Search Results for: food stamps

Progress on food stamps

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. With hundreds of new workers on board, Texas has dramatically improved its speed and accuracy processing food stamp applications, Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs [told] state lawmakers [last week]. But he’ll also tell the joint … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Progress on food stamps

State auditor issues recommendations for fixing food stamps

Posted on April 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s about what you’d expect. The state agency that oversees Texas’ food stamp program is outdated and staffed by inexperienced workers, leading to long delays and inaccurate processing, said the state auditor in a report released Tuesday. “To improve the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on State auditor issues recommendations for fixing food stamps

Food banks to help with food stamps interviews

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This sounds like a good idea. Houston’s food bank will begin helping qualify eligible Texans for food stamps on Monday under special authority from federal officials designed to shorten long wait times. The waiver will allow food banks in Houston, … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

More food stamps fail

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The dimensions of this failure are just staggering. Texas has the worst performing food stamp program in the nation, says the federal director who oversees the project designed to help desperate people get nutritious meals. Texas ranks last among the … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Easing eligibility requirements on food stamps

Posted on November 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose you could consider this to be a small benefit of the food stamps snafu. Texas is easing a requirement that most families on food stamps must be interviewed every six months, a step that will relieve pressure on … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Easing eligibility requirements on food stamps

Monitoring the food stamps problem

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Sens. Judith Zaffirini and Tommy Williams will be keeping an eye on the food stamps situation. Zaffirini said in an interview that she and Williams will work with Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs on hiring more … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Feds to Texas: Fix food stamps!

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Yet another (bad) way in which our state has distinguished itself. Federal officials say Texas should appoint a food stamp czar to take charge of fixing the application backlogs and high error rates plaguing the program. “All states are feeling … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

State to grudgingly hire a few more food stamps workers

Posted on October 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t strain yourselves, fellas. State leaders announced late Friday that more employees will be hired to help process food stamp applications. […] “In these tough economic times, the state of Texas must do everything in its power to ensure Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on State to grudgingly hire a few more food stamps workers

Food stamps fail

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

News item: Budget board denies request for more food stamps workers. The Legislative Budget Board has denied a request from the Health and Human Services Commission to hire about 650 state workers to relieve the state’s food stamp enrollment system, … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

More on food stamps lawsuit

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron now has a story about the lawsuit that has been filed over Texas’ inability to process food stamp applications in the federally-required 30 day time period. There’s not much in the story that we don’t already know, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Feds fine Texas for food stamp failures

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Our longstanding food stamp problems continue to cost the state of Texas millions of dollars. Federal officials have fined Texas $3.96 million for errors in issuing food stamp benefits, according to a letter sent to House Speaker Joe Straus. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The food banks pitch in

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s great that they’re making such a difference. It’s a crime that it took so long and that the problem got to be so bad before they were called in to help. Last year, food banks had to step up … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The food banks pitch in

Food stamp application backlog to be cleared by April

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a little bit of good news. Texas’ food stamp application backlog is now expected to be cleared by the end of April, Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs told lawmakers today. […] The commission had projected it … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Food stamp application backlog to be cleared by April

Another food stamp lawsuit

Posted on December 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in August, a federal lawsuit was filed over the interminable delays that food stamp applicants face in Texas getting their forms processed. That suit was dismissed in October by Judge Sam Sparks on the grounds that the federal law … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

We’re not the only state with food stamp issues

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We all know by now that Texas has had many problems with its administration of food stamps. Apparently, so have other states, according to a letter, signed by Kevin Concannon, the department’s undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, sent … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on We’re not the only state with food stamp issues

The DMN on the food stamp situation

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s depressing reading these articles, but it’s important to do so, to really understand why we’re so screwed up. First and foremost, it’s an attitude problem. As in, the people who have the most power over it have the least … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The DMN on the food stamp situation

HHSC sued over food stamp delays

Posted on August 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This will definitely bear watching. Legal services lawyers for the poor have filed a class-action lawsuit demanding immediate repair of Texas’ much-criticized eligibility screening system for health and welfare programs. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Austin … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Endorsement watch: Three big ones

