Monthly Archives: May 2009

Don’t sell that beer just yet in Lubbock

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s always something. It will be eight weeks or more before shoppers see beer and wine in grocers’ coolers as stores line up to receive state alcohol permits. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission will issue permits to sell alcohol throughout … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Don’t sell that beer just yet in Lubbock

Cohen pulls strip club bill

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The battle of the strip club bills is over, as Rep. Ellen Cohen has pulled her bill, thus killing it for the session. She said “it was clear there was an attempt to find a point of order” — a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Microbrewery bill dead

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

sigh Not unexpected, but still a disappointment. HB 2094, state Rep. Jessica Farrar’s longshot bid to help small brewers by letting them provide a small amount of beer on premises, directly to consumers, is dead for this legislative session. “We … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Microbrewery bill dead

Roy’s self-inflation

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is not the kind of story candidates like to see written about themselves. Houston mayoral candidate Roy Morales told a group of voters in March, “I manage the Head Start program.” The claim by the retired Air Force lieutenant … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Cornyn clueless about KBH

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Like everybody else, Sen. John Cornyn has no idea what his senior colleague in the Senate is going to do. And also like the rest of us, or at least us bloggers, he’s willing to speculate wildly about it in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mayor White’s final budget

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here you go. Faced with a dour economic climate, Mayor Bill White unveiled a $4 billion budget proposal on Tuesday that keeps the property tax rate the same and holds spending at what it was the current fiscal year. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

High school registrars

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We know that the Republicans like voter ID. We shouldn’t be too surprised that they don’t much like voter registration. [The House] barely passed a bill Monday night that would allow high school principals to appoint four deputy registrars to … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Auditor’s report on TYC

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Grits has a link to the State Auditor’s followup report on the Texas Youth Commission, which you can download here (PDF). In short: They’ve made progress, but they’ve still got some things to work out. Which may or may not … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Auditor’s report on TYC

Senate rejects Shanda Perkins

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The nomination of Shanda Perkins, the unqualified anti-sex toy activist best known for her war on dildos, for the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, was rejected today by the Senate. After a brief debate, the GOP-controlled Senate by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Senate rejects Shanda Perkins

Why words matter

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

On Sunday, I mentioned HB1323, the anti-bullying bill that Equality Texas helped to draft. It was originally scheduled to be on the House calendar on Monday; it’s on today’s calendar now, but nothing is carved in stone these days. Anyway, … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why words matter

We need more early voting locations

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Greg made an observation about the District H result that I’d like to explore a bit. Yolanda’s early numbers were a little surprising as it would have meant a runoff between her and Ed if those numbers held. But even … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

We need more early voting locations

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Greg made an observation about the District H result that I’d like to explore a bit. Yolanda’s early numbers were a little surprising as it would have meant a runoff between her and Ed if those numbers held. But even … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Rep. Kuempel collapses at Capitol

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Scary. The Texas House adjourned abruptly tonight after state Rep. Edmund Kuempel, R-Seguin, was found collapsed in a Capitol elevator. A House sergeant-at-arms, Jennifer Irby, said she had found Kuempel, 66, in an elevator about 10:30 p.m. Rep. John Zerwas, … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

More on the House attempt to kill red light cameras

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Grits notes with some pleasure a couple of amendments in HB300, the massive TxDOT sunset bill that passed yesterday, which would limit and ultimately end cities’ use of red light cameras. While I’ve never understood the fear and loathing these … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More on the House attempt to kill red light cameras

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Grits notes with some pleasure a couple of amendments in HB300, the massive TxDOT sunset bill that passed yesterday, which would limit and ultimately end cities’ use of red light cameras. While I’ve never understood the fear and loathing these … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

More on the House attempt to kill red light cameras

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Grits notes with some pleasure a couple of amendments in HB300, the massive TxDOT sunset bill that passed yesterday, which would limit and ultimately end cities’ use of red light cameras. While I’ve never understood the fear and loathing these … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the House attempt to kill red light cameras

