Monthly Archives: August 2009

Kay’s announcement tour

Posted on August 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Get your tickets early for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s announcement tour of Texas. I’ll say again, I think her campaign ought to sell concert tour T-shirts, with dates and locations on the back. If they don’t, I think they will … Continue reading →

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Lone Star Project on Bohac

Posted on August 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, the Lone Star Project took a look at how now-reassigned Associate Voter Registrar Ed Johnson got his hands on drivers license data, which he and his business partner State Rep. Dwayne Bohac then used to sell campaign data … Continue reading →

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Terrible Yellow Eyes

Posted on August 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Please allow me to introduce you to Terrible Yellow Eyes. What I’ve wanted to do for sometime is make a collection of paintings inspired by Where the Wild Things Are as a tribute and celebration of the book. And now … Continue reading →

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Kirk Watson not running for Governor

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Phooey. There’s been a lot of speculation about my plans for the next election. Well, I’ve decided what I’m going to do, and I want to announce it to you all first. I will run for re-election to the Texas … Continue reading →

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At Large action

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve certainly got a fascinating Mayor’s race going on this year, with three viable candidates that can all plausibly claim a path to victory, but it seems to me that there’s a lot of interesting stuff happening in the At … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: A random respite

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, here’s a crazy idea: Why not set the ol’ iPod to Shuffle and list the first ten songs that come up? 1. Hey, Now – Oasis 2. Little By Little – Southside Johnny and the Jukes 3. Sweet Old … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Endorsement watch: Tejano Democrats

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, I know they endorsed Gene Locke for Mayor, because I received a press release to that effect last night, which is reproduced below. I also know that the Tejano Dems were going to endorse a full slate of candidates, … Continue reading →

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More legislative primaries

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Freshman State Rep. Tara Rios Ybarra, who knocked off veteran Rep. Juan Escobar in the 2008 Democratic primary, will have a primary opponent of her own. Kingsville businessman J.M. Lozano, aged 29, announced via a video on Facebook and You … Continue reading →

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You can pay me now, or you can pay me later

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Odds are, we’ll opt for later to deal with the large deficit we’re facing with the unemployment insurance trust fund. Texas’ jobless-benefits fund is empty, and the state will probably borrow $1.5 billion from the federal government to pay benefits … Continue reading →

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Interview with Robert Kane

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Moving to a new part of town, today’s interview subject is Robert Kane, who is running for City Council in District F. Kane is a relative newcomer to Houston, living here for four years after living in various parts of … Continue reading →

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Mayor White wants to consider term limits review

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor White wants to reconsider term limits. In a City Council meeting Wednesday, White said he is not advocating an end to the policy, but rather a commission that would study the possibility of changing or eliminating the rule. Voters … Continue reading →

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More on food stamps lawsuit

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron now has a story about the lawsuit that has been filed over Texas’ inability to process food stamp applications in the federally-required 30 day time period. There’s not much in the story that we don’t already know, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The gambling industry never sleeps

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I confess, I hadn’t realized the Chron had a Horse Racing Notebook column, but they do and this one wants to tell you just how awesome slot machines would be at the racetracks if only we’d let them have them. … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mayoral forum focusing on non-profits

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There are plenty of Mayoral forums going on. Here’s one that will cover some ground I haven’t seen trod before. Houston Area Table Mayoral Forum What role will non-profits and community based organizations play in the new mayor’s administration? Apearing … Continue reading →

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Kay to pre-announce

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The world’s longest game of “will she or won’t she” may finally be coming to an end. Sort of. The La Marque City Manager has confirmed Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison plans to officially jump into the Texas Governor’s race on … Continue reading →

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Interview with Alex Wathen

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Moving back to candidates for office, today I bring you a conversation with Alex Wathen, who is running in District A. Wathen is an attorney who has his own firm, where he specializes in bankruptcy law. He was the Republican … Continue reading →

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Outsourcing inmates

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We know Sheriff Adrian Garcia has a plan to fix problems with the Harris County jails. He’s been up front about what he wants to do, and he’s helped create the position of “jail czar”, who is tasked with finding … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cy-Fair parents want their school buses

