Tag Archives: Rick Perry

Coleman pushing for CHIP restoration

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Way back in those crazy, innocent days right after Joe Straus was elected Speaker, some of us had the silly idea that this might portend better legislation making it through the House. You know, serious policy stuff that actually benefits … Continue reading →

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Operation Border Star

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

During the 2007 legislative session, $110 million was appropriated at Governor Perry’s urging for border law enforcement agencies to combat drug smuggling and gang activity. How’s that working out? The state’s $110 million Border Star program, designed to help local … Continue reading →

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UTMB rehiring

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is good news, though it does make you wonder what the point of all the initial layoffs was. The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, which laid off more than 2,400 employees last fall because of damage caused … Continue reading →

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Senate OKs needle exchange

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, the Senate did manage to do one good thing today. By a 23-7 vote — not enough for immediate final passage to the Texas House — senators approved Senate Bill 188 that will allow local health departments to begin … Continue reading →

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Senate wraps up voter ID

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, after more debate and a bunch of Democratic amendments that were rejected by the same 19-12 vote, SB362 itself was passed on second reading in the Senate on a 19-12 party line vote. There were two amendments … Continue reading →

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Planning the workaround

Posted on March 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

While one may feel reasonably optimistic about the chances of a legislative override to Governor Perry’s decision to reject stimulus funds for unemployment insurance, it never hurts to try to grease the skids a little. Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson … Continue reading →

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Dems seek repeal of new DPS rules

Posted on March 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We didn’t have any voter ID action yesterday, but we did have this. Some Democratic lawmakers joined by Texas residents who have had trouble getting drivers’ licenses under new Department of Public Safety rules pushed Monday for legislation that would … Continue reading →

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More on the end of the sixty-five percent rule

Posted on March 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an updated story on the end of the sixty-five percent rule. Gov. Rick Perry’s 4-year-old mandate that schools spend at least 65 percent of their money on classroom instruction is under fire from key lawmakers in Perry’s own party. … Continue reading →

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Parker versus Perry

Posted on March 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I like this. Houston City Controller Annise Parker sharply criticized Texas Governor Rick Perry today for rejecting $555 million in federal stimulus money that would have funded unemployment benefits for out-of-work Texans. “In January alone, more than 65,000 Houstonians were … Continue reading →

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Lege versus Gov on unemployment funds

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Showdown time. The House committee charged with recommending how to use the federal stimulus money does not see eye to eye with Gov. Rick Perry on the $555 million for unemployment insurance. In a 5 to 1 vote, the committee … Continue reading →

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Once more with the stimulus and unemployment insurance

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

By the way, the money that the state has in reserve for unemployment insurance is rapidly being depleted. Just so you know. [Tuesday], the Texas Workforce Commission announced that the unemployment trust fund is now expected to be almost depleted … Continue reading →

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Money for movies

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Clay Robison reminds me of something in a discussion of Governor Perry’s resistance to spending stimulus money on expanding unemployment insurance. Right after giving the back of his hand to thousands of jobless workers, he was promoting a $60-million handout … Continue reading →

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Is redistricting reform about to become a reality?

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Patricia Kilday Hart reports that Sen. Jeff Wentworth’s redistricting commission bill has a chance this session, thanks to the change in Speaker. Wentworth, who presented his bill to the Senate State Affairs Committee, tells me he has confirmed pledges from … Continue reading →

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Here come stimulus money

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The first batch of funds is arriving. The Department of Housing and Urban Development allocated more than $500 million to Texas cities and counties on Monday, part of a wave of stimulus money expected to flow into the state. Federal … Continue reading →

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Schieffer jumps in

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We have a candidate, one not named Kinky. Former U.S. Ambassador Tom Schieffer of Fort Worth has just announced he is taking his first formal step toward seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a Texas Independence Day press conference … Continue reading →

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The stimulus and the budget

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Jim Dunnam, who is the chair of the ad hoc committee that is charged with disbursing federal stimulus funds, gave an update on their proceedings. Among other things, the federal money may free up some state revenues. Normally, … Continue reading →

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Reason #437 why I’m skeptical of the gambling industry

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The regulatory agency that oversees horse and dog tracks in Texas is begging for a handout to make it through the end of the fiscal year. Faced with a 14 percent, nearly $678,000 shortfall, the commission that oversees horse and … Continue reading →

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They paid their taxes, too

Posted on February 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I really don’t understand the objection to using stimulus funds to expand unemployment insurance to help the larger number of people who are now out of work, and especially those who have the extra misfortune of not being eligible because … Continue reading →

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One more PPP poll

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

PPP does the Governor’s race, general election-style. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rick Perry would both best Democrat Tom Schieffer in a potential gubernatorial face off next year, although the race has some potential to be competitive if the current Governor … Continue reading →

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Will we or won’t we fix unemployment insurance?

