Tag Archives: Governor

Me in the Trib

Posted on November 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

You might have noticed, when you opened your metaphorical copy of the Texas Tribune this morning, that they’re hosting a discussion between myself and David Benzion on the merits of Houston Mayor and (by God we sure hope he’s a) … Continue reading →

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In case you needed another reason to vote against Rick Perry

Posted on November 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Just in case the fact that he’s Rick Perry isn’t enough, how about the fact that he’s objectively anti-microbrewery? Texas Gov. Rick Perry, running for re-election in 2010, just got the endorsement of the Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas. Therefore, … Continue reading →

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The Bill White factor

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The thought that struck me as I read this story about Bill White’s expected switch to the Governor’s race is that maybe he was right to have taken this particular route to where he is now. I mean, he’s generated … Continue reading →

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School districts feeling the crunch

Posted on November 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The state’s budget problems, which are caused to some degree by the economic slowdown, aren’t just problems for the state. They’re local problems as well, and the entities that have been hardest hit are those that had been given short … Continue reading →

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The budget mess that awaits the next Governor

Posted on November 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We already know that the next Legislative session will be a whole lot of no fun thanks to declining revenue estimates and our structural deficits. Here’s a further illustration of the problem. The current state budget is financed with $12 … Continue reading →

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Roundup and reaction to White’s announcement

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Bill White isn’t officially a candidate for Governor yet, but he’s already picked up endorsements from State Sens. Kirk Watson and Eliot Shapleigh. I feel confident that many more such endorsements will follow, perhaps even before he commits to the … Continue reading →

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Schieffer drops out, White (may be but probably is) in for Governor

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard the news that Tom Schieffer has dropped out of the Governor’s race, and that Bill White is considering switching over to it. I’ll add in a bunch of links later, but for now let … Continue reading →

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The reason why those “Bill White for Governor” rumors won’t die

Posted on November 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Shorter Burka: “KBH says in her new TV ad that she’s needed in the Senate. So why is she running for Governor?” It’s a good question. And given that no one knows what KBH will do, it’s the reason why … Continue reading →

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KBH invokes the power of the Dark Lord

Posted on November 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I just have one thing to say about this: Firing another shot in an endorsement war that is pitting prominent national and state Republicans against each other, gubernatorial candidate Kay Bailey Hutchison landed her most prominent backer to date Tuesday … Continue reading →

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Shami and Shapleigh

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Farouk Shami will make his entry into the Democratic primary for Governor official tomorrow afternoon at his business’ headquarters in Houston; details are on his website. The Trib gives us a peek behind the curtain. Shami, running as a Democrat, … Continue reading →

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Kronberg on KBH

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Harvey Kronberg’s column this week looks at the long history of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison running, or not running, for Governor, and how she came to be in this particular will she or won’t she resign pickle. Nothing much new … Continue reading →

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Kay may stay, but the jockeying never goes away

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Jason Embry ponders the landscape now that we know we’ll still have KBH to kick around through at least March. [I]f Gov. Rick Perry appoints [Lt. Gov. David] Dewhurst to replace Hutchison, or if he wins a special election before … Continue reading →

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KBH: Not resigning till after the primary

Posted on November 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That sound you hear is me saying I told you so. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is planning to hold onto her Senate seat until after Texas’ March gubernatorial primaries are over. […] Campaign officials provided The Associated Press a … Continue reading →

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Raising the gas tax

Posted on November 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is long overdue. Members of the Texas Senate’s Transportation Committee said Tuesday that an increase in the 20-cents-per-gallon state fuel tax may be necessary to overcome a drastic shortage of money for new roads. “We are in the critical … Continue reading →

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Here comes the unemployment tax increase

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here comes that unemployment insurance tax hike we’ve all been waiting for. Under state law, the state’s unemployment trust fund is supposed to stand at 1 percent of taxable wages, or about $860 million. The fund has been depleted in … Continue reading →

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Bill White: Still running for Senate

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Tribune stirs up a persistent rumor that likely won’t go away till after the filing deadline. Or, you know, proves to be true. The rumor is that Bill White is contemplating a jump into the Governor’s race. The … Continue reading →

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Who you calling “Democrat”?

