Monthly Archives: April 2006

Texas Monthly cover story on Tom DeLay

Posted on April 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a limited-time-only preview of the latest Texas Monthly cover story, on the rise and fall of Tom DeLay. It’s a good read, and it starts out with a little grist for all of our mills: IT WAS EARLY IN … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Texas Monthly cover story on Tom DeLay

More HHSC privatization bashing

Posted on April 19, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

It’s time once again to play Let’s Bash HHSC Privatization! Anyone can play, but it’s more fun if you have a say in how the contractor gets paid. Angry House budget writers demanded Monday to know if the state will … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

So long, surplus, it was nice to know you

Posted on April 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Once the news that the current budget surplus was bigger than first projected hit the streets, it was just a matter of time before this happened. Gov. Rick Perry says a new, higher budget surplus can be used partly to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Opening up the State House

Posted on April 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday, VInce noted the following exchange at the start of the session: Rep. Dunnam has been asked about what rules the House will be governed by. Craddick says same one as last session. Now, he’s been asked how to amend … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Opening up the State House

The money machine keeps on moving

Posted on April 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure you will all be pleased to hear that Tom DeLay’s fundraising has kept up a brisk pace despite the whole resigning-from-Congress thing. Hey, whatever, if the people who gave for one purpose only to find out later that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | 3 Comments

More dissention over hurricane plan

Posted on April 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Last month, Governor Perry issued an executive order that mandated (among other things) the creation of an “incident commander” to oversee evacuation issues in each of the state’s 24 regions that have councils of governments. Today, on the deadline for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments

Astros file suit over Bagwell insurance claim

Posted on April 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

As expected, the Astros have filed suit to collect on their disability insurance claim for Jeff Bagwell. Bagwell, who is on the 15-day disabled list with arthritis and bone chips in his right shoulder, was deemed disabled as a professional … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on Astros file suit over Bagwell insurance claim

Revisiting the Metro referendum

Posted on April 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Rad Sallee writes about the state of the battle over where the Universities rail line should be, in particular the fuss over the ballot language from the 2003 referendum that authorized Metro to build the line. [Metropolitan Transit Authority Board … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Madla to leave Senate early

Posted on April 18, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Sen. Frank Madla, defeated in the Democratic primary by Carlos Uresti, will resign his seat as of May 31. Making “the decision to depart at this time was not easy,” Madla said in his letter. “However, after many hours of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Madla to leave Senate early

As the gavel turns

Posted on April 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve seen this everywhere else by now, so now see it here: The head of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s gavel came off as he brought the Senate to order this afternoon. Dewhurst, putting the dealie back on, told members in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Houston WiFi update

Posted on April 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an update on where we stand in the deployment of a citywide WiFi network. The City of Houston is already gathering bids for a downtown network, with eventual expansion elsewhere. As envisioned now, it would be free for city … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

O Dallas, where art thou?

Posted on April 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t usually venture into what I think of as Pete‘s territory, but when I see something like this, it’s hard to resist. A studio scout is in Dallas to get a better idea of what the area has to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 1 Comment

A little Libertarian fantasy

Posted on April 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve all been reading articles on who the likely contenders for the Democratic and Republican nominations for President will be in 2008. Well, it turns out that not just the major parties have jockeying going on for those coveted positions. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 6 Comments

Get ready, ’cause here they come

Posted on April 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Well, it’s special session time again. I don’t know what to expect any more than you do. It’s not clear yet where all the battle lines have been drawn – among other things, as noted in the Chron article, neither … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Going, going, gone, and you’re out!

Posted on April 17, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Matt sent me this link to solicit my reaction. It’s not just one, two, three strikes you’re out at the old softball game in Feld Park. Belting one over the fence will do it, too. Home runs are outs in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

More events in Austin this week

Posted on April 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the Russ Feingold event for John Courage, you lucky duckies in and around Austin will have several other cool things to see and do this coming week. Houston Democrats has the details. Check it out. Continue reading →

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Happy Easter!

