Tag Archives: Dan Patrick

Some people are big mad at Dan Patrick

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

It’s fun to watch. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was clear from the start. Weeks before this year’s legislative session began, and before he announced any other priorities, the Republican Senate leader said he wanted lawmakers to ban, at any cost, … Continue reading →

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The beer and liquor difference on THC

Posted on June 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

My head is spinning. As Gov. Greg Abbott weighs Texas’ proposed THC ban, one industry is working overtime to influence his decision: the alcohol lobby. Amid plunging alcohol sales, some groups representing liquor stores are opposing the ban as they … Continue reading →

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The THC ban and the Houston retail market

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. The bright lights of Bahama Mama’s flagship store along Lower Westheimer turned on a year ago, welcoming passersby into a hemp shop unlike anything else in Houston. A red carpet rolled into a mirrored showroom stocked with nearly every … Continue reading →

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Time to bury the 2025 Legislature

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good riddance. Texas lawmakers gaveled out of their 140-day legislative session on Monday after passing a raft of conservative policies, from private school vouchers to tighter bail laws, that furthered the state’s march to the right. The Legislature wrapped up … Continue reading →

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Still on the “what will Greg Abbott do with the THC ban” question

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

He’s going to take his sweet time, that much is for sure. Gov. Greg Abbott is facing intense political pressure over a bill that would ban products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, as hemp industry leaders mount a full-court press urging … Continue reading →

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The THC ban and hemp farmers

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Obviously bad for them. Six years ago, Texas lawmakers opened a door to a new lifeline for farmers: growing hemp. Farmers invested time, money and land into growing the drought-resistant crop and developing the state’s budding hemp industry. The same … Continue reading →

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Abbott’s decision and Patrick’s tantrum

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

A brief roundup of some THC stories… What will Greg Abbott do? Gov. Greg Abbott has been tight-lipped about whether he’ll sign the bill on his desk that would ban THC in Texas. I don’t envy him. There’s really no … Continue reading →

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Film incentive bill passes

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Probably won’t be that big a deal, but we’ll see. The Texas House gave final approval to a bill increasing the amount of money the state spends to attract film and television productions. Senate Bill 22, filed by Houston Republican … Continue reading →

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So about that Compassionate Use program…

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Psyche! A plan to expand Texas’ struggling medical marijuana program has been stripped down by a state Senate committee, just days after the House agreed to the upper chamber’s plan to ban all recreational THC. New draft language for House … Continue reading →

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THC retailers upset by THC ban

Posted on May 26, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

What are y’all going to do about it? Sydney Torabi, co-founder of Austin-based Restart CBD, could only watch in disbelief late Wednesday night as the Texas House delivered a key vote to push through a ban on all products containing … Continue reading →

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Lege goes for full THC ban

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Welp. The Texas House late Wednesday gave initial approval to a bill that would ban all products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, likely spelling the end for the state’s short-lived hemp industry. Under the legislation, which is nearing the governor’s desk … Continue reading →

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Rep. Vikki Goodwin to run for Lite Guv

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Dems have their first official statewide candidate. State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, has filed paperwork to run for lieutenant governor in next year’s midterm election, giving up a safe seat in the Texas House to seek one of the state’s … Continue reading →

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The end of the road for the Texas Lottery Commission

Posted on May 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

And possibly for the Lottery, though not immediately. The Texas Senate unanimously approved a bill that would abolish the Texas Lottery Commission, move the state’s game to a different agency and add several new restrictions on how lottery tickets can … Continue reading →

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Houston hospitals have done worse with the abortion ban than Dallas hospitals have

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Unacceptable. Nearly four years ago in Texas, the state’s new abortion law started getting in the way of basic miscarriage care: As women waited in hospitals cramping, fluid running down their legs, doctors told them they couldn’t empty their uterus … Continue reading →

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Once more with Trump’s approval ratings in Texas

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. President Donald Trump is viewed favorably by 47% of Texas voters and unfavorably by 50%, putting his net favorability at -3. This is a significant decline since November, when Trump’s net favorability was +12 (55% favorable, 43% unfavorable). … Continue reading →

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Another Texas Lottery Commission director resigns

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. Ryan Mindell, the embattled executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission, has resigned, according to a terse press release published on the agency’s website Monday afternoon. Mindell’s departure comes almost exactly one year to the day after he took over the top job at … Continue reading →

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A possible wrench in the voucher engine