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Kinky Friedman wants us to believe he’s one of us. Friedman, who is running in the 2010 Democratic primary after finishing fourth out of four major candidates in the 2006 governor’s race with a little more than 12 percent of … Continue reading →

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Thompson says he’s out, Shami says he’s in

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Mark Thompson has ended his candidacy for Governor. “There’s just too many people running,” Thompson said. “Any time someone jumps in, they cut your percentages down.” Thompson said last week he was considering ending his bid. He had said he … Continue reading →

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Waiting for KBH, the neverending story

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There are dominoes that are all set to fall in North Texas if only Kay Bailey Hutchison would flick her finger and knock the first one over. The thinking goes like this: U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison resigns to run … Continue reading →

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KBH sells her house

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This may be the most concrete step she’s ever taken towards actually running for Governor. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison may be waffling about when to give up her powerful job, but a sign came this month that she’s serious … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: A late roundup

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Some recent endorsements in City elections over the past few days. Going back to last week, here are the endorsements from the Houston Black American Democrats (HBAD): Mayor – Gene Locke Controller – Ronald Green At Large #1 – Karen … Continue reading →

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Once again, from the “Even Kay doesn’t know what Kay is going to do” files

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I hate to say “I told you so”…actually, scratch that. I don’t hate it at all. And in the matter of when will Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison resign her Senate seat to run for Governor, all I can say is … Continue reading →

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Election tidbits for 9/30

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

While it’s an interesting story, I don’t quite see what the fuss is about Rick Perry using monetary rewards for volunteers who get people to sign up with his campaign. As the story notes, rewards of some kind, usually campaign … Continue reading →

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Perry attempts to gut Forensic Science Commission

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is an outrage. Gov. Rick Perry today replaced the chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, which is conducting a politically sensitive investigation into whether the state executed a man based on a fatally flawed arson investigation. The commission’s … Continue reading →

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Election tidbits for 9/29

Posted on September 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Dallas DA Craig Watkins’ Republican opponent. I thought he came across better than the commenters did, but I feel pretty good about Watkins’ chances nonetheless. Via Grits. Some love for Bill White, including the Bill Whites for Bill White … Continue reading →

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Election tidbits for 9/28

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Two weeks till Early Voting begins. Psst! Hey, Peggy! Rep. Kristi Thibaut represents HD133 here in Houston, not Galveston. Just FYI. As for the news that the GOP will be targeting State Rep. Abel Herrero, given the 2008 partisan index … Continue reading →

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Keep talking, Tom

Posted on September 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll leave the commentary on Tom DeLay’s dancing prowess to the experts and simply note that he has succeeded in getting himself back in the news. Which means people are asking him for his opinions on things, which in turn … Continue reading →

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One step closer to expanded gambling in Texas?

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe, though I’m not sure how much closer this really gets us. [The] Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma is poised to take possession of an existing horse racing track in Grand Prairie. The tribe runs one of the biggest Indian casinos … Continue reading →

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Don’t forget about Farouk

Posted on September 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Tom Schieffer has been running for Governor for several months. Hank Gilbert made a fairly high-profile entry recently and has been doing well in earned media since. Kinky Friedman – well, never mind. The race on the Democratic side is … Continue reading →

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Election tidbits for 9/23

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

– KTRK has another round of candidate videos, this time answering the question “How can you help Houstonians get to work?” – Peter Brown sends out another mailer, this one all about his blueprint for an “Even Better Houston”. You … Continue reading →

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Election tidbits for 9/22

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

More stuff that’s worth a mention. – The deadline to register to vote in the 2009 election is Monday, October 5. Towards that end, Texans Together will be holding a voter registration drive this Saturday, September 26, at various locations … Continue reading →

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Gilbert makes his official entrance

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Democrat Hank Gilbert has officially entered the Governor’s race. Hank Gilbert – East Texas rancher, former schoolteacher and newly announced Democratic candidate for governor – said today that improving public education is critical in revitalizing the state’s economy and putting … Continue reading →

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A Rick ‘n’ Kay threefer

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

1. I wouldn’t make such a big deal yet about the latest Rasmussen poll that shows KBH with a slight lead over Rick Perry, reversing a months-long decline for her. Without any other polls to compare this to, it could … Continue reading →

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Up, up, up…

Posted on September 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the direction your health insurance premiums have been going, at an ever-increasing rate. A national report that was released today says family health insurance premiums in Texas increased 91.6 percent since 2000 — 4.6 times faster than earnings. The … Continue reading →

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