Tag Archives: Congress

Cornyn-Murphy gun bill gets final passage

Posted on June 25, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

What great timing, huh? Exactly one month after a gunman shot and killed 19 children and two teachers in a Uvalde elementary school, the most significant new gun laws in decades were headed to President Joe Biden’s desk on Friday … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged Chris Murphy, Congress, Diego Bernal, domestic violence, filibuster, gun control, guns, John Cornyn, mental illness, red flag laws, schools, SCOTUS, Senate, Texas, Tony Gonzales, Uvalde | 6 Comments

We are getting serious about the flood tunnel idea

Posted on June 25, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Now the question is how could we pay for this? A network of eight massive storm water tunnels that drain upstream of and into the Houston Ship Channel could be the key to alleviating flooding in Harris County, flood control engineers announced this week. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged Addicks Reservoir, Army Corps of Engineers, Barker Reservoir, Buffalo Bayou, climate change, Commissioners Court, Congress, flood tunnels, flooding, Harris County, Harris County Flood Control District, Houston, Houston Ship Channel, Hurricane Harvey, Ike Dike, Texas | Comments Off

Our electric car charging stations future

Posted on June 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Lots more are coming. Texas is planning to add enough electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state to support 1 million electric vehicles with dozens of new stations to allow for easier long-distance travel. In a draft plan released this … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged Congress, electric cars, stimulus, Texas, TxDOT, US Department of Transportation | 2 Comments

Cornyn’s gun control bill passes the Senate

Posted on June 23, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Happy to have had my cynicism proven wrong. Exactly four weeks after a teenage gunman armed with a semiautomatic rifle massacred 19 elementary schoolers and two teachers in Uvalde, the U.S. Senate voted 64-34 Tuesday night to advance a bipartisan … Continue reading →

Cuellar officially wins CD28 runoff

Posted on June 23, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

All over now. A recount has confirmed U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, as the winner of his hard-fought primary runoff, according to the Texas Democratic Party. The recount wrapped up Tuesday, and Cuellar picked up eight votes, defeating progressive challenger … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged absentee ballots, CD15, CD28, Congress, Democratic primary, Election 2022, Henry Cuellar, Jessica Cisneros, Michelle Vallejo, provisional ballots, recount, runoff, Texas | Comments Off

So how’s that bipartisan agreement on a framework for a gun control deal going?

Posted on June 20, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s check in. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn arrived at the Texas GOP convention in Houston Friday to address his role as chief negotiator for a bipartisan gun package head on — and was promptly booed for it. “No gun control!” … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged Congress, gun control, guns, John Cornyn, red flag laws, Senate, Texas, Uvalde | 6 Comments

Recount updates

Posted on June 19, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We have a winner in CD15. Today, after Wednesday’s manual recount of the votes in the CD-15 primary runoff election, the Texas Democratic Party announced that Michelle Vallejo has secured enough votes to earn the Democratic nomination for U.S. Congress … Continue reading →

Flores wins CD34 special election

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Groan. Republican Mayra Flores prevailed Tuesday in a special election for an open congressional seat in South Texas, marking a major breakthrough for Republicans eager to blaze new inroads in the historically blue region. She beat Dan Sanchez, the leading … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged CD15, CD34, Congress, Dan Sanchez, Election 2016, Election 2018, Election 2020, Election 2022, Filemon Vela, fundraising, HD118, Hidalgo County, Juana Cantu-Cabrera, Mayra Flores, Rene Coronado, SD19, special election, Texas | 8 Comments

March For Our Lives

Posted on June 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I sure would like to think that all this activist energy means that things are different this time. Hundreds of Houstonians gathered near City Hall in downtown Saturday for the student-led March for Our Lives, one of dozens of events … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged Congress, Election 2022, filibuster, gun control, guns, Houston, Joe Biden, John Cornyn, March For Our Lives, red flag laws, Senate, Texas, Uvalde | 5 Comments

Two redistricting lawsuit updates

Posted on June 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Legislators involved in the most recent redistricting effort can be made to sit for depositions. The Supreme Court refused Tuesday to block the deposition of Texas lawmakers in redistricting suits. Mum as to whether there were any dissents, the order from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Brooks Landgraf, Congress, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, John Lujan, Justice Department, LULAC, Merrick Garland, redistricting, Ryan Guillen, SBOE, SCOTUS, special session, Texas, The Lege, Voting Rights Act | Comments Off

House passes Ike Dike bill

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Getting closer, but there’s still a big obstacle to overcome. The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday night voted 384-37 to approve the plan for the $31-billion “Ike Dike,” a massive project designed to protect the vulnerable region from storm surge. The plan … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged Army Corps of Engineers, Congress, Ike Dike, Senate, Texas | Comments Off

So what’s going on in the CD34 special election?

