The Budget and Politics

The Harris County Sports Corporation will show us the proposals today and I don’t expect to be blown away by any suggestion.  To date not a single idea has persuaded me to support keeping the Dome.  It is not going to be a casino.  It is not going to be a super hotel.  It is not going to be a museum.  It is not going to be a movie production studio.  It is not going to be stripped down and made to look like a skeleton.  It is not going to be a water park.  It is not going to be an indoor ski slope.  It is not going to be s shopping mall.  It is not going to be a super food court.

It will either be a parking lot or green space. Stay tuned!

Name the two pitchers in 1969 who shared the AL Cy Young Award?

The H-Town City Council will vote on the budget today.  The meeting is off to a late start and I’m thinking there might be some lobbying going on behind the scenes on the property tax relief amendments that the Mayor does not support.  Check this from the hard copy of the Chron that is only available online to subscribers:

Some Houston City Council members are urging constituents to lobby their colleagues in support of property tax relief for seniors, setting up a Wednesday showdown with Mayor Annise Parker, whose administration has asked that those amendments to her proposed budget be pulled without a vote.

Complicating the situation is the November election looming for the mayor and 16 council members, and the political clout of seniors, who vote at higher rates than other demographic groups.

"We’ve paid our dues and I don’t think we should be under stress over if and how we’re going to be able to keep our homes," southwest Houston senior Minnie Taylor said Tuesday, one of several who addressed council on the topic. "I’m pleading with you to vote yes on the amendments."

By state law, residential property owners are eligible for a standard exemption on 20 percent of their home’s appraised value. Seniors aged 65 and older receive additional exemptions, which taxing entities – including cities, counties and school districts – can increase. About 95,000 properties in Houston receive the senior exemption, according to the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office.

Harris County’s exemption is $160,000. Some council members want to increase the city’s $70,862 exemption to match that.

Councilwoman Helena Brown sent 17,000 robo-calls to District A seniors, urging them to voice support for her proposal by calling the office of the mayor and some members of council. Councilman Andrew Burks sent a similar email blast to constituents and Super Neighborhood leaders. Brown and Burks’ ideas differ, but both would raise the city’s exemption incrementally to match Harris County’s.

"Property values are increasing, water rates are increasing, the drainage fee and all that – these folks are on fixed incomes and their exemption is not increasing," Brown said. "They’re feeling the impact, and I think it’s unjust. I think that argument will be heard. It’s just common sense."

In his proposed budget amendments, Councilman C.O. Bradford presented three options: freeze home values for properties valued between the city and county exemption levels, hike the city senior exemption to match the county’s, or raise the city’s senior exemption to $80,000.

In a document sent to council members Tuesday night, Parker stated her positions on the council members’ 60 budget amendments. She asks Brown and Burks to withdraw their items and asks Bradford to withdraw his proposal to freeze values because City Attorney David Feldman believes they violate state law; one council cannot mandate the actions of a future council, Feldman said.

Parker also asks Bradford to withdraw his other two proposals; one would cost $26.7 million and the other $3.8 million, City Finance Director Kelly Dowe estimates. Dowe estimates Brown’s proposal would cost at least $5.7 million in the first year and more than $102 million over time.

Parker last week said she was open to raising senior exemptions if offsetting spending cuts could be found. In the Tuesday night memo, however, the mayor states her support for amendments from council members Oliver Pennington and Dave Martin that would put all revenues above projected levels into the city’s reserves. Those items are scheduled to be voted on first; if either passes, Parker states she will not support amendments that cut revenue or raise expenses.

Bradford’s most modest proposal would save the average over-65 homeowner about $39 a year, Dowe said. Former county Tax Assessor-Collector Don Sumners, who has pushed the council to raise the exemption for two years, estimated the savings at $56; every bit helps those on fixed incomes, he said.

Pennington and Councilman Stephen Costello, who chairs the council’s budget committee, called for caution on raising the exemption, noting projections that show a potential $81 million deficit in the next budget cycle.

"Without a thorough examination of the impact of the exemptions, I certainly could not vote for them," Pennington said.

Rice University political scientist Mark Jones said raising exemptions is among the best ways local officials have to directly benefit voters, who can see precisely what they have gained.

