Monthly Archives: February 2009

Keller gets an extension

News item: Sharon Keller, presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, now has until March 24 to answer charges that she violated her judicial duties by declining to accept an after-hours appeal from a death row inmate in … Continue reading

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Keller gets an extension

News item: Sharon Keller, presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, now has until March 24 to answer charges that she violated her judicial duties by declining to accept an after-hours appeal from a death row inmate in … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Keller gets an extension

Bills about cellphones and driving

Lots of action in the cellphones and driving front for the Lege this session. In 2007, a proposed law [to restrict cellphone usage while driving] never got beyond a legislative committee. Four months later, a Houston motorist talking on a … Continue reading

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Bills about cellphones and driving

Lots of action in the cellphones and driving front for the Lege this session. In 2007, a proposed law [to restrict cellphone usage while driving] never got beyond a legislative committee. Four months later, a Houston motorist talking on a … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

The primaries matter, too

A whole lot of people voted for the first time last November, and a whole lot of people voted in the March primaries, too. But some number of the former were ineligible for the latter because they turned 18 between … Continue reading

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The primaries matter, too

A whole lot of people voted for the first time last November, and a whole lot of people voted in the March primaries, too. But some number of the former were ineligible for the latter because they turned 18 between … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on The primaries matter, too

More SJL rumors

Marc Campos stirs the pot. Commentary votes in the 18th Congressional District so I kind of think I know what I’m talking about when I say that I don’t know if Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s reelection in 2010 would be … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2010, Local politics | 1 Comment

More SJL rumors

Marc Campos stirs the pot. Commentary votes in the 18th Congressional District so I kind of think I know what I’m talking about when I say that I don’t know if Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s reelection in 2010 would be … Continue reading

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KBH leads Perry in early poll

Last week, the polling firm Public Policy Polling asked the readers of its blog which state they should do next. The readers, with a little help from us bloggers, picked Texas. PPP has the results of its first poll up … Continue reading

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KBH leads Perry in early poll

Last week, the polling firm Public Policy Polling asked the readers of its blog which state they should do next. The readers, with a little help from us bloggers, picked Texas. PPP has the results of its first poll up … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2010 | Comments Off on KBH leads Perry in early poll

Interview with Vidal Martinez and John Castillo

As you know, I’ve been following the issue of Houston City Council redistricting with a lot of interest. After the lawsuit was filed a week ago Thursday, I wanted to speak to the protagonists and ask them some questions about … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Interview with Vidal Martinez and John Castillo

As you know, I’ve been following the issue of Houston City Council redistricting with a lot of interest. After the lawsuit was filed a week ago Thursday, I wanted to speak to the protagonists and ask them some questions about … Continue reading

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Gambling poll

Got a press release in the mail on Monday that claims there is broad support for expanded gambling in Texas – in particular, allowing slot machines at existing race tracks and on Indian reservations. I’ll point you to Texas Insider … Continue reading

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Gambling poll

Got a press release in the mail on Monday that claims there is broad support for expanded gambling in Texas – in particular, allowing slot machines at existing race tracks and on Indian reservations. I’ll point you to Texas Insider … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Sixty-five percent of nothing

So back in 2005, after the regular legislative session and two ensuing special sessions on school finance, Governor Perry issued an executive order that would require schools to spend at least 65 percent of their tax money in the classroom. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Sixty-five percent of nothing

So back in 2005, after the regular legislative session and two ensuing special sessions on school finance, Governor Perry issued an executive order that would require schools to spend at least 65 percent of their tax money in the classroom. … Continue reading

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Texas blog roundup for the week of February 23

The Academy would like to thank the Texas Progressive Alliance for its weekly blog roundup. The envelope, please…

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Texas blog roundup for the week of February 23

The Academy would like to thank the Texas Progressive Alliance for its weekly blog roundup. The envelope, please… Continue reading

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Council campaign miscellania