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a lot of money riding on the answer to that question. The lure of $555 million in federal stimulus money for additional unemployment insurance has Texas legislators mulling whether to expand unemployment benefits to more workers. To get that … Continue reading →

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KBH leads Perry in early poll

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, the polling firm Public Policy Polling asked the readers of its blog which state they should do next. The readers, with a little help from us bloggers, picked Texas. PPP has the results of its first poll up … Continue reading →

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Gambling poll

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Got a press release in the mail on Monday that claims there is broad support for expanded gambling in Texas – in particular, allowing slot machines at existing race tracks and on Indian reservations. I’ll point you to Texas Insider … Continue reading →

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Sixty-five percent of nothing

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So back in 2005, after the regular legislative session and two ensuing special sessions on school finance, Governor Perry issued an executive order that would require schools to spend at least 65 percent of their tax money in the classroom. … Continue reading →

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Steroid madness

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Can we please declare victory in the war on steroids in Texas high schools and move on to something more productive? Only 11 Texas high school students proved positive for steroid use among nearly 29,000 students tested in the last … Continue reading →

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Why does Governor Perry hate sex toys?

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

From Scott Henson: Normally, the Texas Senate rubber stamps the Governor’s appointments to the Board of Pardons and Paroles, but one of Rick Perry’s three appointees announced last week perhaps deserves closer vetting by the Senate. According to the Governor’s … Continue reading →

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Stimulus for the schools

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Texas’ public schools are set to get some much needed stimulus money. Texas school districts can expect a jolt of more than $3 billion over two years under the $787 billion package ushered in by President Barack Obama’s administration. Under … Continue reading →

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So about all those stimulus funds

Posted on February 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Remember how Governor Perry had argued against states receiving federal stimulus dollars? Well, he still doesn’t want them, though he’s giving himself some waffle room. Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday he’s not sure the state should accept all of its … Continue reading →

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Another step forward for a statewide smoking ban

Posted on February 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The statewide smoking ban proposals picked up the endorsement of the state restaurant association. On Monday, the Texas Restaurant Association voted to support the measure – one they say would “level the playing field” for establishments across Texas. “With 28 … Continue reading →

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Poll Texas

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Public Policy Polling is doing a poll of a different kind – they’ve got an online poll up asking their readers where their next poll should be. One of the three choices is Texas – Senate and Governor – for … Continue reading →

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Tough times for local governments

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s gonna be a bad year. They’re not feeling the economic storm quite yet, but local governments across the Houston region are hunkering down anyway. Some have frozen hiring, others have stopped filling potholes. Planned purchases of police cars, golf … Continue reading →

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More on Schieffer

Posted on February 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Still not sure what I think about potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Schieffer, but at least as long as he’s out there at least there will be someone who can provide some counterweight to the Rick ‘N’ Kay Show. Although … Continue reading →

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If you’re going to reform it, reform it right

Posted on February 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I agree with State Supreme Court Justice Wallace Jefferson that the way we elect judges in Texas needs reform. I just don’t think he’s proposing a real fix for the problem he’s identified. Texas remains one of only seven states … Continue reading →

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Will we get a piece of the stimulus?

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe, maybe not. Many states, running short of cash, may jump at the chance to spend federal stimulus money. In Texas, though, the executive and legislative branches may not jump in unison. Several Democrats and even a few Republicans are … Continue reading →

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The reason we need a credible Democratic candidate for Governor, in a nutshell

Posted on February 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In case you missed it, the far right wing Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina offered an amendment to the economic stimulus bill during all the sausage-making last week. Here’s what he proposed: o Permanently repeal the alternative minimum tax … Continue reading →

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