"Not only is it a senior exemption, but it’s a senior homeowner exemption, and among seniors, homeowners vote more than non-homeowners," Jones said. "You’re taking the demographic that votes the most or has some of the highest participation rates, and you’re providing a direct benefit to them."

You have to wonder about the politics of this.  After all it is only four months or so from the election.  I’ll be watching City Council this morning.

In 1969 B’More’s Mike Cuellar and the Tigers’ Denny McLain won the AL Cy Young Award of course.

Last night was good baseball but too bad only 13,000 and change showed up.  Come on folks, err fans!  The team is playing better these days and you are missing out.  Get out to The Yard!

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astrodome,Houston Politics,Houston Elections,Houston City Council,Houston City Hall,Houston Mayor Annise Parker,Houston Property Taxes

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Adding to the Ballot

If some local leaders have their way Harris County voters may have the opportunity to vote on an initiative this November to add a penny to their property taxes and put it into early childhood education programs.  This kind of sounds like what San Antonio voters approved last year.  The Chron has a front page story in the hard copy and only available to subscribers online.  Check out a piece:

Harris County voters could be asked to approve a tax increase later this year to improve and expand early childhood programs, if a coalition of business and civic leaders can get its initiative on the November ballot.

The recently formed Harris County School Readiness Corp., a group whose membership includes former Houston first lady Andrea White, is circulating a petition calling for the placement of an item on the next election ballot that would increase the county property tax rate by 1 cent, generating about $25 million a year to train teachers and buy school supplies for child-care centers serving children up to age 5.

"All the recent brain science development has indicated that early childhood education is absolutely pivotal," said Jonathan Day, a member of the corporation’s board and a former Houston city attorney. "The business community and academics, everybody’s of the single mind that, if there is a single point of investment for leverage to improve children’s education, it’s at early childhood."

The initiative stems from a recommendation made in an April report commissioned by the Greater Houston Partnership and the Collaborative for Children. It is similar to one launched by San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, which ended in voters last year approving a modest sales tax hike to build new pre-kindergarten centers.

Of course the group has to get around 78,000 petition signatures.  That’s a lot of signatures.

County Commissioner Steve Radack has come out in opposition to the effort.  Check this from the Chron:

"I think people already pay too much money in school taxes and the fact of the matter is this is just a back door to try to get the county to get more money shipped over into education," Radack said.

This initiative has a long way to go.  They have to get the signatures.  They have to get the signatures approved.  Then they have to educate the voters.

I tried to follow the San Antonio effort last year.  The SA effort was their mayor’s initiative and baby.  He campaigned extensively for it.  Our mayor is in a battle for reelection so the local effort would have to find a well respected and well known local leader or leaders to sell the measure.  Good luck and stay tuned!

The Brewers are in town for three.  How many MVP Awards do the Brewers hold?

I guess what goes around comes around.  I’m talking about a proposed Astrodome initiative.  Tomorrow the County Sports Corporation will unveil the latest Dome proposals and will lay out one of their own.  It will be interesting if an initiative makes it to the November ballot.

Some folks may want us to support bonds to save the Dome.

Some folks may want us to support a penny property tax increase to save our kids.

Some folks will oppose both.

Rollie Fingers won the AL MVP Award in 1981, Robin Yount won the AL MVP Award in 1982 and 1989, and Ryan Broid won the NL MVP Award in 2011 of course.

Jason Castro is making a strong case to make the AL All Star team.   Let’s see how we do against Brewers.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,County Commissioner Steve Raack,Houston Elections,Harris County Elections,San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro,Houston City Hall,Houston Politics,Texas Politics

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Friday’s Latest

I’m thinking that Fort Bend Mechanical isn’t going to be doing any business at HISD for a while.  Channel 13 ran a piece Friday night that says according to court records the Fort Bend Mechanical honcho handed off cash to three HISD Board members.  The fella also says that he was asked to pay-to-play at HISD.

Here is the Channel 13 story.

You have to figure that the FBI is going to be all over this.

Why would any governmental entity want to hire Fort Bend Mechanical these days? 

Robin Ventura is the White Sox skipper.  How many career grand salamis does he have?

