Tag Archives: Joe Biden

SCOTUS hears the EMTALA case

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. The Supreme Court appeared split Wednesday in a case over whether a federal law requiring hospitals to provide appropriate stabilizing medical treatment for patients could in some cases overrule a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, National news | Tagged abortion, emergency rooms, EMTALA, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, hospitals, Idaho, Joe Biden, Ken Paxton, mifepristone, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, SCOTUS, Texas, Texas Medical Association, US Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra | 1 Comment

Amtrak pushes for Texas Central

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I like the sound of that. Booming demand, Texas’s rapidly expanding population and growing political will have converged to create the right environment to move high-speed rail ahead, Amtrak leadership said Tuesday. Andy Byford, Amtrak’s senior vice president of high-speed … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged Amtrak, Andy Byford, BRT, Dallas, downtown, eminent domain, Eric Johnson, Federal Railroad Administration, high speed rail, Houston, Inner Katy line, Joe Biden, John Whitmire, Pete Buttigieg, Southwestern Rail Conference, stimulus, Texas, Texas Central High-Speed Railway | 10 Comments

Is Ted Cruz ever going to feel some pressure about abortion?

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

News item #1: Whatever happens in Arizona in November, we got a preview of the difficulty Republican candidates will have in states where high-stakes ballot initiatives literally put abortion on the ballot. Shortly after Arizona’s high court ruled that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged abortion, Arizona, Colin Allred, Donald Trump, Election 2024, EMTALA, Florida, Joe Biden, Kari Lake, mifepristone, Rick Scott, SCOTUS, Senate, Supreme Court, Ted Cruz, Texas | 4 Comments

Trying again on judge shopping

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

If at first you don’t succeed… U.S. Senate leaders introduced legislation to end “judge shopping” — a practice that’s made a federal courthouse in Amarillo with a Trump-appointed judge a destination for conservative litigants challenging Biden administration policies. Senate Majority … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, National news | Tagged Chuck Schumer, Donald Trump, Election 2024, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, filibuster, Joe Biden, judicial nominations, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Mitch McConnell, Senate, Texas | Comments Off

More Census changes coming

Posted on April 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This seems like a good idea. On the next U.S. census and future federal government forms, the list of checkboxes for a person’s race and ethnicity is officially getting longer. The Biden administration has approved proposals for a new response … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged Barack Obama, Census, Commerce Department, demography, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Office of Management and Budget | Comments Off

The Fifth Circuit has its merits hearing on SB4

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This is the big one. A federal appeals court heard arguments Wednesday from Texas and the federal government about whether it should continue blocking a new Texas law that would let state police arrest migrants suspected of entering the U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged ACLU of Texas, American Gateways, Bastrop County, Congress, Donald Trump, DPS, El Paso, Election 2024, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Hidalgo County, immigration, Joe Biden, Justice Department, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, lawsuit, MALDEF, McLennan County, Mexico, SCOTUS, Senate, Steve McCraw, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, The Lege | Comments Off

The judge-shopping will continue for the foreseeable future

Posted on April 3, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

We’re gonna have to make them stop. The chief judge of the northern district of Texas, home to infamous Trump judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, has informed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that the district will not change its case assigning … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Chuck Schumer, Donald Trump, Election 2024, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, filibuster, Joe Biden, judicial nominations, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Mitch McConnell, Senate, Texas | Comments Off

Fifth Circuit leaves SB4 block in place

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal appeals panel late Tuesday night declined to put Texas’s migrant deportation law back in effect, saying the state law seizes powers that are “likely reserved to the United States.” The 2-1 opinion from the 5th Circuit Court … Continue reading →

SCOTUS seems likely to dump the mifepristone ban case

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news. For this Supreme Court to reject abortion restrictions, the argument has to be pretty bad. “That it?” Justice Amy Coney Barrett cut in tersely as anti-abortion group lawyer Erin Hawley (yes, that Hawley) enumerated the supposed harms … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, National news | Tagged Donald Trump, Election 2024, FDA, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Joe Biden, Justice Department, lawsuit, mifepristone, pharmacies, SCOTUS, Texas, Xavier Becerra | Comments Off

