Monthly Archives: March 2009

Candidate interview: Gonzalo Camacho

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing on with the District H candidate interview series, we come now to Gonzalo Camacho, who is a transportation/traffic engineer and planner, probably best known for his concept of the I-45 Parkway, a combination tunnel/limited access thoroughfare as a replacement … Continue reading →

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The “strengths and weaknesses” showdown

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in January, the State Board of Education somewhat surprisingly voted to remove anti-science “strengths and weaknesses” language from the curriculum. That was only a preliminary vote, however, and today is the day that the hearings begin for the final … Continue reading →

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Voter ID coming to the House

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, that didn’t take long. Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless, chair of the House Elections Committee, announced today his committee will devote two days of hearings to voter ID on April 6 and 7. The first day will be devoted to … Continue reading →

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Good times and bad for museums

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Nice to hear that a couple of local museums are thriving in these hard times. Sadly, they’re very much the exception. On the heels of the March 14 opening of a seven-gallery addition to its Hermann Park-area building, the [Children’s … Continue reading →

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Dynamo Stadium funding almost secured

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Another step forward for Dynamo Stadium. Dynamo ownership has all but secured all of the financing needed for the construction of an $80-million soccer stadium just east of downtown and plans to break ground on the project as early as … Continue reading →

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How much money would expanded gambling generate?

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Throughout this session, every time the subject of expanded gambling in Texas comes up, along with it comes some kind of projection of how much revenue it might generate. Those estimates always come from the proponent of that form of … Continue reading →

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If UTMB, why not Shriners?

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The recent news that the UTMB Hospital will remain in Galveston and is now rehiring laid off workers was great to hear not just for Galveston but for the larger region, which really needed the facilities. Now that this one … Continue reading →

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We want more regulation!

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here are some words I never thought I’d hear in Texas, at least while the current regime is in charge. Texas regulatory agencies could get as much as $41.2 million more over the next two years to better do their … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of March 23

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We are officially into spring, and we’re halfway through the 81st Legislative session. With those two happy thoughts, here’s this week’s Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup. Click on for the highlights.

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Let the results speak for themselves

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Seems to me there’s an easy and straightforward way to resolve the debate that Burka and the Texas Politics Project are having over the efficacy of the latter’s Internet-based polling: Why don’t we compare the results they get to what … Continue reading →

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Meet Tom Schieffer

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Real good interview by BOR’s Todd Hill with prospective Democratic candidate for Governor Tom Schieffer. I’ve said before that while I’m glad to see a Democrat with some stature take steps towards the Governor’s race, Schieffer is a big unknown … Continue reading →

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Candidate interview: Lupe Garcia

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in the District H interview series is Lupe Garcia, who is a small business owner and a resident of the Heights, where he grew up and where his mom still lives. My conversation with him is here. As … Continue reading →

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Time to throw out the first attack mailer of the season

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So we got a weird little piece of mail Saturday. Addressed to both of us, in a plain envelope with no return address was a one-page letter that attacked Carl Whitmarsh, best know for his prodigious Democratic email list, and … Continue reading →

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Missing deadlines in capital cases

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Reading about death row inmates who lost federal appeals because their attorneys missed a filing deadline makes me angry. The Houston Chronicle reviewed records in nine appeals that were filed too late. In some cases, lawyers or judges appear to … Continue reading →

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“Gone With the Big Wind”

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s still another month till the anniversary, but the people of Wichita Falls are remembering the massive tornado that nearly destroyed their town thirty years ago. It was April 10, 1979, that Mother Nature grew furious. It was when three … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for March 22

Posted on March 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

A family friend once played the word “equinox” in a Scrabble game against me. On a triple-word score square, too. Needless to say, he kicked my butt in that game. You know, for shaving. Of course Dick Cheney loves Rush … Continue reading →

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Property values declining

Posted on March 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. The housing slump that has battered much of the country for two years finally has trickled down to Harris County, where residential property values have declined or stagnated for the first time … Continue reading →

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“What’s Medicaid?”