The Chron E-Board is kind of calling out U.S. Sen. John Cornyn for playing games on immigration reform.  Here are parts:

"This is classic Cornyn. We know the pattern all too well," said immigration advocate Frank Sharry. "He pretends to be sincere about the need for reform. He asks for changes that are a bridge too far. He destabilizes the bipartisan agreement already in place. He helps to thwart reform. He votes no in the end anyway."

Cornyn, the Senate’s minority whip, insists that his amendment would improve the bill. "I think it will also dramatically improve the chances of immigration reform passing," he said.

What the senator is not saying is that he’s up for reelection next year and is worried about a Ted Cruz clone tearing into his vulnerable right flank. A stealth sabotage of immigration reform might inoculate him against a challenger jabbing at him for being soft on the illegals.

Here is the entire E-Board take.

What else is news!

Robin Ventura has 18 careers grand salamis of course.

I don’t know what to say about the up and down ‘Stros who now have won four in row after losing six in a row.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Independent School District Vendor Controversy,Houston Politics,Texas Politics,Immigration Reform,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Sentor John Cornyn,Ted Cruz

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It’s the Vision Thing, Stupid!

Next week the H-Town City Council will vote to adopt the budget and they may have to vote on property tax relief amendments.  Check this out from yesterday’s Chron:

The council is expected to begin hashing out the budget next week.

The big-ticket proposals related to property tax relief for seniors, with council members Andrew Burks, C.O. Bradford and Helena Brown each offering at least one idea on the topic. Most of their amendments sought to raise Houston’s $70,862 residential property tax exemption to match Harris County’s $160,000. Affected homeowners would save $569 annually under Bradford’s most aggressive proposal, and up to $58 under his most modest.

Brown’s proposal, which would hike the city exemption in steps to match the county’s by 2019, would cost $5.7 million next year and $102 million cumulatively by 2019, City Finance Department director Kelly Dowe estimated. Those numbers likely are understated, he said, because they are based on 2012 tax data and assume no growth in appraised values.

Everybody likes tax relief. If you take revenue out of the budget what do you cut?  It always sounds nice to support tax relief but it isn’t revenue relief. I would hope that it has nothing to do with the upcoming election.  Stay tuned!

The White Sox are in town.  Name the last White Sox player to win the AL MVP Award?

The Big Jolly fella has an interesting take on the mayor’s race.  He went and checked out a Ben Hall talk to a pachyderm group.  You may not agree with Big Jolly because he is a GOPer but it is a take nonetheless in a time when not many folks are putting out takes on the race.  Here is a part:

After meeting him (Ben Hall) and hearing what he has to say, I think he might have a real shot at ousting Mayor Parker.

First off, he has vision. Mayor Parker may be a lot of things, and most of them good, but a visionary she ain’t. Hold the fort? Yes. Toe the line? Yes. Minor improvements here and there? Yes. But visionary? No. The one thing that she did that was somewhat visionary was to try and “fix” drainage issues. Unfortunately, she did it with a huge tax and a deceptive ad campaign, both of which were targets of Mr. Hall during his comments today. Rather than using the money for shovel ready drainage projects, the money is paying the salaries of Public Works employees.

Hall’s vision is to grow Houston. In fact, he claims his campaign and the election aren’t even about Mayor Parker but about the future of the city.

Here is the entire Big Jolly take.

It’s the vision thing, stupid! 

I don’t know if the vision thing will work.

Last night the lights went out in our ‘hood for over an hour and it wasn’t a transformer popping out.  It felt more like a mini rolling blackout.  Oh, well!

Frank Thomas of course of the White Sox won the AL MVP Award in 1994.

The White Sox are in for four and Orbit bobblebellys will be handed out tomorrow.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Mayoral Race,Mayor Annisse Parker,Houston City Council,Houston Elections,Houston Politics,Texas Politics,Ben Hall,Councilmember James Rodriguez,Helena Brown,Andrew Burks

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The Dome Vetoes

Commentary worked on the winning stadium referendum back in 1996 that led to the construction of Minute Maid Park and Reliant Stadium.  The campaign assembled a coalition of a number of interests that included the Rodeo.  At the time folks knew that Downtown was the proposed site of the baseball stadium. 

