Monthly Archives: August 2013

One more ballot item

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the Astrodome and (maybe) Early To Rise referenda, Harris County voters will also get to decide on a jail bond referendum. From the preview story on Tuesday: Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday also is expected to … Continue reading →

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Metro gets more money

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. Congress has appropriated $189 million for two of our light-rail lines – the North/Red Line extension and the Southeast/Purple Line. Each line will receive $94.5 million. The funds are part of the $900 million Full Funding Grant Agreements signed by … Continue reading →

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Early To Rise submits its petitions

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From here it gets real. The Harris County School Readiness Corp., a new nonprofit led by business and civic leaders, is calling for a ballot intiative to levy a 1-cent-per-$100 tax through the Harris County Department of Education to generate … Continue reading →

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Astrodome referendum officially on the ballot

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s been a long, strange trip, but at last you will get to vote on the fate of the Astrodome. The Commissioners Court on Tuesday unanimously voted to place a bond election for up to $217 million to convert the … Continue reading →

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Keller accepts a plea deal on ethics charge

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

She gets off pretty lightly, if you ask me. Sharon Keller, the state’s top criminal court judge, has reached a deal to substantially reduce a record $100,000 fine levied by the Texas Ethics Commission for failing to fully disclose millions … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of August 12

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance thinks sine die are the two sweetest words in the Latin language as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Rogene Gee Calvert

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Next up for At Large #3 is Rogene Gee Calvert, who has worked for non-profits such as the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast and for the city, as a City Director under Mayor Bill White, and Chief of … Continue reading →

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The people want Wendy to run for Governor

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Democratic people certainly do. Though speculation is still rampant on state Sen. Wendy Davis’ possible run for governor, some Democratic groups aren’t waiting for her call before pledging their support. Annie’s List, a political group that supports Democratic female … Continue reading →

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When is it OK for the feds to intervene in Texas?

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

When the Affordable Care Act is involved. Though Texas will join 26 other states in defaulting to a federal marketplace for purchasing health insurance — a major component of the Affordable Care Act — it is one of only six … Continue reading →

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What to do with that extra money?

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Some unexpected good financial news for the city, but what to do about it is the tricky part. Just months after hiking health premiums, shifting costs to employees and plugging a projected multimillion-dollar deficit in its health benefits fund, the … Continue reading →

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Interview with Roland Chavez

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Next up among At Large #3 candidates is Roland Chavez. Chavez was a Houston firefighter for 34 years before retiring in June. He was active for many years in the firefighters’ union, Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 341, including … Continue reading →

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Davis reportedly running for Governor

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

At least according to Robert Miller. Credible sources tell me that Sen. Wendy Davis will run for Governor in 2014 and not seek reelection to Texas Senate District 10. It will set up a high stakes match-up with Attorney General … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Chron for Early To Rise

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Technically, this isn’t an endorsement, since there isn’t anything to endorse just yet. Nonetheless, it is clear that the Chron supports the Early To Rise campaign. It looks like Harris County will vote on the future of the Astrodome this … Continue reading →

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Travis County to fund Public Integrity Unit

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Not optimal, but better than the alternative of shutting it down till 2015. The Travis County Commissioners Court agreed [last] Tuesday to restore some money to the Travis County district attorney’s Public Integrity Unit after Gov. Rick Perry in June … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jenifer Pool

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This week we move into the crowded field for At Large #3, which is the only open At Large Council seat on the ballot. Currently held by CM Melissa Noriega, there’s a large but not easily pinpointed number of candidates … Continue reading →

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Texas says “No preclearance now, no preclearance forever!”

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the plaintiffs in the redistricting lawsuit against the state of Texas have filed briefs arguing that the state should still be subject to preclearance under Section 3 of the Voting Rights Act. They have been joined in … Continue reading →

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Louie, Louie

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The head, it explodes. A number of Texas-based Tea Party organizers are clamoring for Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) to challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in a primary, according to the National Review. Gohmert is scheduled to speak at a town-hall … Continue reading →

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Why, Chron, why?

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has some plaintive questions for Texas’ junior Senator. Ted Cruz is a smart man. Texas’ junior U.S. senator is an expert on the U.S. Constitution and a brilliant, Harvard-educated trial lawyer who has appeared before the U.S. Supreme … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 11

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Twenty-eight things that happened after the Harry Potter books ended. That iPhone charger may be doing more than just charging your iPhone. Dolly Parton is even cooler than you thought. “But now Republicans have taken themselves hostage. They’re threatening to … Continue reading →

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The new accountability standards

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the TEA press release about the school accountability ratings for 2013, which came out on Thursday. The Texas Education Agency today released the 2013 state accountability system ratings for more than 1,200 school districts and charters, and more than … Continue reading →

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Two ways to deal with a problem you don’t want to solve

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

First, deny there is a problem. Attorney General Greg Abbott said Thursday he would never give up the fight against Obamacare, but the front-running candidate for Texas governor declined to embrace a temporary shut-down of the federal government — one … Continue reading →

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Better bats

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Technology marches on. As part of new MLB regulations, manufacturers use ink to test bats’ stability. If the dot bleeds more than a quarter inch, indicating low density, that wood isn’t major-league caliber. Thanks to that practice and more implemented … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Twist And Shout

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Song #7 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Twist And Shout”, originally by The Isley Brothers and covered by The Beatles. Here’s the original: Dave Barry has written about how much he prefers this version to the Beatles’ … Continue reading →

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School superintendents for Early To Rise

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the press release: (Houston, TX) Today Harris County Superintendents participated in a press conference for the Early to Rise campaign, which is seeking to create a dedicated funding stream to improve the quality of early childhood education through a … Continue reading →

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The exchanges are coming

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Texas can resist all it wants, the health insurance exchanges will be here in 2014, with signups beginning in October, whether Rick Perry and Greg Abbott like it or not. The federal Health Insurance Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov is scheduled to … Continue reading →

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A reduction in funding for women’s health leads to fewer women getting health care

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Shocking, I know. The number of claims filed for medical and family planning services in the new state-run Texas Women’s Health Program has dropped since the state ousted Planned Parenthood from it and set up its own program without federal … Continue reading →

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Chron for Uber

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron editorializes in favor of Council approving a change to city ordinances that would allow Uber to set up shop here. Uber, a car service software company, wants to start operating in Houston so that folks can reserve Town … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Climb every mountain

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We’re back from a family wedding in Colorado, which included a trip to the top of Pike’s Peak, where the girls got to see snow falling. That’s my inspiration for this week’s Friday Random Ten. 1. Ain’t No Mountain High … Continue reading →

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More on FreedomWorks as anti-BGTX

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Monthly takes a look. Texas Democrats have, as we all know, been flailing over the past few decades. They are the minority party in both houses of the Lege and haven’t won a statewide race since 1994. Underdogs, we … Continue reading →

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Astrodome referendum headed for the ballot

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

If you’ve been waiting for the chance to vote on the fate of the Astrodome, your wait will soon be over. Commissioners Court next Tuesday is expected to approve a measure asking voters to authorize the county to spend as … Continue reading →

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The buried lede on sexism in the Legislature

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

PDiddie thinks that the real shocker in that Observer story on sexism in the Texas Legislature wasn’t given the prominence it deserved. Even the most powerful women in the Legislature experience it. When I started interviewing women lawmakers, they all—Republican … Continue reading →

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Unfair pay

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Patricia Kilday Hart uncovers some skulduggery in one of Rick Perry’s vetoes. Gov. Rick Perry vetoed a bill that would have let victims of wage discrimination sue in state court after receiving letters against the measure from the Texas Retailers … Continue reading →

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How much does it cost to really live in Houston?

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good question. So what does it cost to secure an “adequate but modest living” in the Houston area? According to the Economic Policy Institute, it requires an annual income of $63,600 for a family of two adults and two children. … Continue reading →

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Sheriff Garcia endorses the Early To Rise campaign

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It makes sense that he would. The group attempting to get a 1-cent tax hike on the November ballot to bolster early childhood education programs got a hearty endorsement from Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia on Wednesday, and announced it … Continue reading →

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