Monthly Archives: February 2017

ReBuild re-vote?

Posted on February 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It could come to that, but it’s not clear to me that it has to. The funding scheme for ReBuild Houston, the city’s street and drainage repair initiative, remains in limbo after a state appeals court agreed Thursday that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

We don’t need another vote on the Astrodome

Posted on February 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Not for this we don’t, anyway. Less than five months ago, the future of the Astrodome seemed to be more secure than it has been in the decades since it hosted its last Astros game, with Harris County commissioners moving … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Supreme Court hears TDP-KSP appeal

Posted on February 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here‘s a little blast from the past. A meandering legal dispute between Texas Democrats and a Houston tea party group has landed before the Texas Supreme Court in a case that could overturn longtime election laws that require certain political … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: One Day

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s one of my favorite underrated bands from the 80s, Fishbone: I guess I’d describe Fishbone as being a ska band, but I feel like they have more blues and funk in them than a typical ska band. Be that … Continue reading →

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Recapture re-vote will happen

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars for May 6. On Thursday, the board voted 5-3, with one abstention, to put another referendum on recapture on the May 6 ballot. Placing a second referendum on the May ballot will cost the district $800,000, according … Continue reading →

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How SB6 will hurt people

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Nell Gaither counts the ways. SB 6 identifies a target without naming it and erases policy intended to offer at least some protection for vulnerable populations, building a legal excuse for harming those people and for coercing them not to … Continue reading →

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How all that activism is being received

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Monthly looks at the recent spate of rallies and visits to Texas elected officials’ events and offices to see what’s up. John Simpson and Mark Leech had never participated in a protest before last month. In fact, the couple—who … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 32

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not kidding around. 1. Antidote – Rosie Carney 2. Why Can’t It Be Christmas Time All Year – Rosie Thomas 3. The Look – Roxette (Marie Fredriksson) 4. Cherry Bomb – The Runaways 5. Wildside – Sabrina Carpenter and … Continue reading →

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Counting to 19 on SB6

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the number of votes needed to move the Patrick potty bill to the floor of the Senate for a full vote. At times, it seemed like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was a bit like a man on an island … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Paxton prosecutors want change of venue

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

At this point, who can blame them? The prosecutors in Attorney General Ken Paxton’s securities fraud case are asking for a change of venue, arguing they cannot get a fair trial in Collin County. The prosecutors say Judge George Gallagher … Continue reading →

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

Is the end near for straight-ticket voting?

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It could be. Partisan efficiency experts might love the time-saving charms of straight-ticket voting, but a number of the state’s top elected officials are ready to outlaw the practice. Straight-ticket, or one-punch, voting allows people to cast a ballot for … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Your Super Bowl AirBnB dream probably did not come true

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. Vacation rental websites like Airbnb and Home Away still have pages of listings available for this weekend. Many are asking well over $1,000 per night for, in some cases, run-of-the-mill two-bedroom apartments. Data from Airbnb Thursday show the typical … Continue reading →

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“Sanctuary cities” bill passes in Senate

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. The Texas Senate late Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a controversial immigration measure to ban “sanctuary” jurisdictions in the state. Senate Bill 4, filed by state Sen. Charles Perry, would punish local and state government entities and college … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

The burden that keeps on depriving

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

North Carolina’s bathroom law, y’all. The North Carolina Sports Association, which represents 27 counties across North Carolina that recruit and promote major sporting events, sent a letter to the state’s House of Representatives and General Assembly on Monday urging an … Continue reading →

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HISD Board to discuss recapture re-vote today

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We should find out today if a re-vote on recapture is in our future. At their monthly meeting Thursday, trustees for the Houston Independent School Board will consider putting recapture back on the ballot. […] In November, HISD voters rejected … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of February 6

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wonders if invading Australia will be next on Trump’s to do list as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Politifact muddles the economic debate over SB6

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This doesn’t change anything, but we must fuss about it anyway. In what appeared to be an attempt at a show of force, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Monday once again attacked claims that the proposed “bathroom bill” is bad … Continue reading →

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Whose career would you like him to destroy?

