Monthly Archives: July 2013

The state of abortion litigation

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Emily Bazelon surveys the landscape. You’ve seen Texas legislator Wendy Davis in her pink sneakers and shuddered over the murder trial of baby killer Kermit Gosnell. Meanwhile, various states are passing increasingly extreme abortion restrictions. But with bill after bill, … Continue reading →

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Waiting to hear about New Dome financing

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder that the process is still in progress. Two weeks ago, the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation presented its vision for a 194 million dollar project dubbed THE NEW DOME EXPERIENCE. It included turning the inside into … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with CM Ellen Cohen

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome to the start of the 2013 interview season. Things are going to be a little different for me this year, because my personal schedule is not as flexible as it has been in years past. What that means is … Continue reading →

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Mayoral multitude

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Campos has an update on who’s running for what. Commentary dropped by the City Secretary Office a couple of days ago to check out the latest campaign treasurer designations. Here is who I will add to my political page later … Continue reading →

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Redistricting plaintiffs go for Section 3

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a brand new world out there. Minority-rights groups are charting “new territory” in the fight against Texas’ redistricting plan, using a provision of the Voting Rights Act that cites discriminatory intent as part of an effort to maintain federal … Continue reading →

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Special election set in HD50

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Mark Strama announced his resignation from the Lege in February to go and run Google Fiber in Austin. Last week, Rick Perry set November 5 as the special election date to replace him. The race to serve out the remainder … Continue reading →

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Weekend link for July 14

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Happy Bastille Day, y’all. “A good fortuneteller can make $200,000 to $300,000 a year easily.” Sadly, there’s a dozen rabid weasels problem in many organizations. Most “spider bites” are not actually caused by spiders. “A few moments ago Google processed … Continue reading →

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Greg Abbott has a very special announcement to make

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

He’s ready to accept your coronation as king the next Governor of Texas. Attorney General Greg Abbott is tipping his hand ever so much more slightly about his San Antonio appearance Sunday, with his campaign re-branding it from a meet-and-greet … Continue reading →

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She who must not be named

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s nice to see that Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, has found meaningful work to do now that she is no longer CEO of that organization. It’s not the least bit surprising to see that … Continue reading →

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Tubing along in New Braunfels

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Time for another can ban update. River tourists poured into waterways here Saturday, slathered in sunscreen and toting drinks in a variety of vessels, as the summer tubing season finally hit full stride. “We didn’t have a (strong) spring because … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Papa Was A Rolling Stone

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Song #11 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”, originally by The Undisputed Truth and covered by the Temptations. Here’s the original: Not what I expected. Sometimes with these originals I’d never heard before … Continue reading →

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When tampons are outlawed, only outlaws will have tampons

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is one of those things you just can’t make up. Inside Texas’ state legislature, loaded guns are fairly common. As the New York Times reported in March, “Just as Texas has long embraced its guns, so has the Capitol. … Continue reading →

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Rick Perry will be with us for a long time

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Though we finally have an official end date for the reign of Rick Perry, it will be years before we fully purge him from our system. The strong lieutenant governor legend gelled during Bill Hobby’s tenure from 1973 to 1991. … Continue reading →

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On wins and losses

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This story about CC Sabathia and his chances of winning 300 games in his career got me thinking along some slightly different lines. CC Sabathia won his 200th career game [last] week against the Minnesota Twins, becoming the 114th pitcher … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten – The stars at night, part 1

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We are at the All Star Break, and to my amazement, I have never done a Friday Random Ten based on “star” songs. I’m going to rectify that this week and next. 1. Star – Stealers Wheel 2. Star (of … Continue reading →

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A preview of the next beer battle

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Texas microbreweries are now officially selling their wares on premise. Woo hoo! In business for nearly 19 years, Saint Arnold Brewing Co. sold its first cold one directly to a customer [in June], thanks to a new law liberalizing the … Continue reading →

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Senate passes non-abortion bills, committee passes HB2

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The decks are cleared on the Senate side for the main event. In a speedy Thursday morning meeting with little debate, the upper chamber passed Senate Bill 2 with a 30-1 vote, allowing Texas judges and juries to sentence 17-year-olds … Continue reading →

