Monthly Archives: January 2016

Medicaid expansion: Still a good idea

Posted on January 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I know, right? Fewer low-income residents of Kentucky and Arkansas, two poor states that expanded Medicaid in 2014, reported problems paying medical bills after the coverage expansions, especially compared with residents of Texas, which has rejected the health law. And hospitals … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Yet another lawsuit by Texas against the EPA

Posted on January 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

So what else is new? In another lawsuit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the state of Texas is taking aim at tightened standards on ground-level ozone — President Obama’s effort to cut down on smog that chokes the nation’s … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Music I bought in 2015

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve done Random Ten lists based on my year’s music purchases before, and seeing as how it’s January it’s time to do it again. I’m going to break this into three lists, because I can and because it makes sense … Continue reading →

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Texas in line to get more Congressional seats

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From Daily Kos: [Last] week, the U.S. Census Bureau released new annual population estimates for the year between July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2015, and there are plenty of notable details. But the most important takeaway is the implications … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Griffey and Piazza reach the Hall, Bagwell and Raines come close

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to the new inductees. Ken Griffey Jr., the sixth-leading home run hitter in history and one of the most complete players of his generation, and power-hitting catcher Mike Piazza were elected Wednesday to baseball’s Hall of Fame. Griffey set … Continue reading →

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Pasadena activists want details on their Mayor’s campaign spending

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A group of Hispanic voters that accuses the city of Pasadena of diluting its voting rights is asking that a political action committee with ties to the mayor turn over records of communications with voters. The PAC — Committee … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Collegiality and cover

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More support for Rep. Gene Green. Congressional Hispanics are lining up behind U.S. Rep. Gene Green as he seeks to fend off a primary challenge from former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia. BOLD PAC, the political arm of the Congressional … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Judicial Q&A: David Singer

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Grand jury indicts trooper in Sandra Bland case

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Waller County grand jurors indicted Department of Public Safety trooper Brian Encinia on a single charge of perjury Wednesday because they did not believe he was telling the truth about his actions during the arrest of Sandra Bland, special … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lee’s campaign finances

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Among other things, Commissioner El Franco Lee leaves behind a lot of money in his campaign finance account. When Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee died unexpectedly Sunday, he left friends and allies in mourning, political hopefuls jockeying for his … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 4

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance understands the difference between thugs and patriots — and protesters and terrorists — in bringing you this week’s blog post roundup.

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Interview with Kim Ogg

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

As I said before, there are two strong candidates who merit consideration for your vote for the Democratic nomination for District Attorney. Kim Ogg was our nominee for DA in 2014, having vanquished the annoying perennial candidate that is cluttering … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

On succeeding El Franco Lee

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t rush anyone. Within hours of longtime Commissioner El Franco Lee’s sudden death Sunday, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett received calls from three people vying for his seat. Emmett, who alone must appoint a temporary successor, said he will not … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Two abortion stories

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The amicus briefs are being filed in the HB2 case. The Obama administration on Monday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a Texas abortion law that has shuttered nearly half the clinics in the state, saying the Republican-backed … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Another attack on the Paxton prosecution

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

If at first you don’t succeed… A prominent real estate developer has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop payments to the private attorneys appointed to prosecute Attorney General Ken Paxton — the latest twist in the Republican’s securities fraud case. … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Dion Ramos

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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RIP, El Franco Lee

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The longest-serving and first African-American Harris County Commissioner passed away suddenly on Sunday. El Franco Lee, Harris County’s first African-American commissioner and a popular mainstay in the political community, died Sunday morning of a heart attack. He was 66. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mayor Turner sworn in

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The new era begins. Lauding Houston as a city where, “when you dream big, big things can happen,” Mayor Sylvester Turner delivered his inaugural address Monday morning at a packed Jones Hall downtown. Turner also announced his first policy plan, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

I’m back

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Howdy. I’m tanned, rested, and ready to go. I’ve got a couple of stories from my time off that I’ll try to catch up on over the next day or two, but otherwise I’ll just jump right in as if … Continue reading →

Posted in Administrivia | Comments Off on I’m back

Interview with Morris Overstreet

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

And just like that, we’re on to the 2016 primary elections. I know it feels like we’ve just barely finished with 2015 – the filing deadline for the 2016 primaries was two days after the 2015 runoff. Believe me, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Austin versus San Antonio on ridesharing

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Current reviews the state of play. In the spring of 2014, Lyft led the way in Austin, but the company launched without city approval and was eventually banned, along with Uber, which launched in the capital a short time … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Magic Bus

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. Just like that, faster than Uber, the Magic Bus is seven minutes from its first passenger of the day. For the next 12 hours, the bus – in actuality, a brightly painted van bearing the slogan “For all who … Continue reading →

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Dealing with climate change whether you believe in it or not

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Writer Taylor Hill visits West Texas to talk about drought, wind energy, and the topic that dare not speak its name, also known as climate change. Actions, though, do speak louder than words. AzTx Cattle and other ranching and farming … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for January 3

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

“As relations between Cuba and the United States warm up, Major League Baseball is hoping to avoid human trafficking of potential players by dealing directly with the communist government.” Cassette tapes are making a comeback? Seriously? On average, 2015 was … Continue reading →

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The Katy Freeway cautionary tale on addressing congestion

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Turns out that throwing more lanes at the Katy Freeway hasn’t helped all that much. Several years ago, the Katy Freeway in Houston was a major traffic bottleneck. It was so bad that in 2004 the American Highway Users Alliance … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

I just don’t care about Blue Bell

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry. Paul Kruse’s father had warned him about the perils of family-run businesses, but he couldn’t escape his place as the obvious heir of a dawning ice cream empire. After ascending to the corner office in 2004, Kruse delivered Blue … Continue reading →

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

Saturday video break: I Idolize You

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Back to the Ike and Tina songbook: It’s always interesting listening to these songs and thinking about what their relationship was like. It doesn’t detract from the music because you can’t do that when Tina Turner is singing, but it … Continue reading →

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The challenges transgender children face

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

At least now we’re starting to talk about those challenges openly. One month after voters in Houston rejected an equal rights ordinance that proponents say would have protected transgender people from discrimination, Ben and his parents, Ann and Jim Elder … Continue reading →

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The Uberization of moving companies

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

For when you don’t have a friend with a pickup truck and you need to move on the cheap. A new breed of online moving companies with names like Buddytruk and PICKUP has drawn interest from the Texas Department of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Friday random ten: Here we are in 2016

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

And here are ten songs to get you going for the start of the new year. 1. New Year’s Day – U2 2. Brand New Day – Guy Forsyth 3. January – Rachael Davis 4. Reelin’ In The Years – … Continue reading →

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Bike safety is also car safety

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been two years since bicyclist Chelsea Norman was killed by drunk hit-and-run driver Margaret Mayer. The city has taken numerous steps to help make the streets safer for bicyclists. How are we doing on that? “I personally don’t feel … Continue reading →

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Current trends in Texas immigration

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More Asian, less Latino is the nickel summary. The number of Latin Americans moving to Texas from abroad and other states has dropped by almost a quarter as the amount of Asians coming here doubled, offsetting the decline and echoing … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments