Author Archives: Greg Wythe

There is a solution, you just don’t see it

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Sen. John Cornyn, apparently with some free time on his hands, takes his turn tackling the pernicious issue of Democrats winning judicial races – er, the problem of partisan judicial elections. I’ll give him credit for this much – he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 3 Comments

Money for movies

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Clay Robison reminds me of something in a discussion of Governor Perry’s resistance to spending stimulus money on expanding unemployment insurance. Right after giving the back of his hand to thousands of jobless workers, he was promoting a $60-million handout … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Money for movies

If he can’t testify, he shouldn’t redistrict

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

One of the questions that was raised during the Voter ID All-Nighter in the Senate was why Attorney General Greg Abbott took a pass, even though the Democrats wanted him to be there, since he was a leading crusader of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on If he can’t testify, he shouldn’t redistrict

Voter ID: That’s it for now

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

In case you hadn’t already heard, the measure was passed out of committee – which was the full Senate in this case – by the predicted party-line vote, which was actually 20-12 since Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, sitting in the cheap … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Voter ID: That’s it for now

Voter ID: On to day two

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Looks like things wrapped up in the Senate at about 2:30 AM. It’s not clear to me if they got through all of the expert testimony, or if they plan to get to the public testimony, assuming anyone who signed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Derr to run for At Large #1

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

As we know, City Council hopeful Karen Derr missed the official filing deadline for the District H special election, and thus will not be on the ballot on May 9. Anyone who has driven through the Heights lately has observed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | 2 Comments

“Houston first”

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

City Controller and Mayoral candidate Annise Parker has proposed a new policy for giving Houston firms an advantage when bidding for city-financed work. Under Parker’s plan, when companies bid on a city project — say, to build roads or provide … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009, Local politics | 2 Comments

UTMB hospital to stay in Galveston

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

This is a pleasant surprise. The University of Texas Medical Branch hospital, still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ike, will remain on Galveston Island under a plan approved today. The decision by the University of Texas Board of Regents … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on UTMB hospital to stay in Galveston

Commissioners Court OKs Grand Parkway Segment E work

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Greg Wythe

As expected. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved an agreement to build and maintain a segment of the Grand Parkway connecting the Katy Freeway and U.S. 290, but questions over what would happen if the county ultimately decided the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Commissioners Court OKs Grand Parkway Segment E work

Voter ID: All through the night

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Greg Wythe

According to Elise Hu’s liveblog of the voter ID hearing in the Senate, they’re on witness number 3 of 15, and they haven’t gotten to any public testimony yet. Suffice it to say, this is gonna go on for awhile, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Voter ID: All through the night

Today’s the day for Voter ID in the Senate

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Ready or not, here comes the voter ID battle in the Senate. There’s a chance today will merely be Day One of this fight, as Patricia Kilday Hart notes in her preview. Sen. Robert Duncan, who will chair tomorrow’s Committee … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

UTMB layoff lawsuit update

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Missed this last week. A lawsuit challenging the layoffs of nearly 3,000 employees at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston will be fought on home turf, a state district judge ruled Wednesday. The courtroom audience applauded as Galveston … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on UTMB layoff lawsuit update

The “Dollhouse” dilemma

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Tiffany and I have been enjoying the new show Dollhouse lately. Its premise is a bit complicated, and I’m not sure if it can be sustained long-term, but so far it’s been worth our time to watch. Recently, I came … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of March 9

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Greg Wythe

It’s blog roundup time. I’ll refrain from making any lame Rodeo-related jokes. You can thank me by clicking on to read this week’s highlights from the Texas Progressive Alliance. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of March 9

What you can do today to fight against the Voter ID bill

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Via email from State Sen. Mario Gallegos: This Tuesday, March 10, 2009, the Senate Committee of the Whole will conduct a hearing on proposed photo Voter Identification (SB 362 by Fraser) legislation in the Texas Senate Chamber. On behalf of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Safe Passing Act in the Senate

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I’ve blogged before about SB488, the “Safe Passing Bill”. Via email from Jon Boyd of the CTC, I’m told that the bill will be heard by the Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security this week. Bike Texas has the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Safe Passing Act in the Senate

Two stories about gambling

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The Chron’s David Barron talks to some experts about putting slot machines at horse tracks, which is one of several major proposals to expand gambling in Texas this legislative session. William Eadington, an economics professor at the University of Nevada … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Two stories about gambling