Mexico asks Fifth Circuit to keep blocking SB4

Posted on March 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

They definitely have an interest in this. The Mexican government is urging a federal court to block Texas’ migrant deportation law, arguing it will trample the country’s right to regulate its own borders, terrorize the 2.4 million Mexican nationals living … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged ACLU of Texas, American Gateways, Bastrop County, Congress, Donald Trump, DPS, El Paso, Election 2024, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Greg Abbott, Harris County, Hidalgo County, immigration, Joe Biden, Justice Department, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, lawsuit, MALDEF, McLennan County, Mexico, SCOTUS, Senate, Sheriff’s Association of Texas, Steve McCraw, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Municipal Police Association, Texas Police Chiefs Association, The Lege | Comments Off

Fifth Circuit has its SB4 hearing

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

More whiplashing. The chief judge on an appeals panel weighing whether to block Texas’ new migrant deportation law appeared skeptical that it does not run afoul of longstanding precedent leaving immigration enforcement solely to the federal government. Questioning the state’s … Continue reading →

And just like that, SCOTUS flipflops on SB4

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

UPDATE: It’s blocked again! A federal appeals court late Tuesday night stopped a state law allowing Texas police to arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border — hours after the U.S. Supreme Court had allowed it to go … Continue reading →

SCOTUS pauses SB4 again

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This time indefinitely. The Supreme Court on Monday extended a temporary block on a new Texas immigration law that is being challenged by the Biden administration. In an order issued by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, the court again imposed a … Continue reading →

There may finally be some resistance to judge-shopping in federal courts

Posted on March 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. The Judicial Conference, the policymaking body for federal courts, announced Tuesday that it would take action against the judge-shopping that has let right-wing litigants funnel cases to friendly, often Donald Trump-appointed judges. “The policy addresses all civil actions … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Donald Trump, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Joe Biden, judicial nominations, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Texas | 1 Comment

SB4 remains on hold

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Fine by me. No rush. The Supreme Court on Tuesday further delayed a new Texas law empowering state authorities to arrest and deport migrants that would transform immigration enforcement long left to the federal government. Justice Samuel Alito extended an … Continue reading →

There’s only one way forward after this primary

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The worst people you know had a very good week last week. It’s likely to get better for them after the runoffs. These headlines capture the essence of it: ‘Disastrous’: A shaken Texas House prepares for rightward shift after record … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Angela Paxton, Angie Chen Button, Averie Bishop, Ben Bumgarner, Brad Buckley, Caroline Harris Davila, Collin County, Craig Goldman, Dallas County, Daniel Lee, David Carstens, Dawn Richardson, Democratic primary, Denise Wilkerson, Denton County, Detrick DeBurr, Donald Trump, Election 2018, Election 2020, Election 2022, Election 2024, Elizabeth Wilkerson, Fort Bend County, Fred Medina, Frederick Frazier, HD108, HD112, HD118, HD121, HD14, HD26, HD37, HD52, HD54, HD55, HD61, HD63, HD65, HD66, HD67, HD94, HD97, Hugh Shine, impeachment, Jacey Jetton, Janie Lopez, Jeff Leach, Jennie Birkholz, Jennifer Lee, Joe Biden, John Lujan, John Raney, Ken Paxton, Kristian Carranza, Kronda Thimesch, Laurel Jordan Swift, Makala Washington, Matt Shaheen, Michelle Beckley, Morgan Meyer, precinct analysis, primaries, Rachel Mello, redistricting, runoff, SD08, Senate, Steve Allison, Tarrant County, Texas, The Lege, Tony Adams, Tony Tinderholt, vouchers | 4 Comments

Initial thoughts on the 2024 primary

Posted on March 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Some opening considerations as we peruse the final unofficial voting data. Before you read my words, go check out Stace, Campos, Reform Austin, and the Texas Signal. Here we go: – Final turnout in Harris County was 176,396 for Dems … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged 14th Court of Appeals, Annette Ramirez, Armando Perez-Serrato, Barack Obama, Cameron County, CD12, CD23, CD32, Colin Allred, Congress, Constable, Democratic primary, Desiree Broadnax, early voting, Election 2012, Election 2018, Election 2020, Election 2022, Election 2024, Gillespie County, hand counting, Harris County, Harris County Tax Assessor, HD139, HD146, Hidalgo County, Jarvis Johnson, Joe Biden, judicial races, Julie Johnson, Michelle Bonton, Molly Cook, President, primaries, runoff, SD15, Senate, special election, Texas, The Lege, Todd Litton, turnout, Webb County | 2 Comments

