Daily Archives: May 5, 2009

Watch out for Medicaid

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

A wrench just got thrown into the budget reconciliation negotiations. Forecasts that more Texans battered by the recession will qualify for free health care under the Medicaid program will require that the program receive nearly $1 billion more in state … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Watch out for Medicaid

Interim DPS director retiring

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

What the hell is going on at the Department of Public Safety? he director of the Texas Department of Public Safety is resigning amid allegations that he touched women at the agency in an unprofessional way, “demonstratively” blew kisses to … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Interim DPS director retiring

Microbrewery bill passes out of committee

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Woo hoo! HB2094, the bill that would allow microbreweries to sell some beer on premises that I thought might be dead before getting a glimmer of hope last week, passed out of the Licensing and Administrative Procedures committee on a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Blogger bill” passes out of House committee

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m pleased to note that HB4237, the “blogger bill” that I wrote about last week, passed out of the Civil Jurisprudence committee on an 8-1 vote. Now the race against time and the Calendars committee begins. Nevertheless, this is a … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on “Blogger bill” passes out of House committee

Last day of early voting for the May elections

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the last day to vote early in the May elections in Texas, including the special election for Houston City Council District H. Here (PDF) are the early vote totals through Sunday. As of then, 1221 people had voted … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Burka on the Census and redistricting

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Paul Burka takes a look at Census figures and projections for 2010 and considers the implication for the 2011 Legislative Redistricting Board redraw of State House and State Senate lines. There is going to be carnage in rural Texas, especially … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The poll tax

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Sometimes it’s hard to remember what century we’re in. Rep. Alma Allen’s joint resolution to post-ratify the 24th amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed the House on second reading this afternoon. The 24th amendment is the one prohibiting states from … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The poll tax

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 4

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s four weeks to sine die for the Lege, but the Texas Progressive Alliance is never out of session. Click on to read this week’s highlights.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of May 4