In 1995 the Oilers had already announced that they were packing their bags and heading for Tennessee.   Since the Rodeo was a major tenant of the Dome they had to be brought on board and ballot language had to stipulate that their interests would be included.  Here is the 1996 referendum ballot language:

PROPOSITION NO. 1:  AUTHORIZING HARRIS COUNTY TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE NEW OR RENOVATED STADIUMS, ARENAS, AND OTHER FACILITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL TEAMS PROVIDED THAT NO COUNTY REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES ARE SPENT TO ACQUIRE, CONSTRUCT, OR EQUIP THESE FACILITIES.

Passage of the referendum would be a key factor in acquiring an NFL franchise.  The Rodeo uses the football stadium so they knew that if we were to get awarded a NFL franchise a new state-of-the-art football stadium would get built.   Politically it also helped that the Rodeo has an incredible reach with thousands of volunteers and supporters, and numerous partners and sponsors whose backing would be critical to passage of the 1996 referendum.

775,525 votes were cast in the Proposition 1 ballot measure and it prevailed by 16,421 – 51% to 49%.

In 1999 H-Town was awarded an NFL franchise after new owner Bob McNair put up a few hundred million to bring a franchise to the city.  The rest is history.

Commentary mentioned the ‘Stros’ number one pick of the 1976 draft Floyd Bannister.  Three players drafted in 1976 are now in the MLB Hall of Fame – name them?

Back to the Dome, in today’s hard copy of the Chron we are reminded of the influence, err veto power of the Texans and Rodeo on any major changes at Reliant Park.  Here are parts of the Chron reminder:

While the primary tenants of Reliant Park do not have veto power over development plans, they do have other extensive rights to the site under lease and legal agreements with the county. Even though Harris County Commissioners Court will make the ultimate decision about what to do with the iconic stadium, those rights "must be taken into consideration," said Edgardo Colón, chairman of the governing board of the Harris County Sports & Convention Corp., which oversees Reliant Park.

And:

Under a 2001 agreement, which officials say was designed in anticipation of Astrodome redevelopment, the Texans and the Rodeo are granted protection from any venture that would eat into their revenue streams, as well as exclusive access to all 25,000 parking spaces on game days, for the Texans, and to the entire complex for nearly three weeks during the rodeo.

Let’s not forget that a couple of months or so ago the Rodeo and Texans released a report on how much it would cost to put a wrecking ball to the Dome.  That kind of tells me where they stand.

The public proposals were due last night and the Texans and the Rodeo are on the informal review committee, the informal selection committee, and are sole members of the official veto committee.  That’s not a bad place to be.   They have both earned the power they yield on this matter. 

Hall of Fame greats Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, and Ozzie Smith of course were drafted in 1976.  (FYI:  Smith didn’t sign.  He was drafted again in 1977.) 

I don’t know what to say about winning six in a row and now losing five in a row.  It is not as if we are being blown out. 

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astrodome,Reliant Stadium,Harris County Commisioners Court,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Houston Politics,Texas Politics,Houston Latino Politics,Texas Latino Politics

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Six Roots in a Row

Forty-five years ago today Sen. Robert F. Kennedy won the California Democratic Party Presidential primary.  We all know what happened at the Ambassador Hotel after RFK gave his victory speech.

Commentary has had the same black garbage bin since we went the bin route a long time ago.  It gets fed a couple of plastic bags of trash every week – the stuff that can’t be recycled.  It kind of needs new wheels.  A couple of months ago some entrepreneur slapped a flyer on it advertising a garbage bin cleaning service.  In today’s hard copy of the Chron there is a story on the service.  It is called Mr. Clean-a-Can.  From the Chron:

For $10 a month it “cleans, deodorizes and sanitizes garbage bins, mostly for residential customers.”

The “oddly shaped, brightly painted truck lifts the empty bin into a wash bay for cleaning. Afterward, the driver dries the inside and outside of the bin by hand.”

Then the bins are "like brand new – they smell like roses."

My bin doesn’t attract flies and I probably run a water hose on it once a year.

How many World Serious titles does B’More own?

Here is what my pal Jose de Jesus Ortiz from the Chron put out:

The Astros sought and received permission from Major League Baseball to wear a special patch in honor of the four Houston firefighters who died Friday.

“Our prayers go out to the families and friends of the firefighters who lost their lives or were injured in last week’s tragedy,” Astros president Reid Ryan said. “We all owe a debt of gratitude to all of our firefighters, who risk their lives to keep others safe.”

