Daily Archives: January 13, 2009

Straus swears in and the Lege stands down

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Boy, if you’d told me a month ago that today’s opening ceremonies for the 81st Lege would be all about pomp and comity and no drama, I’d have requested a sample of whatever you were ingesting. Funny how things turn … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Straus swears in and the Lege stands down

Does it look like it’s raining to you?

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We have the bad budget news. We also have nine billion dollars in the rainy day fund. What are we going to do about it? [Comptroller Susan] Combs’ forecast was grimmer than anticipated by some leaders, noted House Appropriations Committee … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

We’ll have the Treasurer to kick around awhile longer

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. Harris County Treasurer Orlando Sanchez can breathe easy for at least two more years. After county leaders made abolishing his office a top priority going into the last legislative session, it’s not even on the county’s platform this time. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 3 Comments

National ban on phoning while driving urged

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was just a matter of time. A national safety group is advocating a total ban on cell phone use while driving, saying the practice is clearly dangerous and leads to fatalities. States should ban drivers from using … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

Supreme Court declines to hear TDP’s appeal in voting machine suit

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to revive the Texas Democratic Party’s lawsuit complaining that eSlate voting machines widely used in the state don’t properly record straight-party votes. The court declined without comment to hear the case. Democrats … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008, Legal matters | Comments Off on Supreme Court declines to hear TDP’s appeal in voting machine suit

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 12

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s 10 o’clock. Do you know where your Legislature is? If you do, you probably also know that the Texas Progressive Alliance does a weekly roundup of its blog highlights at about this time. Click on for more. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of January 12