Primary 2024 results: Democratic headlines

Posted on March 6, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

It’s going to be a late night and I have a couple of long days ahead of me, so I’m going to do some quick summaries based on what I now know, and will come back later to fill the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged 14th Court of Appeals, Allison Jackson Mathis, Amanda Edwards, Amber Boyd-Cora, Angeanette Thibodeaux, Annette Ramirez, Ashley Mayes Guice, Brendetta Scott, Brian Williams, Brittanye Morris, CD07, CD18, CD22, CD32, CD38, Charlene Ward Johnson, Christian Menefee, Colin Allred, Danielle Bess, Democratic primary, Denise Brown, Desiree Broadnax, District Attorney, Ed Gonzalez, Election 2024, Erica Hughes, First Court of Appeals, Fran Watson, Gemayel Haynes, Gordon Goodman, Harold Dutton, Harris County, Harris County Attorney, Harris County Sheriff, Harris County Tax Assessor, HD139, HD142, HD146, Jarvis Johnson, Jerry Davis, Jerry Zimmerer, Joe Biden, judicial races, Julia Maldonado, Julie Johnson, Kim Ogg, Lauren Ashley Simmons, Lillian Alexander, Lizzie FLetcher, Marquette Greene-Scott, Melissa McDonough, Mike Engelhart, Molly Cook, Nathan Johnson, Nicole Perdue, Pervez Agwan, Peter Kelly, President, Ramona Franklin, RK Sandill, Robert Schaffer, runoff, SD15, SD16, Sean Teare, Senate, Shawn Thierry, Sheila Jackson Lee, TaKasha Francis, Texas, The Lege, Todd Litton, Tracy Good, turnout, Velda Faulkner, Victoria Neave, Vivian King | 17 Comments

The Fifth Circuit remains extremely on brand

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Of all the Fifth Circuits in the world, they’re the Fifth Circuitest. A new law empowering state authorities to arrest and deport migrants seeking asylum in the United States may soon take effect after an appeals court stepped in to … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged ACLU of Texas, American Gateways, Congress, Donald Trump, DPS, El Paso, Election 2024, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Greg Abbott, immigration, Joe Biden, Justice Department, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, lawsuit, Mexico, SCOTUS, Senate, Steve McCraw, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, The Lege | 1 Comment

SB4 blocked by federal court

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge in Austin on Thursday halted a new state law that would allow Texas police to arrest people suspected of crossing the Texas-Mexico border illegally. The law, Senate Bill 4, was scheduled to take effect Tuesday. U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged ACLU of Texas, American Gateways, Congress, Donald Trump, DPS, El Paso, Election 2024, Greg Abbott, immigration, Joe Biden, Justice Department, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, lawsuit, Mexico, SCOTUS, Senate, Steve McCraw, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, The Lege | 1 Comment

Any early thoughts about what primary turnout might look like?

Posted on February 20, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Why yes I do, thanks for asking. The early indicators are that we are in for lower than usual turnout. With President Joe Biden facing only token opposition in the Democratic primary and Trump pulling away on the GOP side, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged Democratic primary, Donald Trump, Election 2004, Election 2008, Election 2012, Election 2016, Election 2020, Election 2024, Harris County, Joe Biden, President, primaries, Texas, turnout | 2 Comments

SB4 lawsuit has its day in court

Posted on February 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what happens. Lawyers for the Biden administration and Texas faced off in a federal court in Austin on Thursday to argue whether a new state law that would allow police to arrest people suspected of crossing the Texas-Mexico … Continue reading →

SCOTUS to hear Idaho EMTALA appeal

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This does sound ominous. The Supreme Court announced Friday that it would take up a case centered on abortion care in emergency medical situations, leapfrogging the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which was scheduled to hear arguments later this month. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, emergency rooms, EMTALA, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, hospitals, Idaho, Joe Biden, Ken Paxton, mifepristone, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, SCOTUS, Texas, Texas Medical Association, US Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra | Comments Off

Fifth Circuit rules EMTALA doesn’t apply to abortions

Posted on January 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

A typically crappy ruling from our least favorite appeals court. Federal regulations do not require emergency rooms to perform life-saving abortions if it would run afoul of state law, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. After the overturn of Roe … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Amanda Zurawski, emergency rooms, EMTALA, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, hospitals, Idaho, Joe Biden, Kate Cox, Ken Paxton, SCOTUS, Texas, Texas Medical Association, US Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra | 2 Comments