More on Metro’s costs

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The West U Examiner ran a similar story to the one about Metro’s costs and critics last week, in which the same questions about the cost estimates were raised by the same critic. The basic points are identical, so there’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on Metro’s costs

Ike, Ike, baby

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know why I hadn’t seen this story coming. In retrospect, it seems so obvious. Doctors who work in Houston’s busiest maternity ward say they’re expecting an especially bustling June, leading some to conclude that Hurricane Ike was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Tuesday Lege roundup

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Some more notes about what has been happening in the Lege… – It looks like the program to test high school athletes for steroids will be scaled back. Texas lawmakers have reached a deal to slash steroid testing of public … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

School finance bill advances

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Has there ever been a legislative session that didn’t deal with school finance? This Lege is dealing with it as well, and the good news is they may have made some actual progress. Texas teachers would get an $800-a-year raise … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

There is now beer in Lubbock

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Someone pour me a cold one! Lubbock County voters overwhelmingly approved two ballot propositions expanding alcohol sales in the county during a countywide election that ended Saturday. Proposition 1, which expands packaged alcohol sales in the county, passed by a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Die, car warranty phone spammers! Die, die, die!

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

OK, maybe that’s a tad bit harsh, but if this leads somewhere I do hope that public execution will be on the table. Unsolicited calls to home and cell phones warning of a final notice and an expiring vehicle warranty … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

HPOU wants to get into the immigration business

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I really don’t know why it is that the Houston Police Officers Union has decided it wants HPD to be different from every other urban police force in the state and start questioning residents about their immigration status. The reasons … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on HPOU wants to get into the immigration business

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 11

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance brings you yet another 100% performance enhancing drug-free weekly blog roundup. Click on for the highlights.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of May 11

Paying for rape kits

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I missed this last week, and reading it now I’m one part outraged and one part puzzled. Victims of sexual assault are getting bills, rejection letters and pushy calls from bill collectors while a state crime victims’ fund sits full … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Monday Lege roundup

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of legislative action today beyond the voter ID vaudeville act. Here’s a quick roundup of some other bills of interest. – HB1736, also known as the Tim Cole Act for the man who was posthumously exonerated this February, has … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Lege roundup

Voter ID passes out of House committee

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The session that’s been all about voter ID is finally headed into its final act as SB362 gets approval from the House Elections Committee on a 5-4 vote. It wasn’t actually a straight-party vote – Rep. Joe Heflin, who had … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Voter ID passes out of House committee

Happy Ardmore Day

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Rep. Pena remembers the day six years ago when the House Democrats took a stand against the DeLay/Craddick/Perry re-redistricting scheme. Though they were only able to delay the inevitable, the effort marked the beginning of the resurgence of the Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Ardmore Day

Challenging Chet

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Via Eye on Williamson, I see the national GOP is once again looking to try to beat Rep. Chet Edwards in CD17. There’s little question Republicans are looking to target Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas), who could face yet another tough … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | 1 Comment

Challenging Chet

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Via Eye on Williamson, I see the national GOP is once again looking to try to beat Rep. Chet Edwards in CD17. There’s little question Republicans are looking to target Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas), who could face yet another tough … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Challenging Chet

Safe Passing Act moving forward

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has an overview of the Safe Passing Act. Cyclists always worry about close calls with motorists. That’s why many are paying attention to legislation making headway with Texas lawmakers this spring aiming to make drivers more responsible for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Faking it convincingly

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I totally relate to this. For classical-music fans, nothing ruins a good story about a violist beating the odds, or love in the woodwind section, quicker than musical fouls. So the moment in The Soloist when Jamie Foxx picks up … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Faking it convincingly

Weekend link dump for May 10

Posted on May 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

M is for the many links she brought me… I know we’ve never gotten those flying cars that were promised us. But I could settle for an invisible car. Wanna buy the original recipe for Dr Pepper? Leave Janet Jackson’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for May 10

Metro’s costs and critics

Posted on May 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I have two things to say about this story regarding different cost estimates for the construction of the four remaining light rail lines. The price tag for the city’s four new light rail lines will be: A) $1.46 billion; B) … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Metro’s costs and critics