. Cragg Hines muses about what an actual smoking gun from Abramoff might look like. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 7 Comments

Grand Parkway update

Posted on April 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Anne brings news of the latest development in the quest to build an extension to the Grand Parkway in Spring, whether the residents there want it or not. Homes in north Harris County could soon be up for sale without … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Appraisal caps dead

Posted on April 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

A bill to cap property tax appraisals, Governor Perry’s self-proclaimed #1 priority this legislative session, is dead. “I’m disappointed in the vote. I don’t mind saying that,” Perry said. “This is not going to go away.” Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Letter from a town hall

Posted on April 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Ted Barlow gets a chance to hear Rep. John Culberson at a local town hall meeting. Despite not having a recording device, he gives a pretty darned detailed account. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Letter from a town hall

A raft of San Antonio elections stuff

Posted on April 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

We’re less than four weeks out from the San Antonio municipal elections of May 7, and The Jeffersonian is doing yeoman’s work in following all the races, Mayoral and otherwise. Today he notes that the Julian Castro campaign is under … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | Comments Off on A raft of San Antonio elections stuff

Isn’t it illegal enough already?

Posted on April 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Remember last year when the Lege passed the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act”, which outlawed gay marriage? Apparently, that wasn’t enough to hold back the big gay menace. A proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage was passed Monday by a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

Barack blogs

Posted on April 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Sen. Barack Obama (D, IL) now has a blog on his official Senate webpage. Someday, when it will be remarkable that an elected official does not communicate to his or her constituents (and potential constituents) in this fashion, we can … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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How to practice safe blogging

Posted on April 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via SixApart, here’s a guide from the Electronic Frontier Foundation on how to blog safely. The part on anonymousness is too late for me, but you can still help yourself if you’re teetering on the brink of blogging. Check it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 2 Comments

What are these “Republican moderates” of which you speak?

Posted on April 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Sunday Chron talks about the dynamics of the potential GOP primary race for Governor. The brewing Republican family feud over the re-election of Gov. Rick Perry involves more than a clash of personalities. It potentially is a fight to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

The targets

Posted on April 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Is it too early to start talking about which Republican state reps the Democrats may be going after in 2006? Politico doesn’t think so. Here’s his list, grouped and ordered a bit differently, with my comments: State Rep. Joe Nixon … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

More on ChoicePoint

Posted on April 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via Technology Review, here’s an interesting perspective on the ChoicePoint debacle, from the Direct Marketing News. It’s part one of two, so I’ll have to check back again and see what else he’s got to say. One thing to bear … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Comments Off on More on ChoicePoint

Lampson speaks

Posted on April 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Contrary to my earlier speculation, it seems that former Congressman Nick Lampson is indeed thinking about a run in CD22 next year. He has a couple of interesting things to say about such a race and about Richard Morrison. Mr. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 7 Comments

The Willie Nelson Turnpike

Posted on April 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

So there’s a hubbub over naming a stretch of highway after Willie Nelson. Legislation to name the Texas 130 turnpike from Georgetown to Creedmoor after the man who put Austin music on the map cleared its first committee Wednesday. But … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 4 Comments

The traffic circles of Washington Avenue

Posted on April 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Couple of stories in the Chron regarding the construction of traffic circles on Washington Avenue, one in today’s paper and one in the This Week section. I noted this back in 2002, though as with many capital improvement projects in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Will Abramoff turn on DeLay?

Posted on April 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

There’s been speculation for some time now that one or more of the TRMPAC defendants may choose to turn state’s evidence on the Toms Craddick and DeLay, since jail time is not likely to appeal to pampered consultants like them. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

Government is run by those who show up

Posted on April 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Greg and Save Texas Reps are on the story of the six absent Democrats who let a proposed amendment to give teachers and other school employees $1000 to apply towards health benefits cut in 2003 die on the vine after … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 5 Comments

One hit wonders

Posted on April 10, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s Andrew Dansby asks an interesting question: In postmodern-mix-tape fashion, could a one-hit wonder iPod playlist sustain toe-tapping interest without slipping into novelty jingledom? The playlist he creates is a pretty good one. Check it out. (Side note, since … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 5 Comments

Yates ruling upheld for now

Posted on April 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The 1st Texas Court of Appeals has declined to reconsider its ruling to vacate the murder convictions against Andrea Yates. Assistant District Attorney Alan Curry said he was disappointed by the decision and plans to take the case to the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

Chuck ‘n’ Camilla

Posted on April 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I just want to say that I can’t think of any other couple getting married in recent memory who deserved each other more richly. That is all. Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | 2 Comments

Take Two with Richard Morrison

Posted on April 9, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

We had a second conference call with Richard Morrison last night, for the bloggers who couldn’t make it on Tuesday. There are a couple of recaps up this morning, one from the Hope/Mike/Sam triumvirate representing the Appalachia Alumni Association, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 10 Comments

Coverage of that National Press Club panel

Posted on April 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Agonist has all the linkage you need on GannonGuckert Day at the National Press Club. Apparently, it’s being rerun on C-SPAN2 tonight at 7 PM EDT, so set your TiVos accordingly if you’re into that sort of thing (and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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DeLay day at Salon

Posted on April 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’m a little tied up right now, so I’ll have to mark these for future reading: Broken Hammer Standing By Their Man Joe Conanson on Randy DeLay Tom DeLay’s Extreme Makeover. All I can say is that if it involves … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 1 Comment

How are things in Bedford now?

Posted on April 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Remember the Bedford tax rollback vote? How have things panned out so far? The DMN has an update. The library is padlocked, the recreation center is boarded up, and the weeds are running riot on the broad lawn outside City … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | Comments Off on How are things in Bedford now?

CPS: The next privatization frontier

Posted on April 8, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The AusChron reports on HB6 (man, that’s one big bill), which would provide for the near-complete privatization of Child Protective Services. As with other privatization mandates within the Health and Human Services Commission, this would be done statewide all at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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