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We started with this. Early voting continues for the June 14 special election for CD34 open (Lean R) through June 10. Candidates for that special election were required to file pre-special election reports today (Thurs.) if they meet the reporting … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged Cameron County, CD34, Congress, Dan Sanchez, early voting, Election 2020, Election 2022, fundraising, Hidalgo County, Juana Cantu-Cabrera, Mayra Flores, Rene Coronado, special election, Texas | 1 Comment

McConaughey opines for gun control

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Not bad. I believe that responsible, law-abiding Americans have a Second Amendment right, enshrined by our founders, to bear arms. I also believe we have a cultural obligation to take steps toward slowing down the senseless killing of our children. … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged Congress, gun control, guns, Matthew McConaughey, Texas, The Lege | 14 Comments

Here come the recounts

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Progressive candidate Jessica Cisneros announced Monday she will request a recount in the hard-fought Democratic primary runoff against U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, after she finished 281 votes behind him. Another Democrat in a key South Texas congressional … Continue reading →

We’ve seen this movie before

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I appreciate the sentiment, but I know how this ends. Major Republican donors, including some that have contributed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaigns, joined other conservative Texans in signing an open letter supporting congressional action to increase gun restrictions in … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged Bill Hammond, Congress, fundraising, Greg Abbott, gun control, guns, John Cornyn, Senate, Texas, Todd Maclin, Uvalde | Comments Off

Cuellar claims victory in CD28

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

He has a bigger lead now than he did on Election Night. With every vote counted in a fiercely contested South Texas Democratic primary runoff, longtime congressman Henry Cuellar was 281 votes ahead of progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros. Cuellar declared … Continue reading →

City passes its budget

Posted on June 3, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Not too much drama. Houston’s $5.7 billion budget for the next fiscal year includes a big jump in revenue from water bills, raises for all city employees and the largest unspent reserves in years. City Council voted 15-2 to adopt … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged Amy Peck, budget, Congress, consent decree, coronavirus, HFD, Houston, Houston City Council, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, HPD, Joe Biden, Letitia Plummer, Sallie Alcorn, sewers, Solid Waste Management Department, stimulus, Sylvester Turner, water | Comments Off

Vallejo claims victory in CD15 runoff

Posted on June 2, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Her opponent demurs, but it probably doesn’t matter. Michelle Vallejo declared victory Wednesday in the Democratic primary runoff for the national battleground 15th Congressional District in South Texas. Her declaration came eight days after election night, when she emerged with … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged absentee ballots, CD15, CD28, Congress, Democratic primary, Election 2022, Henry Cuellar, Hidalgo County, Jessica Cisneros, Jim Wells County, Michelle Vallejo, provisional ballots, recount, Ruben Ramirez, runoff, Texas | 1 Comment

HCC special election runoff will be June 18

Posted on May 31, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

From last week: The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System has called a Special Trustee Runoff Election for June 18, 2022 in HCC geographic District II. The position for geographic District II is to be filled for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged CD34, Charlene Ward Johnson, Congress, Election 2022, HCC, Houston, Kathy Lynch Gunter, runoff, special election, Texas | 1 Comment

We won’t know the official status of the two super close runoffs until next week

Posted on May 27, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The CD28 race is not done with us. Jessica Cisneros, the progressive immigration attorney trailing longtime Laredo congressman Henry Cuellar by 177 votes in a blockbuster South Texas runoff, said Thursday that ballots are still being counted and a final … Continue reading →

A few remaining threads from the runoffs

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It was, as noted, a smooth and easy night in Harris County, despite the folderol from earlier in the day. Harris County election drama in the courts did not prevent voting officials from what could be a record speedy count. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged absentee ballots, CD15, CD28, Congress, Democratic primary, Election 2022, Harris County, Henry Cuellar, Isabel Longoria, Jessica Cisneros, lawsuit, Michelle Vallejo, recount, Republican Party, Ruben Ramirez, runoff, Supreme Court, Texas | 1 Comment

