Tag Archives: Dan Patrick

Health insurance exchange open enrollment, Year 3

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The challenge, in a nutshell. In rural Borden County, 12 people signed up for Obamacare this year. Livid over the government telling them they must buy something and loath to take anything that looks like a “handout,” the uninsured here … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Health insurance exchange open enrollment, Year 3

Dan Patrick buys airtime for anti-HERO ads

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Of course he does. With the start of early voting Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick began lending his voice and his pocketbook to radio and TV ads urging Houston voters to reject the city’s embattled equal rights ordinance. At a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Harris Health wants more people to enroll in Obamacare

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Who can blame them? Harris County’s public health care agency, responding to a budget crisis, will eliminate more than 19,000 people next year from eligibility for free or nearly free services, hoping most of these patients will obtain coverage through … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Harris Health wants more people to enroll in Obamacare

Will Sandra Bland’s death help lead to bail reform?

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

That would be a fitting and just outcome if it does. Harris County and the state should reform an unfair bond system that punishes the poor more harshly, according to civil rights leaders, legislative officials and criminal experts who gathered … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 49 Comments

“Sanctuary cities” legislation will be back

Posted on August 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Better be ready for it. With debate over the nation’s immigration policies once again approaching full boil, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Wednesday pledged that the Senate next session would pass legislation to address so-called sanctuary cities. Patrick lamented that … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Ken who?

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

State Republican leaders don’t have much to say about our allegedly felonious Attorney General. Texas’ Republican leaders Sunday continued their radio silence on the indictment of Attorney General Ken Paxton on three felony fraud charges. Paxton, who was elected as … Continue reading →

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

Still reviewing the video on the line item vetoes

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Any day now. With varying degrees of concern, a smattering of government offices and higher education institutions around the state are waiting to learn the fate of more than $200 million in funds that the governor might — or might … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Still reviewing the video on the line item vetoes

“Let’s just be real” about charter schools

Posted on July 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting. “Let’s just be real,” Chris Barbic wrote last week when announcing his resignation as superintendent of Tennessee’s Achievement School District. Then Barbic admitted what skeptics of charter schools have preached for years — “achieving results in neighborhood schools … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Vetoes: You’re doing it wrong

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. Some of Gov. Greg Abbott’s line-item vetoes in the state budget might be invalid, the state’s Legislative Budget Board said in a 14-page letter sent Tuesday to Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. The director of the LBB said the governor’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Vetoes: You’re doing it wrong

Paxton takes the culture-warrior lead

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Well, at least he’s found his calling in life. In the six months before Ken Paxton won election as Texas attorney general last fall, he stayed largely out of sight. Under an ethical cloud amid claims of financial fraud, he … Continue reading →

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

Where same sex marriage is still functionally illegal in Texas

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Smith County: After a historic Supreme Court ruling, making same sex marriage legal in all fifty states, couples across the country flocked to courthouses to be legally married. Despite the ruling, an East Texas County Court will not be issuing … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Maybe Ratliff won’t step down from the SBOE after all

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Just when he thought he was out, they (might) pull him back in. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed a social conservative and former staffer for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to chair the Texas State Board of Education on Thursday. Donna Bahorich … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Maybe Ratliff won’t step down from the SBOE after all

Eltife not running for re-election

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

He will be missed. After 23 years in elected office, state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, said he will not run for re-election in 2016 to devote more time to family, friends, his work and his community. Eltife said he’s loved … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tighter spending cap defeated

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I consider this to be a victory. The state’s constitutional spending cap will remain untouched this session, and House and Senate leaders are blaming each other for the lack of action on the arcane but politically important measure. Senate Republicans … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tighter spending cap defeated

Dan Patrick’s defeat

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Observer reviews how Dan Patrick’s Senate could ultimately take no firmer a stance against same sex marriage than to pass a resolution disapproving of it. In last night’s “debate” over the resolution, Lucio, a passionate pro-life Catholic, rose to … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dan Patrick’s defeat

House chubfest kills several bad bills

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news, though as always at the end of a session, the outcome isn’t clean and the details are very murky. As the clock struck midnight, the failure of an anti-abortion initiative — dear to the hearts of the … Continue reading →

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

Budget deal

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

What Christopher Hooks says. Texans, you can put down your pitchforks and douse your torches: The edibles you’ve squirreled away in your emergency bunkers can be safely consumed. Life can begin anew. The tax cut war between House and Senate … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Budget deal