Kinky says he’s getting ready to run

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Kinky Friedman has been saying for a long time that he wants to run for Governor again, this time as a Democrat. He’s now finally getting ready to make that official. At least, that’s what he tells Gardner Selby: Friedman … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | 4 Comments

Weekend link dump for March 8

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Did you remember to spring forward? The tenderness of the delicate American buttock is causing more environmental devastation than the country’s love of gas-guzzling cars, fast food or McMansions, according to green campaigners. I swear, if it’s not one thing, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for March 8

I’m gonna save me some daylight

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I just want to say that I love daylight saving time. I love having more sunlight hours after work, when we can all use them. Double daylight saving time might be a bit much for me, but if we kept … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 5 Comments

NYT on Keller

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Greg Wythe

This story doesn’t really advance our knowledge of Justice Sharon Keller, but it does provide some insight as to her supporters. At least, it confirms that she has them. How they can reconcile their opinion of her with some of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Always government handouts

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Texans for Public Justice have put together a really good report on government subsidies for WalMart here in Texas that I highly recommend. Stories like this constitute another reason why I tend not to get too bent out of shape … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 1 Comment

Catastrophic, year 2

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Nice little shoutout to Houston’s Catastrophic Theater. Recently returned from a month-long residency at New Hampshire’s prestigious MacDowell Colony for artists, Jason Nodler is bursting with exciting plans and projects for his Houston-based Catastrophic Theatre Company. His agenda for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Catastrophic, year 2

More on the deputy drivers

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The story about the deputies that were assigned driving duties for Sheriff Adrian Garcia and County Judge Ed Emmett got an extended play in the Chron thanks to a letter to the editor from Garcia and an email he sent … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on More on the deputy drivers

Time again to support your local microbrewer

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I’ve mentioned before that the microbrewers are going to try again as they did in 2007 to get a law passed that would allow them to sell their wares at their bottling plants. Here’s an update in the Chron on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Crosstown (rail) traffic

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Approving the construction contract with Parsons is a big step forward for the long-awaited light rail expansion in Houston. But there’s still a lot more to be done. The Metropolitan Transit Authority will look to the Federal Transit Administration for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Crosstown (rail) traffic

Friday random ten: You say “70s throwback” as if it were a bad thing

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Say what you want about Amy Winehouse and her trainwreck life. Here’s what Genius has to say about her and her musique verite hit “Rehab”. 1. Rehab – Amy Winehouse 2. Papa Was A Rolling Stone – The Temptations 3. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Friday random ten: You say “70s throwback” as if it were a bad thing

Activists tell TxDOT to slow down and be open

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The following is a press release from a coalition of activists, including the Sierra Club, Environment Texas, Independent Texans, Houston Tomorrow, and the CTC: Representatives of a broad coalition of quality of life, political reform, and environmental groups and citizens … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Activists tell TxDOT to slow down and be open

The Tour de Houston

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Are you looking for a bicycle race, but without all those tedious mountains and drug tests? Well then, the Tour de Houston is what you’re looking for. The 2009 ride date will be Sunday March 22, beginning and ending downtown … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Comments Off on The Tour de Houston

On gerrymandering and partisanship

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The subject of the partisan polarization of Congress came up in conversation recently, and along with it was the topic of redistricting and gerrymandered districts. That made me hunt up this paper (PDF) from Princeton’s Nolan McCarty, UCSD’s Keith Poole, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on On gerrymandering and partisanship

Morrison speaks on the Grand Parkway

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Fort Bend County Commissioner Richard Morrison writes about the recently-greenlighted Grand Parkway Segment E and the possibility that stimulus funds could be used to fund what will become a toll road. If Segment E is funded from the stimulus money … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Is the TAKS test at the end of the line?

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

If so, there’s a lot of people who won’t be sorry to see it go. “We have counted on testing and testing only. And it’s caused a lot of angst in the schools,” Senate Public Education Chair Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

Metro approves contract with Parsons

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Good. The Metropolitan Transit Authority board of directors on Wednesday unanimously approved a $1.46 billion contract for four new light rail lines, which would add 20 miles to its lone seven-mile line along Main Street. Under the contract, which came … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 4 Comments

Driver!

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

I feel like I’ve read this story about part-time drivers for Sheriff Adrian Garcia and County Judge Ed Emmett before. It reminded me of this one about state Senate staffer salaries, and this one about City Council expenditures. In each … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Driver!