Monthly Archives: March 2011

Republican legislators want SBOE do over on social studies

Posted on March 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. Texas House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie; Public Education Chairman Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands; and House Administration Chairman Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth; criticized the new [social studies] standards. Various civil rights and minority advocacy organizations have opposed … Continue reading →

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The Willingham arson investigator

Posted on March 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman has a good story about former Deputy State Fire Marshal Manuel Vasquez, whose testimony helped convict Cameron Todd Willingham, and the status of the Willingham case with the Forensic Science Commission. Spurred by John Bradley, the Williamson County … Continue reading →

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Neil finally concedes in HD48

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

At long last, it’s finally over. Republican Dan Neil dropped out of the race today for the Texas House seat in District 48. Neil lost to Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, on Election Day by 16 votes. After a recount, Howard’s … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: The 1940s

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

One of the side projects I took on as I’ve gone through all my songs has been cleaning up their data as best I can. I finished assigning a year of release to nearly every song awhile back, and figured … Continue reading →

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Harris County gets ready for the shaft

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

One of the ways in which the state will attempt to address its budget shortfall is by shortchanging counties – cutting reimbursements, raiding funds, and the like. Having already decimated its own budget, Harris County is preparing for further indignities. … Continue reading →

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Still going through the couch cushions

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Senate is looking for funds wherever it can find them. Hoping to cushion the impact of proposed state budget cuts to public education and health care, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Wednesday that a special subcommittee will be named … Continue reading →

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More on Judge Priest recusing himself

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We now have a reason for Judge Pat Priest recusing himself in the upcoming trial of DeLay associates Jim Ellis and John Colyandro. Senior District Judge Pat Priest , who sentenced DeLay to three years in prison for laundering corporate … Continue reading →

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Hamilton Middle School still designated as magnet

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Mostly of interest to folks in my neck of the woods, but worth noting that after receiving a lot of feedback from parents in the community, HISD has announced that it will keep Hamilton Middle School as a Vanguard program … Continue reading →

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There is a solution for this

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Yet it manages to go completely unmentioned in this story. The Harris County Hospital District has begun turning away uninsured patients from other counties who show up in its facilities and do not need urgent care, unless they pay cash … Continue reading →

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What would you do to help your school?

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Would you do as much as this third grade girl? To 8-year-old Elodie Giles, art class isn’t a budget extra. It’s what she looks forward to every week. She’s just not certain she can look forward to it next year. … Continue reading →

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Supreme Court will review Open Beaches ruling

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This is encouraging. Faced with a tidal wave of legal protests, the Texas Supreme Court Friday agreed to reconsider a California woman’s lawsuit that ended in a controversial ruling last November that left public access to some beaches in question. … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of March 14

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is still working on springing its clocks forward as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Dan Ramos needs to go

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I’m a little late to the table in commenting on the hateful remarks of Bexar County Democratic Party Chair Dan Ramos, and I apologize for that. Let me just say that there’s no place in civilized society, let alone the … Continue reading →

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Eyewitness ID reform passes the Senate

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good. As approved 31-0 by senators, Senate Bill 121 by state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, will require law enforcement agencies in Texas to adopt best-practice standards for eyewitness identification — in both photo and live lineups — where there is … Continue reading →

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Howard wins again

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s fourth and long for Dan Neil. The House Election Contest Committee unanimously voted [Tuesday] to uphold Rep. Will Hartnett’s determination that Donna Howard won the long-disputed House District 48 seat. Committee members said Republican Dan Neil did not provide … Continue reading →

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“Sanctuary cities” bill passes out of House committee

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

And another so-called legislative emergency gets voted on. Legislation banning “sanctuary city” policies in Texas was voted out of the House State Affairs Committee today, sending the bill to the full House for consideration. HB12 by Rep. Burt Solomons would … Continue reading →

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When cutting the budget increases your costs

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From the deja vu all over again department. Texas legislators, looking for ways to plug an estimated $15 billion to $27 billion budget hole, are considering proposals that would cut as much as $162 million from rehabilitation and treatment programs … Continue reading →

