Monthly Archives: April 2013

It’s still OK to be gay at Texas A&M

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It was touch and go for awhile there. Here’s the Dallas Voice from Friday: Texas A&M Student Body President John L. Claybrook has vetoed an anti-gay bill passed by the Student Senate on Wednesday that would have allowed students to opt out … Continue reading →

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

Developer impact fee approved by Council

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I did not know that this hadn’t been done yet. Developers will join property owners in paying drainage fees following City Council’s approval Wednesday. The developer impact fee was included in the voter-approved 2010 city charter amendment now known as … Continue reading →

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Their charter school legislation and ours

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

How much of this sounds familiar to you? Charter schools would be given free rein if a proposal from Republicans in North Carolina’s state Senate is passed. Under the plan, oversight of charters would be taken from the state’s board … Continue reading →

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The federal option for gambling expansion in Texas

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There is a way to expand gambling in Texas without going through the Legislature. For decades the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe fought hard to make the federal government acknowledge that it illegally developed more than 5 million acres of the tribe’s aboriginal … Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Saturday video break: I Will Always Love You

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Song #24 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “I Will Always Love You”, originally by Dolly Parton and covered by Whitney Houston. Here’s Dolly: Yes, I continue to have a soft spot for the movie version of “The … Continue reading →

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The Hall calls for Guy Lewis

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Long overdue. Former University of Houston coach Guy V. Lewis, who won nearly 600 games, was the architect of the high-flying, rim-rattling Phi Slama Jama dynasty of the 1980s and helped integrate college basketball in the South, will be inducted … Continue reading →

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It’s going to be a good year for the tax assessor

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

That should make it a good year for the entities that depend on property tax revenues, as Loren Steffy notes. When Williams Tower sold for $412 million recently, the new owners may have expected a break on property taxes. After … Continue reading →

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A constituent’s letter to Rep. Reynolds

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I was forwarded the following email to Rep. Ron Reynolds: Dear Representative Reynolds, I wanted to believe you when I voted for you in 2010 despite knowing that you had been sanctioned twice by the State Bar, and subsequently had … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Clean Water Forum

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

If you’re not at the Battleground Texas meeting today, Environment Texas has a fine thing to do instead: Houston Clean Water Forum on Saturday, April 6th at 3:00 PM As part of a Clean Water Forum sponsored by Environment Texas, … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Fifty states of random, part 3

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Our tour of the musical United States comes to an end this week. 1. Nebraska – Bruce Springsteen 2. Mimosas In Missouri – Eddie From Ohio 3. Mississippi Delta Blues – Elena James 4. Pennsylvania Six-Five Thousand – Glenn Miller … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

House debates its budget

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, yesterday was Budgetpalooza in the House. The House budget puts more money into public education and less into health and human services than a Senate proposal that passed the upper chamber last month. “No one is or … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

There’s no such thing as a free road

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I have an issue with this. Texas’ boom of toll roads has made the “free” part of freeway mean something different lately. As toll lanes become the preferred choice for adding capacity to Texas roads, a growing number of state … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Houston may ban texting while driving

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This will likely come before City Council later this year. Houston will consider an ordinance banning texting while driving if the Legislature again fails to enact a statewide ban, Mayor Annise Parker said Tuesday. Parker, flanked by 30 people ranging … Continue reading →

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Ashby Highrise gets its permit

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not, here it comes. The city of Houston [last] week granted full permitting approval for the 21-story apartment building planned near Rice University at 1717 Bissonnet and Ashby. An existing apartment complex at the site is now vacant … Continue reading →

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

An early look at At Large #3

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A little while back, Campos listed all of the people who had filed designations of treasurer for city office, which is the step you need to take before you can raise any money for a campaign. As expected, the field … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Williams’ “Medicaid” plan

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’m really not sure what to make of this. State Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, is crafting a Medicaid reform plan that would use premium tax revenue to subsidize private health plans for uninsured Texans, his office confirmed on Tuesday … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New bike share kiosks now open

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Woo hoo! Organizers of Houston’s bike-sharing program are excited about an increase in use of the community bicycles since 18 new kiosks around downtown and Midtown opened. After slow-going last year for the B-Cycle program, use of the bikes increased … Continue reading →

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Somewhat improved payday lending bill passes Senate committee

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I still don’t think it’s good enough. Breathing new life into a proposal that was doomed by the opposition of consumer groups only last week, a Texas Senate committee approved strengthened legislation Tuesday that imposes restrictions on the payday loan … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of April 1

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance believes strongly in marriage equality as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Davis says she’s not running for Governor next year

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

So much for that. State Sen. Wendy Davis, who has emerged as one of the most visible Democrats in the Capitol this session, says she has no plans to run for governor in 2014, but will seek another term representing … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

School stuff

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Just a basic roundup of education-related stories, since there’s so much going on. From the Trib, action in the House on testing in grade school. Elementary and middle school students currently take a total of 17 state exams before high … Continue reading →

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

The day pass is back

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From Metro: The METRO Board of Directors [Thursday] took the first step to bring back the “day pass.” The Board voted to commit $175,000 to adapt METRO’s Q Card system so a $3.00 extended “day pass” feature can be accommodated … Continue reading →

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

The Chron would like someone to do something about the Dome

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Something other than turning it into a parking lot, please. Whatever we do with the former Astrodome location should bolster Reliant Stadium’s capability to host events and make the overall complex a more attractive location during bidding processes. For inspiration, … Continue reading →

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From the “Turning out more Democratic voters will mean more Democratic votes” department

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I think that’s a fair way of characterizing this Texas on the Potomac post. Last November, the Houston Chronicle completed a database analysis of the changing population patterns of the state and the changing voting proclivities of key demographic blocs. … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Yes, Rick Perry still hates Medicaid

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We’re not surprised by this, right? The Texas rhetoric around a key facet of federal health reform — whether the state will expand subsidized insurance to its poorest adults — reached the high water mark on Monday, with back-to-back press … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

TEA drops the hammer on North Forest again

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty much as expected. North Forest ISD announced Monday that the Texas Education Agency had upheld the decision to close the school district and annex it to Houston ISD this summer. The ruling, however, does not end the school district’s … Continue reading →

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Maybe there are fewer people who want to drive 85 than we thought

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. The privately operated section of the Texas 130 tollway south of Mustang Ridge is attracting about half the predicted traffic, according to Moody’s Investor Service, prompting it to investigate downgrading credit ratings for more than $1.1 billion in debt … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

RIP, Jack Pardee

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A sad day for Houston sports. Jack Pardee, a legend of Texas football from the six-man playing fields of Christoval to the barren wasteland of Junction to the Astrodome in Houston, has died of cancer, his family disclosed today. Pardee, … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Getting on the same page on marriage equality

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Harold Cook asks a darned good question. As SCOTUS hears arguments on marriage equality this week, it reminds me of when the Texas Legislature voted for the state constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage in Texas eight years ago. Texas voters … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The limits of the Arkansas option

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve mentioned the Arkansas option for expanding Medicaid several times, under which the state uses Medicaid money to buy private health insurance for those who would be eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. It’s not my preferred solution, … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Payday lending legislation may go nowhere

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t say I’m surprised, since Sen. John Carona’s most recent version of a payday reform bill was not met well by advocates for consumers and the poor. Among other things, Carona’s proposal would limit the maximum size of loans … Continue reading →

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Harris County wants to be like the city in regulating eight-liners

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

One of the main differences between Houston and Harris County is that the city can generally do what it wants to do while the county had to get a law passed to do the same thing. When the city of … Continue reading →

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