Posted on April 16, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Do I actually have to add anything to that? Happy Easter, everybody! Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 3 Comments

Moonie sushi

Posted on April 15, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

They mentioned this story on Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me today, and now I’m totally depressed. Executive summary: Every time you eat sushi, you put money in Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s pockets. Adhering to a plan Moon spelled out more … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 4 Comments

Ganging up on the Perry Plan

Posted on April 15, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

As we get ready for the start of the special session on Monday, here’s a preview of how the arguments against the Texas Tax Reform Commission (TTRC) plan will shape up. From the Democrats: The plan will inadequately fund schools. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Hays County

Posted on April 15, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Damon writes about moving to Hays County, and how it’s following in Austin’s footsteps in becoming more Democratic. It’s not there yet, but two things that happened in 2004 point out how it’s clearly moving in the right direction. One … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Term limits, schmerm limits

Posted on April 14, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Anna is giving us all a blast from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s past, in the form of various news accounts circa 1993 and 1994, when KBH was first campaigning to be a Senator. All stories contain some variation on the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

More on the Universities rail line

Posted on April 14, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to yesterday’s article in the Houston & Texas section of the Chron, there’s also this piece from the Heights and Neartown This Week section on the light rail town hall meeting at Rice. Two items of interest: One … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Observer on the Ceverha decision

Posted on April 14, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Observer has a good story on how the incredible Ethics Commission decision on gift disclosure came about (see here and here for the background). Their process is as bad as you thought it was. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Observer on the Ceverha decision

Great moments in commenting

Posted on April 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I have never closed comments on my old posts, and while that can be a pain from a spam perspective, the occasional random comment from a Google surfer has been known to make up for it. Back in 2002, I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | 13 Comments

Culberson’s mind is made up on Richmond rail

Posted on April 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t quite understand why Rep. John Culberson is bothering to attend any of the town hall meetings on the Universities rail line when he’s made it perfectly clear that his mind is made up about it. Culberson said his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 8 Comments

Victory is still sweet two days later

Posted on April 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Greg takes a long and well-deserved victory lap over the primary runoff win for Borris Miles. Read it for a good insider’s account of what went on in that campaign. One point to highlight: Obviously, I’m glad we won as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments

The College Baseball Hall of Fame

Posted on April 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

What do you know? It’s a reason to visit Lubbock. “Just like Canton and Cooperstown, sports fans around the nation will begin to turn their attention to Lubbock every summer,” said John Askins, chairman and CEO of the College Baseball … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 4 Comments

More battle lines drawn over the TTRC plan

Posted on April 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

First things first: Via Aaron Pena, the State House is preparing a bill to implement the recommendations of the Texas Tax Reform Commission. Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick said Wednesday he expects a version of Gov. Rick Perry’s $6 billion … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Not all fundraising stories have happy endings

Posted on April 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned the CD17 race between Rep. Chet Edwards and challenger Van Taylor in that last post. Taylor just had himself a big fundraiser in Waco, but it was not as big as he might have liked despite the presence … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Sklar in DC, Feingold in Austin

Posted on April 13, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Couple of Congressional fundraising notes to pass along: Shane Sklar will be in Washington, DC, on May 3 for a fundraiser hosted by a raft of current and former Congressfolk. Here’s a partial lineup, from the email I got: Honorable … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 2 Comments

Busby to runoff in CA-50 special election

Posted on April 12, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

The bad news is that Francine Busby did not outperform the Democratic index in California’s 50th CD yesterday. She got about 44%, which is an improvement over her performance against Duke Cunninghamn in 2004, but nothing to write home about. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Busby to runoff in CA-50 special election

Pro Tem firings upheld

Posted on April 12, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Checking in again on the story of the four employees of the Mayor Pro Tem’s office who were fired (technically, suspended indefinitely without pay, which according to Houblog is a kind of administrative limbo designed to make the employee resign), … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Pro Tem firings upheld

Where’s the tort reform crowd when you really need them?

Posted on April 12, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Grover Norquist has way too much free time on his hands. Conservative activist Grover Norquist is seeking a trademark on “K Street Project,” saying Democrats and Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) have wrongfully acquired the term to describe unethical practices … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in General snarkiness | 4 Comments

Runoff results roundup

Posted on April 12, 2006 by Charles Kuffner

Rounding up what happened yesterday… Radnofsky wins Radnofsky received about 60 percent of the vote against San Antonio retiree Gene Kelly, who shares the same name as a late movie star. Radnofsky, a mediation specialist at Vinson & Elkins, said … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 3 Comments