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Spending money on medical students

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I have two things to say about this story, which is about a budget rider that would concentrate the money the state spends on graduate medical residencies into the doctors’ first three years of training regardless of how long their … Continue reading →

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The itty bitty budget deal

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not nothing, but not by much. Gov. Rick Perry and House leaders struck a deal Tuesday to spend $3.2 billion from the state’s rainy day fund to fix one piece of the state’s budget shortfall. […] Perry said at … Continue reading →

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Get your economic projection brackets ready

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Final Four will be played in Houston this year, and you know what that means. The NCAA’s estimate for economic activity in Houston puts the total to be spent during the Final Four at $60 million, while the Greater … Continue reading →

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Comptroller finds a few more bucks

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Better than a sharp stick in the eye. Comptroller Susan Combs has revised the state’s 2011 revenue estimate by $300 million because of stronger-than-expected sales tax collections. That change would reduce the deficit in the current budget to $4 billion … Continue reading →

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Lowe has confirmation issues, too

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

John Bradley isn’t the only Rick Perry appointee who is having trouble getting confirmed by the Senate. State Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, who chairs the Senate Nominations committee, says Gail Lowe has not been scheduled for a hearing as chairwoman … Continue reading →

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By the way, we have no money for roads

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Just another issue we won’t be dealing with this session. During the next 20 years, the Texas Department of Transportation will need $315 billion to spend on the state’s roads and freeways for maintenance and construction just to keep traffic … Continue reading →

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Rally redux

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Many of the folks who rallied in Austin on Saturday stayed around for an encore today. “At a time when our educators and our educational system is under attack more than ever before, we are here to let our lawmakers … Continue reading →

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Who will ultimately draw the map?

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Via Juanita, I came across this TylerPaper.com story about how redistricting will affect East Texas. It’s a good read, which can be mostly summed up as “they’re gonna lose seats, which will present a challenge to Republicans since they hold … Continue reading →

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About the Tommy Lee Jones bandwagon

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I really don’t think this will amount to anything, but I have three things to say about it anyway. In recent weeks, an idea of Houston attorney Geoff Berg’s turned into a Facebook page and then became a website that … Continue reading →

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Taking sides on Amazon

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Lege weighs in on Amazon, with opposing bills. House Bill 2719, filed [Wednesday] afternoon by state Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving, would favor Amazon’s efforts to avoid collecting tax for online sales by amending the state tax code to say … Continue reading →

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Neil in it till the bitter end

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I guess he doesn’t have anything else to do right now. After some vacillation, the Republican who is contesting his loss to incumbent state Rep. Donna Howard said [Wednesday] that he is now inclined to take his fight the distance. … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for March 13

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Happy spring break! Are we not men? We are WINNING! For it before he was against it, and now he’s just being dishonest about it. Newt-mentum is in short supply. “Being a hack means never having to admit that you … Continue reading →

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Thousands attend the Save Texas Schools rally

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Our voices have been heard. Whether we are listened to remains to be seen. Parents, educators, and students from across the state marched to the Capitol Saturday for the Save Texas Schools rally to express their concern over what could … Continue reading →

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Hard times for high school athletics

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

High school football may be a big deal in Texas, but high school sports are not immune to budget cuts. With school districts across the state facing major budget cuts, members of the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association met … Continue reading →

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Huffman says nothing about public education

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Republican State Sen. Joan Huffman writes an op-ed in the West U Examiner about public education that manages to say absolutely nothing of substance. As the mother of a public school student, I am a firm supporter of Texas public … Continue reading →

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Don’t plan that Sunday trip to Liquor Mart just yet

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The debate over allowing Sunday liquor sales continues on. A leader of the Texas Package Stores Association told the Senate Business and Commerce Committee on Tuesday there’s been no great demand from customers that liquor stores open on Sundays. Plus, … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: You can do anything with a ukulele

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Well, maybe you can’t. But Jake Shimabukuro can, as his rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody” will attest: The only thing I would criticize is the lack of head-banging at the expected moment. But beyond that, it’s full of awesome.

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