The Astros will wear the patch during the upcoming three-game series from Tuesday to Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles at Minute Maid Park.

The team will also hold a special moment of silence Tuesday night in honor of the four Houston firefighters who died fighting a fire in Southwest Houston Friday.

The team is also offering local and national firefighters and their families free tickets to the upcoming home stand with a firefighter identification.

“People look to us in times like this,” Ryan said.

That is really nice of the team to do this.

Oklahoma State pitching prospect Jonathan Gray tested positive for drugs.  The ‘Stros have him as a possible top pick in the draft.  I don’t know about that.

From MLB.com:

Set aside the preseason predictions, set aside the minuscule payroll and simply focus on the games played between the white lines. The result is something very few expected.

Following Monday’s 2-1 victory over the Angels at Angel Stadium, the Astros have won six straight games — the longest active streak in the Major Leagues.

B’More won World Serious titles in 1966, 1970, and 1983 of course.

B’More and their hot hitting first baseman Chris Davis (.357 average and 20 dingers) visit The Yard for three starting this evening.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Houston City Hall,Houston Politics,Houston Firefighters,City of Houston,Latino Politics,Houston Latino Politics,Texas Politics

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Huh and Lisa’s Turn

The Chron E-Board today mentions a rumor that Guv Dude may resign after the special to prepare for another run for Prez.  The E-Board take isn’t online yet.  I find it hard to believe that Dude would quit.  I find it harder to believe that he would run for Prez. 

This time it’s Lisa Falkenberg from the Chron putting a spanking on the Lite Guv.  He deserves it.  You can only read it if you are a subscriber or have a hard copy.  Here are parts:

The Houston businessman, a Republican who has led the Senate for more than a decade, has been flailing about ever since (actually, long before) he got whipped by then-unknown primary opponent Ted Cruz for U.S. Senate.

His failures in the past legislative session have taken him to new lows in trying to revive his sagging political prospects by pandering to the tea party faction that snubbed him.

"I think he’s running scared now," says Southern Methodist University political science professor Cal Jillson.

And:

"It doesn’t speak well for the lieutenant governor," Rice political science professor Mark Jones said of Dewhurst’s predicament. "… The only reason I could see him running for re-election now is not to end his career on a low note."

Commentary has said before that I am not an expert on GOP politics but I can say this, I don’t think the GOP base thinks the Lite Guv is a genuine rabid red meat right winger.  He tries to act like he is but his base ain’t buying it.  He just doesn’t come across as really believing all that stuff that is coming out of his piehole these days.  That’s why he got his arse handed to him last year by his party.  He’ll never be a Ted Cruz, a Guv Dude, or a Dan Patrick.  I even think his own base sees his recent act as pandering.  Stay tuned!

Nolan Ryan’s jersey was retired by the Angels a while back.  What was his Angels numero?

Now this is interesting from Ericka Mellon of the Chron on the company that is being investigated by the FBI.  Check this:

A Fort Bend construction company accused in a federal bribery lawsuit of conspiring with HISD trustee Larry Marshall now is suing the Houston school district, claiming the firm is owed $9.8 million for renovation work it performed.

Fort Bend Mechanical filed the suit Thursday in Harris County against the Houston Independent School District, alleging that HISD has "refused to pay" the company for numerous campus renovation projects.

The six-page filing does not mention that Fort Bend Mechanical is entangled in a federal civil lawsuit on the same side as HISD. In that ongoing case, a competing construction contractor accuses Fort Bend Mechanical, HISD, Marshall, his business associate and another company RHJ-JOC of conspiring in a bribery and kickback scheme.

Here is Ericka’s piece.

Maybe they think a good offense is a good defense.

Nolan Ryan wore the numero 30 as an Angel of course.

Here is from MLB.com:

Senior scouting officials from the Astros met recently with University of Oklahoma pitcher Jonathan Gray, a source told MLB.com on Thursday. The right-hander is a potential target for the Astros with the No. 1 overall pick in next week’s First-Year Player Draft.