Posted on February 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron races to finish up their primary endorsements before the start of Early Voting. Three more for your consideration: They endorse Rep. Lizzie Fletcher in CD07. Ever since Democratic voters picked her to take on and eventually defeat a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How the 2030 Census could be different

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

A very early preview of some possibilities, which may or may not come to fruition. Beyond the reports of undercounts and overcounts in population totals, there is another takeaway from the post-mortem of 2020 census data issued on Thursday: This … Continue reading →

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

Yet another lawsuit over voting by mail

Posted on May 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Turns out there are a lot of obstacles to voting by mail in Texas, and so there are a lot of lawsuits being filed by various plaintiffs to rectify that. A coalition of voters and civil rights groups opened a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Endorsement watch: More State Reps

Posted on February 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron finishes the task of endorsing in the State Rep primaries. Here was Round One, now let’s dive into the rest. Natali Hurtado in HD126: Hurtado was 19 and a college student working at Olive Garden when she became … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: More State Reps

Bishops condemn Abbott’s refugee refusal

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Texas’ Catholic bishops issued a sharp rebuke of Gov. Greg Abbott, a fellow Catholic, following his decision Friday to ban refugees from initially settling in Texas. In a joint statement by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, which includes … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Now is not a good time for HHSC to be dysfunctional

Posted on October 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

And yet here we are. Under Charles Smith, the longtime ally of Gov. Greg Abbott picked to lead the state’s Health and Human Services Commission, Texas’ government health care infrastructure is hemorrhaging veteran employees and facing criticism for its response … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Now is not a good time for HHSC to be dysfunctional

Texas blog roundup for the week of September 18

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance encourages you to keep supporting Harvey and Irma relief efforts as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of September 18

Texas drops request for emergency order on Syrian refugees

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s something. Texas officials have withdrawn their request for an emergency order blocking a group of Syrian refugees from entering the state and instead are seeking a broader hearing next week on how closely the federal government coordinates with the … Continue reading →

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

Highlighting wages in the Mayor’s race

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Coalition Calls on Next Mayor to Raise Minimum Wage for Publicly Funded Projects Today, a coalition of community and labor organizations staged a tour of of sites that received tax dollars to tell the story of how … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

We still have those outsourcing blues

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We never learn from history. That’s just how we roll in this state. In 1991, the Texas attorney general’s office signed an $11 million contract to computerize its child-support payments system. By 1997, the deal with Andersen Consulting had ballooned … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on We still have those outsourcing blues

Weekend link dump for April 27

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The four levels of discrimination. Not quite the 16 Levels of Losing (see followup as well), but it’ll do. “The cities with the largest share of cyclists have the fewest cycling fatalities. And the same is true of pedestrians.” “In … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for April 27

Weekend link dump for February 9

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I keep trying to come up with a pithy summary for this and I keep failing. It’s just…I can’t even. From the “Brevity is the soul of wit” department. Sharknado 2: The Second One is a thing that is happening. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of November 4

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance falls back once a year but is ever moving forward as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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

Budget amendment time

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Now that Mayor Parker has formally submitted her proposed budget for fiscal year 2013, it’s time for Council members to submit their amendments for consideration. I’m going to start at the bottom of the story with the two proposals that … Continue reading →

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

Spinning off the convention business

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The city is looking to get out of the convention and entertainment business and maybe make a few bucks in the process. The city’s Convention and Entertainment Facilities department currently runs the George R. Brown Convention Center and other city-owned … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

One person’s experience with deferred adjudication for DWI

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

After I posted about the bill to allow deferred adjudication for DWI, I received the following email from a reader, who gave me permission to publish it. Deferred adjudication (D.A) ….My brother had it because of a DWI in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

The State of Texas and IBM: Not getting any better

Posted on July 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No group hugs are expected any time soon. Agencies that help Texans renew their automobile registrations, draw unemployment benefits and apply for food stamps and Medicaid face crushing demands – and IBM, the technology contractor for those agencies, isn’t even … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The State of Texas and IBM: Not getting any better