Monthly Archives: August 2017

They don’t make libertarian paradises like they used to

Posted on August 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I love a good cautionary tale. For the last few years, Von Ormy has been in near-constant turmoil over basic issues of governance: what form of municipal government to adopt, whether to tax its residents, and how to pay for … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Where have all the foreign students gone?

Posted on August 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Wherever it is, it’s increasingly not here. Students from India, China, Iran and other countries have long flocked to Texas campuses to work with top professors and to earn a prestigious American degree. But this year, those students appear to … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | 29 Comments

Saturday video break: Shake It Up

Posted on August 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here are The Cars: What exactly is “the move with the quirky jerk”, anyway? Ric Ocasek has a lot to answer for if you ask me. Now here’s Selena Gomez: That’s the theme song to the former Disney Channel show … Continue reading →

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More birth control by mail options

Posted on August 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good to see. “We want women to see us and say, ‘These are people who believe that if you want birth control you should have it,’” said Hans Ganeskar, co-founder and CEO of Nurx, a California-based site founded in 2015 … Continue reading →

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Ten digit dialing comes to San Antonio

Posted on August 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the end of an era. The era of knowing someone is from San Antonio based solely on the “210” at the start of a phone number is drawing to a close. San Antonio is outgrowing its singular 210 area … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten – Baby, baby

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

So many songs that start with the word “Baby”. 1. Baby Can I Hold You – Tracy Chapman 2. Baby Come Back To Me – The Manhattan Transfer 3. Baby Don’t Cry – INXS 4. Baby Don’t You Do It … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

July 2017 campaign finance reports – HISD

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We still don’t know what’s happening with city of Houston elections this fall, but there’s plenty of action with HISD Trustee races. You can see all of the candidates who have filed so far and their July finance reports here. … Continue reading →

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OutSmart talks to Kim Ogg

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Another good read about our new DA, one that goes into her personal background in some depth. John Wright: Your father, Jack Ogg, was a longtime Texas state legislator, and your late mother was well-known for her charity work. What … Continue reading →

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

Paxton’s preemptive “sanctuary cities” lawsuit dismissed

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks on Wednesday dismissed the state of Texas’ lawsuit against Travis County and other defendants over the state’s new immigration enforcement law. Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a pre-emptive lawsuit shortly after the bill was … Continue reading →

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The rural/suburban tradeoff

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Martin Longman returns to a point he has been making about the way the vote shifted in the 2016 election. Let’s try to be clear about what we mean. Hillary Clinton won a lot of votes in the suburbs from … Continue reading →

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Dallas Observer Q&A with CD32 candidate Colin Allred

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A good read. What was it like transitioning out of football and then into your kind of life of public service? I think any football player always has a hard time coming out of it. The longer you’re in, the … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of August 7

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance would like you to know that Donald Trump did not dictate any of the contents of this week’s roundup to us.

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July 2017 campaign finance reports: State Senate targets

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib highlights a couple of races of interest. Senate District 8 State Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano, has not yet announced he’s running for Congress — he is expected to after the special session — but the race to replace … Continue reading →

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From the “Actions speak louder than words” department

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

RG Ratcliffe of Texas Monthly speaks to former Railroad Commissioner and Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams about his disapproval of bathroom bills. RGR: You told me political parties over time curdle and spoil, but is there something about the debate … Continue reading →

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Lina Hidalgo for Harris County Judge

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, our first announced candidate for Harris County Judge: Today, Lina Hidalgo, a young, Harvard and Stanford-educated immigrant, announces her candidacy for Harris County Judge, the top seat on the Harris County Commissioners Court. Ms. Hidalgo and her … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

July campaign finance reports – Harris County candidates

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Harris County situation for candidates and campaign finance reports is a bit complicated. Take a look at my January summary and the reports and data that I’ve found for July, and we’ll discuss what it all means on the … Continue reading →

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EcoHub sues over OneBin failure

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

All right. Continuing the saga that has unfolded at City Hall — in which City Council members have said a deal with one company “smelled,” and in which another company, EcoHub, claims Mayor Sylvester Turner snubbed him out of the … Continue reading →