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Parents in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District react with dismay to cutbacks in school bus service. “I implore you, please reconsider these routes,” said parent Rachel Gerhardt. “Some are hazardous. My main concern is that my child gets to and … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Metro meetings update

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Carolyn Feibel follows up on the matter of Metro not posting committee meeting notices online. To clarify one point: Metro board committees always meet right before the regular board meetings, on the same day. Those meeting times and agendas are … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: We take it back

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s something you don’t see every election. The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, which had previously endorsed City Council Member Jolanda Jones for re-election to her At Large #5 seat, has now rescinded that endorsement. You can read their letter … Continue reading →

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Here comes Addie

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Timing is everything in this life. [Former Houston City Council Member Addie] Wiseman tells me she is going to run a full and vigorous campaign to replace State Rep. Joe Crabb. Details are still being worked out, she didn’t have … Continue reading →

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Interview with Natasha Kamrani

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been busy interviewing candidates for various offices, but today I’m going to step away from that and interview a current officeholder who will not be on the ballot this November. I’m talking about Natasha Kamrani, who last week announced … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments

More names surfacing for statewide runs

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Via Greg, it appears that Smokey Joe Barton may want to party like it’s 1993. No one seems to be mentioning U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, as a candidate to replace outgoing Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. Turns out that … Continue reading →

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How to uncrowd the jails

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Defense attorney Rob Fickman makes the case for dealing with Harris County’s jail overcrowding problems. Jail overcrowding creates unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Locking up the wrong people does not leave sufficient room to lock up the right people, those who … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The new social studies curriculum, so far

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There’s no reason to believe that the lunatic fringe of the State Board of Education will do anything but push an unrealistic and ideological change to the state’s social studies curriculum. They’ve made that clear by the kind of “expert” … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of August 10

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Congress may be in recess, but the Texas Progressive Alliance is always in session. Click on for the weekly roundup of blog highlights.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Crabb not running for re-election

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Republican State Rep. Joe Crabb, whose district is HD127 up in Kingwood, is not running for re-election next year. The announcement came when he briefly spoke at the Crosby Alumni Association Reunion dinner. Crabb represents District 127 in the Texas … Continue reading →

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Lisa Gray on the closing of the Alabama Bookstop

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Gray writes about the impending closing of the Alabama Bookstop, to be followed by the opening of the new Barnes & Noble and the rest of the remade River Oaks Shopping Center, and what it means for the Bookstop’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Stenholm speaks

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a really interesting interview with former Rep. Charlie Stenholm, who represented the Abilene-centered 17th District until it was redistricted into what is now the Lubbock-centered 19th in 2003. Stenholm was a founder of the Blue Dogs, and while there … Continue reading →

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Interview with Herman Litt

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

My next interview subject is Herman Litt, who is running for At Large #1. Litt is a rehabilitation counselor and hospital administrator who was elected to the HCC Board of Trustees in 1999 and served for awhile as its Chair. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Peter Brown’s traffic plan

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today I want to take a closer look at Peter Brown’s traffic plan, the highlights of which you can see here, with the longer and more detail-filled form here (PDF). My thoughts: – As with Annise Parker’s crimefighting plan, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

State Supreme Court Justice Harriet O’Neill not running for re-election

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Trail Blazers reports that State Supreme Court Justice Harriet O’Neill will not run for re-election in 2010. They have a statement from her, which I’ve placed beneath the fold. Two things to note about this: One, as she did not … Continue reading →

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Burka on the politics of unemployment insurance

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Burka takes a look at how Rick Perry’s rejection of the stimulus funds for unemployment insurance might play out in his eventual battle with Kay Bailey Hutchison for the GOP nomination for Governor. Be sure to also read this comment … Continue reading →

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

How you gonna pay for those new cops?

Posted on August 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron asks a reasonable question about the promises being made by the Mayoral candidates to hire more police officers. The deep fiscal slowdown facing the city will make it difficult to fund more police academy classes, a factor that … Continue reading →

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