Runoff results: Around the state

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

After the primary, I rounded up the Democratic runoffs we’d have in May. I’m going to use that post to round up the results from last night, as best as I can tell as of when I gave up the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged absentee ballots, Alexandra Guio ·Angel Vega, Attorney General, Bexar County, Cassandra Hernandez, CD01, CD15, CD21, CD24, CD28, CD30, Christian Hayes, Claudia Zapata, Comptroller, Congress, Dawn Buckingham, Democratic primary, Derrik Gay, Election 2022, George P. Bush, HD100, HD114, HD22, HD37, HD70, HD76, Henry Cuellar, Jan McDowell, Jane Hamilton, Janet Dudding, Jasmine Crockett, Jay Kleberg, JJ Jefferson, Joe Jaworski, John Bryant, John Rigney, Joseph Trahan, Ken Paxton, Land Commissioner, Laura Marquez, Lite Gov, Luis Villarreal, Melissa Ortega, Michelle Beckley, Michelle Vallejo, Mihaela Plesa, Mike Collier, Morgan LaMantia, Pat Hardy, Pete Garcia, primaries, Railroad Commission, Ricardo Villarreal, Rochelle Garza, Ruben Cortez, Ruben Ramirez, runoff, Sandra Crenshaw, Sandragrace Martinez, Sara Stapleton-Barrera, Sarah Stogner, SBOE, SD27, Senate, Suleman Lalani, Texas, The Lege, Tim Westley, Vanesia Johnson, Venton Jones, Victor Dunn, Victor Morales, Victor Perez, Wayne Christian, Webb County, Zapata County | 1 Comment

Runoff results: Harris County

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

As with the statewide roundup, here are the results from Harris County. As of 10 PM, 99 of 260 voting centers had reported, so while these results aren’t final, it seems likely to me that not much will change. Congressional … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged Alexandra Mealer, Andrea Beall, Ben Chou, Beverly Armstrong, CD38, Chip Wells, Commissioners Court, Congress, Coretta Mallet-Fontenot, Danielle Bess, Diana Alexander, Duncan Klussmann, Election 2022, Harris County, HD133, HD147, Jack Morman, Jason Luong, Jolanda Jones, judicial races, Justice of the Peace, Kim McTorry, Lesley Briones, Mano DeAyala, Manpreet Singh, primaries, SBOE, Shelley Barineau, Sonia Lopez, Staci Childs, Steve Duble, Teresa Waldrop, Texas, The Lege, Treasea Trevino, Vidal Martinez | Comments Off

Is there any chance the GLO won’t screw Houston this time around?

Posted on May 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, maybe. Things can happen. I just wouldn’t count on it. Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday commended the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for ordering Texas to fix a Hurricane Harvey recovery plan that the federal agency … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged Al Green, Civil Rights Act, Congress, Coryell County, Election 2022, flooding, George P. Bush, Hardin County, Harris County, Houston, HUD, Hurricane Harvey, Jefferson County, Justice Department, Land Commissioner, Orange County, Stephen Costello, Sylvester Turner, Texas, Texas Appleseed, Texas Housers | 1 Comment

House committee passes Ike Dike bill

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Another step forward. A House committee on Wednesday approved legislation that gives the go-ahead to the so-called Ike Dike project, a massive $31 billion proposal that includes building giant gates across the mouth of Galveston Bay with the goal of … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged Army Corps of Engineers, Congress, Ike Dike, Senate, Texas | 4 Comments

Treasury Department opens investigation into Abbott’s use of federal funds for border mission

Posted on May 14, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Good, though I have a hard time believing there will be any real consequences. Gov. Greg Abbott’s use of COVID-19 relief dollars to support his border security mission has come under scrutiny in Washington this week as questions grow about … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, National news | Tagged Al Green, border, budget, Colin Allred, Congress, coronavirus, DPS, Greg Abbott, Janet Yellen, Joaquin Castro, Lizzie FLetcher, Lloyd Doggett, Marc Veasey, Sheila Jackson Lee, stimulus, Sylvia Garcia, Texas, Texas Military Department, Texas National Guard, US Treasury, Veronica Escobar | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Still in reruns