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Because that’s the kind of casual offer Dear Leader makes. President Donald Trump invited a wave of speculation Tuesday when he volunteered to “destroy” the career of a unnamed Texas state senator in response to a state sheriff’s complaint about … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Texas Central withdraws its land access lawsuits

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. The private developer of a planned bullet train between Dallas and Houston has withdrawn more than a dozen lawsuits against Texas landowners that sought court orders allowing the company access to private property to survey land for the 240-mile … Continue reading →

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

Precinct analysis: Dallas County statewides

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Last time we looked at the Presidential numbers in Dallas County legislative districts (plus CD32). Today we follow up with a look at the statewide races. I’m going to throw a lot of numbers at you, so please bear with … Continue reading →

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Alternate funding sources

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

That’s one way to do it. State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, announced plans Friday to raise public funds for Travis County, days after Gov. Greg Abbott canceled about $1.5 million in criminal justice grants over the county’s new “sanctuary” policy. … Continue reading →

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Three rideshare bills

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute Policy Center looks at the (first) three bills relating to ridesharing that have been filed in the Lege: Three bills have been filed so far in the 85th Texas Legislature, regular session, addressing transportation network … Continue reading →

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Nancy Drew – I mean, Dan Patrick – and the case of the missing jersey

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Seriously? Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asked the Texas Rangers and Houston Police Department to team up in finding New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s football jersey, which was stolen Sunday night after the Super Bowl, according to an emailed news … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

DCCC says it will aim for three Texas Congressional seats

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what this means in practice. The House Democratic campaign arm, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, announced Monday morning that the party intends to target two longtime GOP incumbents that, until recently, have long been considered locks for re-election: … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Some things never evolve

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The SBOE, for instance. The Texas State Board of Education on Wednesday voted preliminarily for science standards that would keep in language that some say opens the door to creationism. The votes came a day after the board heard from … Continue reading →

Posted in School days, Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

“The Short, Tumultuous Tenure Of Corpus Christi Mayor Dan McQueen”

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This is just amazing. After just 37 days in office, Dan McQueen announced his resignation as the mayor of Corpus Christi via Facebook last Wednesday. “Consider this my resignation. I resign immediately,” he wrote in the Facebook post, according to the … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for February 5

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

“Top athletes demand an immediate end to hijab ban in basketball”. “Still, the survival of tax havens, like shipping flags of convenience, is an anomaly. If big, powerful countries and blocs really had a mind to it, they could roll … Continue reading →

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A re-vote on recapture?

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This is very interesting. After reconsideration of an 18-year-old law, state education officials are adjusting their school finance calculations in a way that could save several dozen school districts roughly $100 million — while costing the state the same amount … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fifth Circuit upholds Pasadena election order

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Pasadena election system that a judge ruled violated the Voting Rights Act by discriminating against Hispanics cannot be used in the upcoming May council elections, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals … Continue reading →

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The craft brewers’ legislative agenda

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Same as it was last time. Now that the 85th Texas Legislature is in session, lobbyists for the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, the organization that advances the interests of the state’s craft brewers, are going to push for more. Namely, … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Saturday video break: Once In A Lifetime

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

One of the more iconic songs by the Talking Heads: Who hasn’t asked himself these questions? Nobody does musical paranoia like David Byrne. This song was also used to great effect in the movie Down and Out in Beverly Hills. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Date set for HCDP Chair election

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From the Inbox: Two months ago, I announced my intention to resign in February 2017. This will result in a vacancy, therefore we must move forward with a special election. The Precinct Chairs of Harris County will elect a replacement … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Senate “sanctuary cities” bill hearing

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of people came out to testify against it, which is a good thing. After a 16-hour hearing that included tears, heckling, bursts of anger and warnings from lawmakers to witnesses to respect the rules of the Capitol’s upper chamber, … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Boy Scouts to accept transgender members

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. In a landmark decision, Boy Scouts of America announced Monday that it will now allow transgender Scouts in its boys-only program. Although it’s not clear how that move will play in the Lone Star State, the news … Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Tagged , , | 1 Comment