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No “divine right of succession”

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I wish you well with that argument, Tom. For those who are already declaring that Attorney General Greg Abbott will be Gov. Rick Perry’s successor, former Texas Workforce Commissioner Tom Pauken has a clear message. “This idea that there’s a … Continue reading →

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Chron favors Uptown transit plan

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good to see, and I think they make a decent point. We’re glad that Houston-area transportation officials have approved federal funds for an Uptown bus rapid transit (BRT) system. […] But we’re struck by [Harris County Judge Ed] Emmett’s vote … Continue reading →

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Four things to work on now that the omnibus anti-abortion bill is reality

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

1. Organize, organize, organize. Maintain the energy and sense of urgency that originated with the #StandWithWendy filibuster. This is a good way to draw people in while the iron is hot. Progressives and Planned Parenthood took their opposition to the … Continue reading →

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Elsewhere in the House

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

No action on transportation yet. House budget writers on Tuesday ended a hearing on transportation funding with no clear decision about how to raise money for Texas roads. The House Appropriations Committee is considering several proposals to see which has … Continue reading →

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The drought affects the coast, too

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Even more reasons to hope for rain. A growing body of research into the effects of the state’s ongoing drought, which began in late 2010 and peaked in 2011, reveal a coast deeply affected by the prolonged dry spell. “Coastal … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of July 8

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with Texas women as we bring you this week’s roundup.

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NPR’s odd claim about Latino voting in Texas

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

NPR takes its turn with the obligatory “can Texas turn blue” story, and in doing some provides a number I had not heard before. A new group called Battleground Texas is planning to spend tens of millions of dollars trying … Continue reading →

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Back to the House

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

After the Senate adjourned on Tuesday morning without a committee vote on its omnibus anti-abortion bill following the long hearing in which there was a lot more hearing than listening, the House took up its bill, with more of the … Continue reading →

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On using B-Cycle

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron had a nice lifestyle section story about B-Cycle last week. B-cycles are appearing all over downtown and Midtown. You may have seen them, parked at racks with self-serve kiosks, where riders are able to enter their payment information, … Continue reading →

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A tax break where?

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t quite understand this. The Houston City Council on Wednesday will consider giving up to $1 million in tax rebates to a Costco store that would be built outside city limits. City officials say the proposed 151,600-square-foot warehouse and … Continue reading →

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PPP polling miscellany

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Public Policy Polling has some additional results from its latest venture into Texas. -By a 54/21 margin Texas voters say that they support the Voting Rights Act, including 45/23 even with Republicans. Only 29% of voters say that they favor … Continue reading →

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Perry will not run for re-election

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There’s your big announcement. Gov. Rick Perry announced Monday that he will not run for re-election next year, creating the first open race for Texas governor since 1990 and making Attorney General Greg Abbott the instant favorite to replace him. … Continue reading →

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Senate begins omnibus abortion bill hearings

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Remember, it’s all about women’s health. Senate Bill 1, and its companion, House Bill 2, would ban abortion at 20 weeks post-fertilization and recognize that the state has a compelling interest to protect fetuses from pain; require doctors performing abortions … Continue reading →

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If you want your trash to be collected

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s best to put your trash can where the automated pickup arm can get it. Last year, at least 9,000 trash cans in the city were left uncollected at some point, according to records kept by the city, a small … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with BGTX Summer Fellow Elizabeth Garcia

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I trust by now you are familiar with the mission on Battleground Texas. With the Wendy Davis filibuster and all that’s been going on in the Legislature lately, it feels like they arrived at just the right time. But Battleground … Continue reading →

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With Rick Perry, you always have to ask “Who benefits?”

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Politics had an item on Friday that perhaps should have received a higher profile. One of the controversial tenets of the abortion restriction bill would require all abortions to be performed in ambulatory surgical centers, which are a distinct … Continue reading →

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First lawsuit filed against Texas Double Secret Illegal Anti-Gay Marriage amendment

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Probably not a game-changer, however. A Galveston man filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging a provision of the Texas Constitution defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman. Domenico Nuckols, 60, said he believes he will prevail … Continue reading →

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