Tag Archives: Congress

Opinions differ about Congressional prospects

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I’m gonna boil this one down a bit. Moments before the polls closed in Virginia’s Democratic sweep, Houston-area Republican Ted Poe, across the Potomac River on Capitol Hill, announced his retirement in 2018 after 14 years in Congress. Poe cast … Continue reading →

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Rep. Gene Green to retire

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I said there would be surprises. One of the two longest serving Democrats from Texas in the U.S. Congress won’t seek re-election. U.S. Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston, announced Monday that he will not seek re-election in 2018. Green was first … Continue reading →

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Rep. Ted Poe to retire

Posted on November 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We’re verging on a mass exodus here. U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, announced Tuesday evening that he will retire from Congress. “Thanks to the good Lord, I’m in good health, but it’s time for the next step,” Poe said in … Continue reading →

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More on Democratic Congressional candidate fundraising

Posted on November 5, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From the Statesman, with a focus on Austin-area candidates, but also with a more holistic view of what the atmosphere is like. “Trump’s lower than average net approval ratings for a Republican in Texas, as well as anger and dismay … Continue reading →

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Lamar Smith to retire

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good riddance. U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio said Tuesday he is retiring from Congress. “For several reasons, this seems like a good time to pass on the privilege of representing the 21st District to someone else,” he wrote in … Continue reading →

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A big ask for hurricane recovery

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck with that. I mean that mostly sincerely. Texas needs an additional $61 billion in federal disaster recovery money for infrastructure alone after Hurricane Harvey’s devastation, according to a report from the Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas that was … Continue reading →

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Rep. Jeb Hensarling to retire

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We’re up to three. The powerful chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a Dallas Republican, announced his retirement from Congress on Tuesday afternoon. He is currently serving his eighth term in the House. “Today I … Continue reading →

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October campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on October 31, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the Q2 fundraising reports for Texas Democratic Congressional candidates. I’ll sum up the data below, but here’s the Trib with some highlights. After Democratic challengers outraised four Texas Republicans in Congress earlier this year, some Republicans recaptured fundraising … Continue reading →

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Paxton officially appeals redistricting ruling to SCOTUS, part 2

Posted on October 31, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The state House version. Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a lower court ruling that ordered nine of Texas’ statehouse districts redrawn after being found discriminatory. In August, a three-judge panel in a … Continue reading →

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By the way, CHIP is still running out

Posted on October 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Just in case you were wondering. Advocates say Texas will run out of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program sooner than they thought. The program, which Congress failed to reauthorize last month, covers nearly 400,000 children from working-class families … Continue reading →

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Paxton officially appeals redistricting ruling to SCOTUS

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to take up an appeal of a lower court ruling that invalidated two of Texas’ congressional districts. “It’s fitting that the Supreme Court hear this case, … Continue reading →

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Congressional candidates everywhere

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Democrats are as optimistic as they’ve ever been about candidate recruitment. “I’ve been recruiting candidates in Texas for years, and I’ve never seen an environment quite like this,” said Cliff Walker, candidate recruitment director for the state Democratic Party. … Continue reading →

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Stockman aide takes a plea

Posted on October 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The walls are closing in. A longtime confidant and aide to former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman pleaded guilty to Wednesday to fraud charges in a corruption scheme that also targeted the former congressman. The alleged scheme involved diverting hundreds of … Continue reading →

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Rep. Al Green’s articles of impeachment

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Gauntlet thrown. U.S. Rep. Al Green, a Houston Democrat, introduced formal articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on the House floor Wednesday during a session otherwise devoted to whistleblower protection legislation. In his argument for impeaching the president, Green … Continue reading →

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Houston Rocks Dayna Steele at Numbers

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t mention candidate fundraisers very often in this space, but today I’m going to make a special exception for one of the cooler events I’ve come across. Hilton at 10:30 a.m. Dayna Steele rocked Houston for years. Now, let’s … Continue reading →

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Don’t hold your breath waiting for federal Harvey recovery money

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Settle in for the long haul. It could be months, if not years, before southeast Texans and scores of counties and cities receive federal funds to pay for the long-term rebuilding and recovery of homes and communities battered by Hurricane … Continue reading →

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“Not One Penny” rally

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Indivisible Houston ​to​ ​Host​ ​“Not​ ​One​ ​Penny”​ ​Rally and Press Conference at John Culberson’s Office​ ​to​ ​Demand​ ​Congress Stop​ ​Robbing from the Poor to Give to Big Business Local Organizers Join Nationwide “Not One Penny” Campaign to … Continue reading →

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More trans people are running for office

Posted on October 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The best way to gain political power is to win elections, and to win elections you have to run for office. The first time Dani Pellett tackled the bathroom question was years before the issue of transgender access to restrooms would … Continue reading →

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Sure would be nice if we could not kill CHIP

Posted on October 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Just a thought. Insurance coverage for more than 390,000 Texas children and pregnant women is in jeopardy after Congress failed to renew authorization for a federal program. Congressional authorization for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides low-cost health insurance … Continue reading →

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Can our dams handle the load?

