Monthly Archives: September 2012

Making the case for the HISD bonds

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Bobby and Phoebe Tudor, the chairs of the Citizens for Better Schools campaign, lay out their case for the HISD bond referendum in this Chron op-ed. Study after study has shown that children have more difficulty learning in inadequate school … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

We’re not number one!

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations, Harris County, for not having the highest rate of uninsured residents in the country any more. An estimated 29.9 percent of Harris County residents lacked health insurance in 2010, according to the new U.S. Census Bureau data, a smaller … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ashby everywhere

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Nancy Sarnoff notes a trend. Homeowners in the Memorial area held a meeting last month in the lobby of a nearby medical office building to discuss what to do about a large apartment complex being planned in their neighborhood. They … Continue reading →

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Interview with John Courage

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

If you’re following the State Senate elections, there’s probably only one you’re paying attention to now that the primaries are over, and that’s Sen. Wendy Davis’ re-election battle in SD10. As important as that race is for many reasons, I … Continue reading →

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Testifying about the Women’s Health Program

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

More hearings like this, please. The Texas Department of State Health Services got an earful today from lawmakers and women’s health advocates at a public meeting in Austin to discuss proposed rules for the Texas Women’s Health Program — specifically, … Continue reading →

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Waiting for an investment

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Some day, the national Democratic Party will make an investment in Texas rather than just use us as a glorified ATM. Just don’t ask me when that day will be. Texans have become accustomed to occupying the nosebleed seats at … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of September 3

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance has its eyes on Charlotte as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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On turnout and 2012

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The watchword you have been hearing and will be hearing about this November’s election is “turnout”, specifically whether Team Obama can match or at least approach the success it had in turning out minority and younger voters. Here at home … Continue reading →

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Sadler’s challenge

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Democratic Senate hopeful Paul Sadler is a strong candidate with limited resources. Where have I heard that before? In Victoria on a recent Saturday afternoon, the candidate for the U.S. Senate had the crowd on its feet, the shouts and … Continue reading →

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This is what a government takeover of health care looks like

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s happening right here in Texas. Texas officials express confidence that thousands of low-income women will be able to find new providers should Planned Parenthood be excluded from the state’s Women’s Health Program, but Xelena Gonzalez does not think woman … Continue reading →

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Bring the USWNT to Houston

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’m in. If you love the beautiful game, you should want to help Jen Cooper. Cooper has been on a crusade for women’s soccer in Houston for almost two decades. She’s on a mission again. Cooper is one of the … Continue reading →

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Interview with Tawana Cadien

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

CD10 remains the strange barbell-like district that stretches from Austin to Houston that it has been since the DeLay re-redistricting of 2003; it was part of the Republicans’ previous failed strategy of defenestrating Rep. Lloyd Doggett. Originally seen as too … Continue reading →

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The state of Texas has already proven the case for the Voting Rights Act

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

So as you know, the state of Texas had its rear end handed to it in both the redistricting and voter ID preclearance lawsuits. Both of these rulings will be appealed to the Supreme Court, with the ultimate goal being … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Who gets to rule on Oliver’s eligibility for the ballot?

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We’re waiting for a ruling in the Lloyd Oliver lawsuit, but before we get a ruling in the case we must first get a ruling on who gets to rule in the lawsuit. Tuesday’s federal court hearing centered largely on … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For HCC bonds

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, the Chron has decided to get into the endorsement business early this year, certainly earlier than I’d have expected them to get into it, as they come out in favor of the HCC bond referendum. “We can either train … Continue reading →

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AG shuts down bogus charity museum

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s an extremely rare privilege to point out something of actual positive value done by our Attorney General. The doors will finally close on the Texas Highway Patrol Museum in San Antonio, a charity that raised millions of dollars under … Continue reading →

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More porkchopping, please

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, shooting feral hogs from a helicopter isn’t as popular a pastime as you might think. “Number one, the cost is kind of limiting,” said Steve Lightfoot, a spokesman for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, explaining that interest has … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 2

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

First three-day weekend of the school year. Don’t get too used to it. Brush your teeth. Your mother knew what she was talking about. Being not so tall does have its advantages sometimes. Gold standard advocacy is an example of … Continue reading →

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No changes to interim maps

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I noted this Friday afternoon, but in case you missed it the San Antonio court has ruled that the interim maps will be used as is for the November election. Texas will use its current district maps for the upcoming … Continue reading →

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On locking up prostitutes

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It doesn’t make much sense. Busted 32 times in 17 years for prostitution in Austin and other places, Beatryce Hall’s rap sheet reads like a frequent-flier ticket for Texas prisons: 11 times in 11 years. Many of those trips were … Continue reading →

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Somebody else’s red light camera problems

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Sugar Land: A Fort Bend County activist wants to pull the plug on Sugar Land’s red-light cameras, but city officials aren’t about to budge on their plans to ticket motorists caught on camera running red lights. H.F. Van Der Grinten, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Fort Bend Brewing

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Microbreweries sure are a growth industry around here. Chris Leonard came to Houston and was struck by the similarity with his hometown of Philadelphia. It was enough to convince him to move to Missouri City from the City of Brotherly … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Song #53 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On”, originally by Cherelle and covered by Robert Palmer. Here’s the original: Yet another “song I didn’t know was a cover” song. Very 80s, … Continue reading →

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Harris County probation director resigns

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Some fairly big news that has nothing to do with hurricanes, the GOP convention, or the Voting Rights Act. Paul Becker, the director of Harris County’s probation department, resigned Wednesday in the wake of allegations the department mismanaged thousands of … Continue reading →

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Cutting spending is always good for job creation

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It must be true. A study by the University of Texas at San Antonio estimated that 20 counties in the Eagle Ford Shale supported 47,097 full-time jobs in 2011, a number that’s expected to grow to 116,972 full-time jobs by … Continue reading →

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NFL will go with replacement refs in Week 1

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Bad idea. NFL officials have been locked out since early June. In a memo sent to teams, obtained by USA TODAY Sports, NFL executive vice president Ray Anderson told clubs talks remained deadlocked, with the league remaining in contact with … Continue reading →

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