Justice Department sues over SB4

Posted on January 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

As they had threatened to do. The U.S. Department of Justice sued Texas on Wednesday over a new state law that allows Texas police to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the Texas-Mexico border illegally. “Texas cannot disregard the United States … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged ACLU of Texas, American Gateways, DPS, Greg Abbott, immigration, Joe Biden, Justice Department, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, lawsuit, Mexico, SCOTUS, Senate, Steve McCraw, Texas, The Lege | 1 Comment

ACLU and immigrants rights groups sue over our latest legislative atrocity

Posted on December 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. Immigrant rights organizations have sued Texas after Gov. Greg Abbott approved one of the strictest state immigration enforcement laws, which authorizes police to arrest immigrants suspected of crossing the border illegally. In their lawsuit, the American Civil … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged ACLU of Texas, American Gateways, DPS, El Paso, Greg Abbott, immigration, Joe Biden, Justice Department, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, lawsuit, Mexico, SCOTUS, Senate, special session, Steve McCraw, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, The Lege | Comments Off

SCOTUS takes up mifepristone appeal

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready. The Supreme Court announced Wednesday that it will hear arguments on the accessibility of the abortion drug mifepristone in the biggest abortion case since Dobbs. The case stems from a widely panned decision handed down by notorious Donald … Continue reading →

Idaho appeals EMTALA injunction to SCOTUS

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Brace yourselves. Idaho asked the Supreme Court Monday to stay a lower court injunction, or to take up its case directly, as it attempts to fend off the Biden administration’s challenge of the state’s abortion ban. The government filed suit … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Amanda Zurawski, Election 2024, emergency rooms, EMTALA, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, hospitals, Idaho, Joe Biden, Ken Paxton, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Texas, US Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra | Comments Off

Fifth Circuit hears EMTALA appeal

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Keep your expectations very low. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday about whether the federal government can require Texas hospitals to perform life-saving abortions, despite the state’s near-total ban on the procedure. After the overturn of … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Amanda Zurawski, emergency rooms, EMTALA, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, hospitals, Idaho, Joe Biden, Ken Paxton, SCOTUS, Texas, Texas Medical Association, US Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra | 1 Comment

San Marcos settles “Trump Train” lawsuit

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I really hope this leaves a mark, because it should. San Marcos police officers and professional staff must receive training on responding to political violence and voter intimidation and ways to develop community trust as part of a legal settlement … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Brandon Winkenwerder, CD21, Chase Stapp, Congress, David Gins, Donald Trump, Election 2020, Eric Cervini, FBI, Joe Biden, lawsuit, President, Protect Democracy, San Marcos, Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project, Timothy Holloway, Wendy Davis | 1 Comment

Carbon capture project coming

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. A carbon removal project south of Corpus Christi is one of two sites selected by the Department of Energy to receive up to $1.2 billion to support the development of direct air capture technology. The project, which is being … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged carbon capture, carbon dioxide, climate change, Department of Energy, Joe Biden, Louisiana, Texas | 2 Comments

Hydrogen hub Houston happens

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. The Texas Gulf Coast has been selected by the Biden administration as a clean hydrogen hub, one of seven locations across the United States set to receive billions of dollars in federal funding and private investment to help develop … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged Center for Houston's Future, climate change, Department of Energy, Houston, hydrogen, HyVelocity Hub, Joe Biden, Texas, trucks | 2 Comments

That other high speed rail line is moving along

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Hadn’t heard about this in awhile, but it’s now clearing some key regulatory obstacles. A high-speed rail line from Fort Worth to Dallas is moving “full steam ahead” and could be ready even before the proposed Dallas-Houston line that received … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged Commission for High-Speed Rail in Dallas/Fort Worth, D/FW Airport, Dallas, Fort Worth, high speed rail, High-Speed Rail Alliance, Houston, Joe Biden, North Central Texas Council of Governments, stimulus, Texas, Texas Central High-Speed Railway | 1 Comment

Fifth Circuit rejects some mifepristone restrictions, upholds others

Posted on August 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Typical. A Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals panel handed down a decision Wednesday batting down challenges to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) initial approval of abortion drug mifepristone, but reinstituting restrictions that the agency has lifted in recent years. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, National news | Tagged FDA, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Joe Biden, Justice Department, lawsuit, mifepristone, pharmacies, SCOTUS, Texas, Xavier Becerra | Comments Off

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