Where the education reform bills stand

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the attempt to take a first stab at school finance reform did not make it to the House floor. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t some action on school-related issues. This Chron story from the weekend recapped a … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Where the education reform bills stand

No one is going to be forced to perform a same sex wedding

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Would someone please reassure Dan Patrick of this before he wets himself? Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, said he sponsored Senate Bill 2065 at the urging of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The Senate suspended its rules to allow the bill … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

House passes sales tax cut

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Over to you, Danno. The Texas House tentatively approved a $4.9 billion tax relief plan Tuesday that includes a cut to the state’s sales tax, marking a clear line in the sand against the Senate, which favors property tax cuts. … Continue reading →

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

Anti-immigration bills dying on the vine

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I think I’m going to just got to the executive summary at the bottom of this DMN story. AT A GLANCE: WHERE 3 KEY MEASURES STAND 1. Repeal of tuition law: Seeks to change the 2001 law that allows some … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Anti-immigration bills dying on the vine

A little trouble in paradise

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s that time of the biennium, y’all. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s tea party advisory panel on Tuesday blasted Gov. Greg Abbott’s quality pre-K legislation as “socialistic” and “a threat to parental rights,” contributing friction to the already tense balancing act … Continue reading →

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

Senate passes a voucher bill

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Hopefully, this will die in the House. Some low-income families unhappy with their public schools would get help paying private school tuition under a plan that won tentative approval in the Texas Senate Monday. Senate Bill 4, which would use … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Senate moves forward on sanctuary cities and DREAM Act repeal bills

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One. Senate Bill 185 by state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, also called the “sanctuary cities” bill, would cut off state funding for local governments or governmental entities that adopt policies forbidding peace officers from inquiring about the immigration status of … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Senate moves forward on sanctuary cities and DREAM Act repeal bills

Here comes the school finance bill

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a big deal. The House education chairman on Tuesday unveiled a $3 billion proposal he hopes will overhaul the way Texas funds public schools and derail a looming lawsuit in the process. “My objective when I began this was … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Here comes the school finance bill

Sanctuary cities bill clears first Senate committee

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Senate Bill 185 by state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, would cut off state funding for local governments or governmental entities that adopt policies that forbid peace officers from inquiring into the immigration status of a person detained or … Continue reading →

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

Call to action: DREAM Act repeal hearing set for Monday

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

You know the drill. The push to repeal a 2001 law that allows some undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities is returning to the legislative spotlight, but on an unusual stage. On Monday, the border … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Budget passes House as most amendments get pulled

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It was a long day in the House on Tuesday and Wednesday but not a terribly bloody one as many of the budget amendments and riders that had been queued up got withdrawn. A brief recap of the action: Border … Continue reading →

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

Let the budgetary games begin

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The House takes up the budget today, with over 300 amendments and riders queued up for votes. A couple of things to watch for as the debate goes on: Killing vouchers. Lawmakers in the Texas House will have a chance … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Let the budgetary games begin

Precinct analysis: Abbott versus Perry in Latino districts

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

District level election data for 2014 has been available for a few weeks now. Seems like as good a time as any to return to a favorite topic, namely how Greg Abbott did in heavily Latino areas. An exit poll … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The scared institution of marriage

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Smell the fear and desperation. Several hundred Christian fundamentalists gathered on the south steps of the Capitol today in a rally that was less about the defense of traditional marriage than about preparing for civil disobedience if, as expected, the … Continue reading →

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

Trouble in tax cut paradise

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

What if you propose a tax cut but the beneficiaries of it say they’d rather the money went to something else? Major business groups pushed back Friday against a multi­billion-dollar package of tax cuts advancing in the Texas Senate, calling … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Trouble in tax cut paradise

Not looking good for medical marijuana

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From Trail Blazers: A key lawmaker suggested Tuesday that a bill legalizing marijuana for medical use is probably “dead,” but the sponsor said she’s not discouraged by the “premature” pushback. The bill has not yet been referred to a committee, … Continue reading →

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

The state spending cap is a stupid idea

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

And the Republicans want to make it worse. Texas Senate leaders on Tuesday announced another round of efforts to change the way the state determines its two-year spending limit, and keep tax cuts from counting toward the constitutional cap on … Continue reading →

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