Posted on September 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty important question, wouldn’t you say? The state climatologist is warning that Texas dams will become less able to withstand extreme weather events like Hurricane Harvey, which are expected to occur more frequently as the earth’s atmosphere and oceans warm … Continue reading →

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Don’t expect any further redistricting activity this year

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Michael Li explains it all to you. In one-line orders today (here and here), the Supreme Court rejected a request by plaintiffs in the Texas redistricting case that the Supreme Court expedite appeals by the State of Texas. The plaintiffs’ … Continue reading →

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Don’t wait on Joaquin

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We may want him to, but Rep. Joaquin Castro probably isn’t running for Governor. Exiting a summit on citizen diplomacy Tuesday at the Texas Capitol, U.S. Rep. Joaquín Castro, D-San Antonio, was trailed by a handful of reporters. “Something tells … Continue reading →

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One more in CD32

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Lillian Salerno, the third major candidate to take a crack at Rep. Pete Sessions in CD32. Lillian Salerno, who served as President Barack Obama’s deputy undersecretary of rural development for the Department of Agriculture, [officially launched] her candidacy for … Continue reading →

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Dallas Observer Q&A with CD32 candidate Ed Meier

Posted on September 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Also a good read. You’ve spent a lot of time traveling around the world, starting by growing up in Africa as a missionary kid. What keeps bringing you back to Texas and Dallas specifically? I was born in Dallas. Lived … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS puts new maps on hold

Posted on September 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. The U.S. Supreme Court has dealt a serious setback to those hoping Texas would see new congressional and House district maps ahead of the 2018 elections. In separate orders issued Tuesday, the high court blocked two lower court rulings … Continue reading →

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Will we spend on some flood mitigation projects?

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. We’ll see. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is calling for the construction of flood control infrastructure in the Houston area — things he said should have been built “decades and decades ago” — including … Continue reading →

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Plaintiffs ask SCOTUS to back down in redistricting fight

Posted on September 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This week’s update: The challengers told the justices that the Supreme Court lacks the power to review the state’s request because there is nothing to put on hold: The lower court has neither blocked the state’s current redistricting plan nor … Continue reading →

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No re-rematch for Gallego against Hurd

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The third time is not a charm, mostly because there won’t be a third time. Former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, has decided not to try again to reclaim his old seat in Congress. “Know that my public service is … Continue reading →

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State House map paused as well

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise, given the previous order. A lower court ruling that invalidated parts of the Texas House state map has been temporarily blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court. Responding swiftly to an appeal by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, … Continue reading →

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This is why you don’t politicize disaster relief, Senator

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It’s pretty simple, really. People come before politics. Many New Yorkers and New Jerseyans serving in Congress have, for nearly five years now, kept a list of names handy to roll out at a moment’s notice. They call it “the … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS puts a pause on the Congressional redistricting ruling

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Hopefully, just a temporary one. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday put on hold a lower court ruling that invalidated two of Texas’ 36 congressional districts. In an order signed by Justice Samuel Alito, the high court indicated it wanted … Continue reading →

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Will we have maps in time for March primaries?

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. It’s up to the courts. State officials insisted Friday they expect to stop the court challenges on appeal, and reverse Texas’ losing streak on the voting-rights lawsuits, legal experts predicted Texas could end up back under federal supervisions of … Continue reading →

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Another national publication looks at CD07

Posted on August 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Mother Jones, come on down. In addition to [Laura] Moser, the top competitors for the March primary are first-time candidates with stories that fit the political moment in different ways. Lizzie Fletcher, a well-connected lawyer at a large downtown firm, … Continue reading →

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Escobar officially enters race for CD16

Posted on August 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

There will be many interesting and highly competitive Democratic primaries for Congress next year, but this could be the biggest of them. El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar has officially started her run for Congress. Escobar, a Democrat, submitted paperwork … Continue reading →

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