Posted on May 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron re-endorses Duncan Klussman in the CD38 runoff. Last fall, Texas Republicans drew a new congressional district in western Harris County. This red-red-red seat was designed to specifically advantage Wesley Hunt, an Iraq war veteran who came within four … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged CD38, Congress, Coretta Mallet-Fontenot, Democratic primary, Diana Alexander, Duncan Klussmann, Election 2022, endorsements, runoff, SBOE, Staci Childs, Texas | Comments Off

It’s city of Houston budget time again

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

That federal COVID relief money continues to be very nice. Once again relying on federal money, Mayor Sylvester Turner’s proposed $5.7 billion budget for next year would pay for raises for all city employees, offer tax relief to seniors and … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged budget, Congress, coronavirus, HFD, Houston, Houston City Council, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, HPD, Joe Biden, Solid Waste Management Department, stimulus, Sylvester Turner | Comments Off

Federal funding for the Ike Dike

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

This would be a big step forward. Congressional members this week are moving one step closer to authorizing a massive, $31-billion-dollar system to block storm surge along Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula and at the mouth of Galveston Bay. A … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged Army Corps of Engineers, Congress, filibuster, Ike Dike, Senate, Texas | Comments Off

I’m just going to say this one thing about the pending evisceration of abortion rights

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Chris Tomlinson gets at the issue but doesn’t take it all the way. The Supreme Court’s apparent decision to allow state lawmakers to make women’s health care choices puts chief executives in a tough spot, forcing them to choose between their employees’ rights … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Congress, contraception, Election 2022, gay marriage, gay rights, SCOTUS, Senate, Texas, The Lege, transgender rights | 2 Comments

April 2022 campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The primaries are over, and while we do still have some runoffs plus now a weird special election in CD34, we do have a smaller set of races and candidates to review. Given how many I had to cram into … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged Beth van Duyne, campaign finance reports, Cassandra Garcia, CD02, CD03, CD10, CD15, CD21, CD22, CD23, CD24, CD28, CD30, CD34, CD38, Chip Roy, Congress, Dan Crenshaw, Derrik Gay, Diana Alexander, Duncan Klussmann, Election 2018, Election 2020, Election 2022, Election 2024, fundraising, Henry Cuellar, Jamie Jordan, Jan McDowell, Jane Hamilton, Jasmine Crockett, Jessica Cisneros, John Lira, Keith Self, Linda Nuno, Mayra Flores, Michelle Vallejo, redistricting, Robin Fulford, Ruben Ramirez, Sandeep Srivastava, Texas, Tony Gonzales, Troy Nehls, Van Taylor, Vicente Gonzalez, Wesley Hunt | Comments Off

The New Orleans perspective on the Ike Dike

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. Kelly Burks-Copes braces herself against the wind and marches past the ruins of Fort San Jacinto, a strategic spot on a sandy, wave-battered point where Spain, France, the Republic of Texas, the Confederacy and the United States have … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged Army Corps of Engineers, climate change, Congress, flooding, Galveston, Gulf of Mexico, Harris County, Houston, Hurricane Katrina, hurricanes, Ike Dike, Jim Blackburn, Kelly Burks-Copes, New Orleans, SSPEED, Texas, The Netherlands | 6 Comments

Where are the endorsements?

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, early voting has begun for the May 7 election, which includes two Constitutional amendments and the special election for HCC District 2. As of last night when I drafted this, I see no endorsements in any of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged Attorney General, Chip Wells, Commissioners Court, Comptroller, Congress, constitutional amendments, Coretta Mallet-Fontenot, Danielle Bess, Democratic primary, Duncan Klussmann, Election 2022, endorsements, Harris County, HCC, HD147, Janet Dudding, Jason Luong, Jay Kleberg, Joe Jaworski, judicial races, Justice of the Peace, Kim McTorry, Land Commissioner, Lesley Briones, Lite Gov, Manpreet Singh, Mike Collier, Q&A, runoff, SBOE, Sonia Lopez, special election, Staci Childs, Steve Duble, Teresa Waldrop, Texas, The Lege, Treasea Trevino | 5 Comments

Four candidates file for CD34 special election

Posted on April 16, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The sprint is on. Two Democrats and two Republicans have filed for the June 14 special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, in a South Texas congressional seat that the GOP wants to flip. The filing deadline was 5 p.m. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged CD34, Congress, Dan Sanchez, Election 2020, Election 2022, Filemon Vela, Greg Abbott, Juana Cantu-Cabrera, Mayra Flores, Rene Coronado, special election, Texas, Vicente Gonzalez | Comments Off

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