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I approve. House Democrats are threatening to kill all constitutional amendments for the rest of session unless the House votes to put school vouchers before voters in November. They appear to have the numbers to make good on that special … Continue reading →

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Senate passes Dan Patrick’s THC ban bill

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

You may want to stock up now if this would affect you. The Texas Senate on Wednesday passed a state ban on all forms of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, advancing a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to crack down on … Continue reading →

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Once again, don’t bet on expanded gambling

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the safest wager out there. A dozen Texas House Republicans who replaced pro-gambling lawmakers said this week they would oppose “any attempt to expand gambling” this session — a setback for efforts to legalize casinos and sports betting in … Continue reading →

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Texas Lottery Commission bans online ticket firms

Posted on February 25, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Tossing a bucket of water onto a raging inferno. The Texas Lottery Commission on Monday announced that it is banning so-called courier services, companies that skirt the state’s legal prohibition on online ticket sales by taking orders for lottery tickets … Continue reading →

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Rebooting Texas’ film incentive program

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Everything old is new again. A promise to make Texas the film capital of the world has left local creatives raring to cash in — and preparing for a legislative battle. The Texas Senate has proposed injecting $498 million to … Continue reading →

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Abbott says he’s for sports betting

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Doesn’t really change anything, though. Gov. Greg Abbott is ready to allow online sports betting in Texas. In an exclusive interview for the Texas Take Podcast, Abbott said he has no objection to the Texas Legislature passing a law to … Continue reading →

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Dan Patrick says something about abortion

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Usually, when Dan Patrick says something should happen in the Legislature, he gets his way. With this, I’m not so sure he actually has anything in mind, and as such I’m not expecting anything. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Sunday … Continue reading →

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Yeah, we’re still not getting sports betting

Posted on January 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

But Axios is gonna write about it as if there’s a chance, because it’s that time of the biennium again. Texas remains a holdout in the nationwide push to expand gambling, but industry representatives are headed to Austin for the … Continue reading →

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Burrows elected Speaker

Posted on January 15, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Gotta admit, I’m a little surprised. Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, was voted speaker of the Texas House on Tuesday, elevating him to one of the most powerful positions in state government. Burrows’ win marks a disappointing defeat for the insurgent … Continue reading →

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Whitmire’s first year

Posted on January 3, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has a story about how Mayor Whitmire’s first year has gone, and I’ll get to that shortly, but first I want to look at this story, about his efforts to get help from the state government for the … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: Senate 2024

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

PREVIOUSLY: President The US Senate race between Colin Allred and Ted Cruz was easily the best Democratic result, the race most like 2020, with Allred winning by over 11 points and 175K votes. The precinct numbers reflect this margin of … Continue reading →

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Dan Patrick wants to ban all THC products

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

No hemp for you! Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced Wednesday that lawmakers in the state Senate would move to ban all forms of consumable tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, in Texas. Patrick, who presides over the Senate and largely controls the flow … Continue reading →

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PUC to audit CenterPoint

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this last week. The Public Utility Commission of Texas took a step toward an audit of CenterPoint Energy, fulfilling Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s directive issued in the wake of widespread criticism of the Houston-area electric utility’s handling of Hurricane … Continue reading →

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From the “Definition of insanity” department

Posted on August 22, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

We’re just gonna keep doing this, aren’t we? Undaunted by legislative defeat more than a year ago, Las Vegas Sands, one of the world’s biggest casino operators, is gearing up for another push to legalize casino gambling in Texas and … Continue reading →

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More on the cryptomining noise problem

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

It does sound like hell. Over the course of several months in 2024, TIME spoke to more than 40 people in the Granbury area who reported a medical ailment that they believe is connected to the arrival of the Bitcoin … Continue reading →

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PUC launches its CenterPoint investigation

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. The Public Utility Commission on Monday launched an investigation into CenterPoint’s response to widespread power outages that continue one week after Hurricane Beryl swept through the region, Chairman Thomas Gleeson said. The commission’s staff will recommend changes CenterPoint can … Continue reading →

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Now we’re concerned about crypto mining?

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

So, are we like gonna roll up the red carpet we laid out for these guys a couple of years ago? Texas is now home to 10 of 34 large Bitcoin mines. During cold spells or heat waves, Texans are … Continue reading →

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Oh, look, Greg Abbott’s back

Posted on July 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday slammed utility CenterPoint Energy, which has yet to restore power for hundreds of thousands of customers in the Houston area, and ordered the company to take steps to improve power reliability. In his first … Continue reading →

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