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And then there’s the birth certificate issue

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Just another problem that would be exacerbated by a bathroom bill. In order to modify a birth certificate in Texas, the Department of State Health Services requires transgender individuals to present a certified court order stating the recorded sex on … Continue reading →

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Dan Patrick hates Texas’ cities

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I have so many things to say about this. City governments, particularly those led by Democrats, are to blame for problems nationwide, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said during a nationally televised interview Friday. “People are happy with their governments … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gina Ortiz Jones

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We have our first declared challenger in CD23. U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, is getting his first major Democratic challenger for re-election in Texas’ swing 23rd congressional district. Gina Ortiz Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer, is entering the … Continue reading →

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Still no word on what Pasadena will do with the redistricting appeal

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We’re waiting. Because the ruling went against the city, Pasadena is required to pay legal costs to attorneys for that group, the Mexican American Legal Defense Education Fund. In addition, the city’s fees to its legal representatives at Bickerstaff, Heath, … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 6

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A little thought experiment about a shift of power in the Senate. Chase your dreams, y’all. “If you’ve been asking why McCain is getting so much credit for this hit job, rather than his two female Republican colleagues without whose … Continue reading →

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How the redistricting case could play out

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Michael Li games out how the Texas redistricting litigation may go from the anticipated court ruling to final resolution. So, in short, Texans could end up with a new set of maps (drawn by the Texas Legislature or drawn by … Continue reading →

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Ethics, schmethics

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This little exchange says so much about our weak and insecure Governor. The fireworks began with a press conference called by GOP Rep. Sarah Davis, chair of the House Committee on General Investigating and Ethics. Davis, flanked by both Democratic … Continue reading →

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RIP, Mark White

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Former Texas Governor Mark White has passed away. Former Gov. Mark White, who championed education reforms while serving as Texas governor from 1983 to 1987, died Saturday in Houston. He was 77. Julian Read, a close friend of White who … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Sex

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s get right down to it, shall we? Here’s The 1975: Gotta say, as much as I love the extravagance of 1970s and 1980s videos, I really appreciate ones where we just see the band or singer in a natural … Continue reading →

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House passes school finance bills

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I doubt they’ll meet a different fate than they did in the regular session, but kudos anyway. The Texas House on Friday passed a package of bills that would put $1.8 billion into public schools and help out struggling small, … Continue reading →

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Firefighters complain about petition counting process

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, good Lord. Houston firefighters are accusing Mayor Sylvester Turner of standing between them and a voter-approved pay raise by failing to ensure a petition they submitted last month is certified in time to appear on the November ballot. Turner … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Marilyn Burgess to announce for District Clerk

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to a large slate of judicial offices, there are four countywide executive offices on the ballot next year. Democrats in Harris County have nearly all of the judicial races covered, and Diane Trautman has been in the race … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten – Are you sure about this?

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know, are you? 1. Are We The Waiting – Green Day 2. Are We There Yet? – Trout Fishing In America 3. Are You Gonna Be My Girl – JET 4. Are You Gonna Move It For Me? … Continue reading →

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Halfway through the session

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The House is doing House things, and that’s fine. Brushing aside concerns that they are not moving swiftly enough to enact Gov. Greg Abbott’s 20-point agenda, Texas House members opened the second half of the special session Wednesday with a … Continue reading →

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Republican voters are “meh” on the bathroom bill

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The Texas Association of Business conducted surveys in five GOP-controlled legislative districts across the state the week of July 24th. “Texas business has long opposed the bathroom bill because it is unnecessary and will have significant negative … Continue reading →

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Religious groups get into the SB4 fight

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. For the first time, religious groups have filed court briefs against the so-called sanctuary cities ban in Senate Bill 4, entering the fray in a lawsuit that seeks to prevent the implementation of the law, which they say will … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Fort Bend DA to retire

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The end of an era, and an opportunity for change. Fort Bend County District Attorney John Healey announced Friday that he will not seek re-election, marking an end to what will be 26 years in office, according to a news … Continue reading →

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