Posted on March 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This isn’t too much to ask, is it? Give State Rep. Gary Elkins some credit for being honest. At a hearing [Thursday] of the House Committee on Human Services, Elkins and other members of the panel considered more than two … Continue reading →

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Algae in our future

Posted on March 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is cool. When San Antonio researcher Kyle Murray peers into the future, he sees the land of black gold turning bright green. Algae green. Murray, an assistant professor of geology at the University of Texas at San Antonio, thinks … Continue reading →

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Not everybody isn’t hiring

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The downturn in the economy has created an opportunity for the Houston Police Department to bolster its ranks. A year ago, the Houston Police Department could barely muster enough recruits to fill a 70-seat academy class. Now with 1,000 applicants … Continue reading →

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We keep on growing

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t know how much longer we can or will keep this up, but the Houston metropolitan area just keeps growing like gangbusters. The Houston metropolitan area added more than 130,000 residents between July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2008, the … Continue reading →

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Bruno and Dr. No

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Um, wow. Presidential candidates will do almost anything for publicity. But Ron Paul’s appearance in Sacha Baron Cohen’s upcoming Bruno movie suggests he draws the line at making sex tapes with gay Austrian TV hosts. In a five-minute scene, comedian … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Life is skittles and life is beer

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

You know what’s one reason why I love the onset of Daylight Savings Time? It means that spring is right around the corner. And what do you know, here we are on the first day of the spring season. So … Continue reading →

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Coleman pushing for CHIP restoration

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Way back in those crazy, innocent days right after Joe Straus was elected Speaker, some of us had the silly idea that this might portend better legislation making it through the House. You know, serious policy stuff that actually benefits … Continue reading →

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Shorter to challenge Lovell

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Isiah Carey reports. The Insite had a brief conversation with Houstonian Rozzy ‘Roz’ Shorter. She’s not quite given up on her political career. You may remember Shorter as the local woman chosen by the Barack Obama camp to get the … Continue reading →

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That other budget

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve spent a lot of time lately talking about the state budget – more than the Lege has spent, I daresay – but while this is happening there’s also the federal budget, the first one President Obama has proposed, to … Continue reading →

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Operation Border Star

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

During the 2007 legislative session, $110 million was appropriated at Governor Perry’s urging for border law enforcement agencies to combat drug smuggling and gang activity. How’s that working out? The state’s $110 million Border Star program, designed to help local … Continue reading →

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Stimulus? What stimulus?

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m basically agnostic about the plan to convert HOV lanes to HOV-plus-toll lanes that Metro is floating. Like Christof, who was quoted in the story, I don’t think it will make that much difference in terms of actual traffic flow, … Continue reading →

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More on the AG and the LRB

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, in the aftermath of the Senate pajama party on voter ID last week, State Rep. Mark Homer touted HJR 53, which he had filed earlier in the session, which would replace the Attorney General on the Legislative … Continue reading →

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UTMB rehiring

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is good news, though it does make you wonder what the point of all the initial layoffs was. The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, which laid off more than 2,400 employees last fall because of damage caused … Continue reading →

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Blue laws

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ever wanted to buy some booze on a Sunday? Maybe soon you’ll be able to. Most Texans are familiar with the Blue Laws. Put into effect decades ago, they prevent the sale of hard liquor on Sundays, among other things. … Continue reading →

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The best news I’ve heard all session

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Pink Dome is back! Hot diggity dog!

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Senate OKs needle exchange

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, the Senate did manage to do one good thing today. By a 23-7 vote — not enough for immediate final passage to the Texas House — senators approved Senate Bill 188 that will allow local health departments to begin … Continue reading →

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Red, white, blue, and hopefully back

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m glad to see that the KUHT political program The Connection: Red, White, and Blue is on its way back to the airwaves after an unplanned hiatus followed by a bit of a kerfuffle. It fills a very useful niche … Continue reading →

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