Just some notes and news about various Council campaign activities, collected and collated into one convenient location for you… Karen Derr will have an “old fashioned patriotic grand opening” of her campaign headquarters, which happens to be her house in … Continue reading

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Son of Speaker complaining

So yes, even in the post-Craddick era, there are still complaints about the Speaker by Democrats. Some of this is to be expected: You can’t satisfy everyone. Some of it is probably the result of over-inflated expectations. And some of … Continue reading

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Council campaign miscellania

Just some notes and news about various Council campaign activities, collected and collated into one convenient location for you… Karen Derr will have an “old fashioned patriotic grand opening” of her campaign headquarters, which happens to be her house in … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2009 | 1 Comment

Son of Speaker complaining

So yes, even in the post-Craddick era, there are still complaints about the Speaker by Democrats. Some of this is to be expected: You can’t satisfy everyone. Some of it is probably the result of over-inflated expectations. And some of … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Son of Speaker complaining

ULI Mayoral candidate forum report

As I am not a member of the Urban Land Institute of Houston, I did not get an invitation to their members-only Mayoral candidate forum on Thursday, which got a brief mention in the Chron on Friday. Fortunately, Andrew Burleson … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2009 | 1 Comment

ULI Mayoral candidate forum report

As I am not a member of the Urban Land Institute of Houston, I did not get an invitation to their members-only Mayoral candidate forum on Thursday, which got a brief mention in the Chron on Friday. Fortunately, Andrew Burleson … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ULI Mayoral candidate forum report

Hey, you – wanna run for judge?

The following is an announcement from the Harris County Democratic Party. The Judicial Candidates Committee of the Harris County Democratic Party will begin interviewing prospective candidates for judicial office for the 2010 General Election on March 2. Interviews will be … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2010 | 2 Comments

Hey, you – wanna run for judge?

The following is an announcement from the Harris County Democratic Party. The Judicial Candidates Committee of the Harris County Democratic Party will begin interviewing prospective candidates for judicial office for the 2010 General Election on March 2. Interviews will be … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Hey, you – wanna run for judge?

Green to announce for City Controller

I think everybody knew that term-limited City Council Member Ronald Green, who currently serves on At Large #4, was planning to run for the to-be-open position of City Controller. But if you didn’t, or if you were wondering what was … Continue reading Continue reading

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Green to announce for City Controller

I think everybody knew that term-limited City Council Member Ron Green, who currently serves on At Large #4, was planning to run for the to-be-open position of City Controller. But if you didn’t, or if you were wondering what was … Continue reading

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Steroid madness

Can we please declare victory in the war on steroids in Texas high schools and move on to something more productive? Only 11 Texas high school students proved positive for steroid use among nearly 29,000 students tested in the last … Continue reading

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Steroid madness

Can we please declare victory in the war on steroids in Texas high schools and move on to something more productive? Only 11 Texas high school students proved positive for steroid use among nearly 29,000 students tested in the last … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Ellis and Crownover on the smoking ban

State Sen. Rodney Ellis and State Rep. Myra Crownover have an op-ed arguing in favor of the statewide smoking ban legislation they’re sponsoring. I don’t know how persuasive their case may be to anyone who isn’t already in favor of … Continue reading

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Ellis and Crownover on the smoking ban

State Sen. Rodney Ellis and State Rep. Myra Crownover have an op-ed arguing in favor of the statewide smoking ban legislation they’re sponsoring. I don’t know how persuasive their case may be to anyone who isn’t already in favor of … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Weekend link dump for February 22

It’s the birthday edition link dump. Because the older you get, the longer your birthday lasts. If only Lois Lane had had access to facial recognition software. The Ridiculous Food Society of Upstate New York. They seem to like bacon. … Continue reading Continue reading

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Weekend link dump for February 22

It’s the birthday edition link dump. Because the older you get, the longer your birthday lasts. If only Lois Lane had had access to facial recognition software. The Ridiculous Food Society of Upstate New York. They seem to like bacon. … Continue reading

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for February 22