The meeting took place at the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City, where the Sooners won the conference title. Gray, who pitched a shutout in OU’s opening game of the tournament against Baylor, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

Gray is 9-2 with a 1.55 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 110 innings heading into the NCAA regionals. It’s not uncommon for clubs to meet with potential Draft picks, and the Astros did that on occasion last year before taking 17-year-old Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa with the top pick. Gray is among a handful of players the Astros are considering with the first pick, including Stanford pitcher Mark Appel, and college hitters Kris Bryant (San Diego) and Colin Moran (North Carolina). High schoolers Clint Frazier and Austin Meadows have also been on their radar.

The ‘Stros swept the two game series at Coors last night so things are looking better.  J.D. Martinez is stepping up.  Let’s see how they do in Anaheim this weekend.  Get your tickets for B’More.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,David Dewhurst,Texas Politics,Texas Republicans,Houston Independent School District Vendor Controversy,Houston City Hall,Houston Politics,Texas Legislature

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Nobody Cares

Only 11,974 showed up at The Yard yesterday afternoon to check out the ‘Stros and Rockies.  That was the second lowest turnout at The Yard to watch the ‘Stros since they started playing Downtown.  On April 24, 11,686 showed up to catch the ‘Stros and Mariners.  The announced crowd is actually the number of tickets sold so a lot of the 11,974 really didn’t show up yesterday.  That’s too bad.

There are never any lines at the bathrooms.  There are hardly any lines at the concession stands.  The folks working at the concession stands are like carnival hawkers, calling on you to come try their hot dogs or chicken tenders.  It is kind of sad.

If you get there when the gates first open an hour and a half before the game there are never any lines.  On giveaway games, the T-shirts, gym bags, bobbles, umbrellas and other stuff usually last until around 15 minutes before the game starts.  I remember when it used to be all gone 20 minutes after the gates opened.

Commentary said before that a $20 million payroll gets you a $20 million ballclub.  The team does play hard and has not given up though.  I think that is because most of them are young and trying to prove that they belong in the bigs.

I understand folks not wanting to come out to The Yard.  Heck, they are only handing out two bobbles this season – Jose Altuve and Orbit.  That tells you something when a mascot gets a bobble while guys like Jason Castro and Bud Norris don’t.

B’More will come in for three next week and I’m thinking more folks will show up to watch this AL East club.

When the Rockies first started playing in Colorado in 1993 who was their first skipper?

Patti Kilday Hart has a good column today on the State Senate giving up the two-thirds rule during the special session.  Here are parts:

In 2003, Houston Sen. John Whitmire endured harsh criticism after he broke ranks with fellow Democrats and returned from a self-imposed exile in Albuquerque, where the lawmakers had fled to avoid voting on Republican-drawn redistricting maps.

At the time, Whitmire felt the condemnation was worth what he had secured in return: a promise from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst that he would abide by the Senate tradition of requiring a two-thirds vote to debate bills on all issues besides redistricting. The flight to Albuquerque had prompted some Republicans to want to change that rule, and Whitmire believed his return would save it.

"There has been that commitment made to me," he said in a 2003 interview explaining his defection from fellow Democrats.

What a difference a decade makes. In a letter to Gov. Rick Perry on Monday, Dewhurst urged that the special session agenda be expanded to other issues blocked by Senate Democrats in the regular session.

Acknowledging that he planned to abandon the rule, Dewhurst wrote: "I see no other alternative than to operate under a simple majority vote in the Special Session. The Legislature was unable to pass a number of important bills intended to protect and expand the freedom of Texans and cut the size and scope of government."

Whitmire said he confronted Dewhurst about the letter on the Senate floor Tuesday, but the lieutenant governor "kinda blew me off" by pointing out that the governor has called the special session only for the issue of redistricting. Dewhurst, who has called on Perry to expand the special session to take up bills to restrict abortion and expand gun rights, declined comment through a spokesman.

And:

Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, argued the Senate should be consistent: "If we bypass the two-thirds rule in a special session, the tough issues will be held up at the end of a regular session. It will be one more reason not to work together to find common ground."

And:

Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, agreed.

"I personally favor the two-thirds rule. It protects urban versus rural. It helps me protect water and transportation issues in my area," he said. "You can ram a lot of stuff through with a majority. A lot of bad stuff my constituents oppose would get passed. I’m for less legislation, not more."

Oh, well!

The Chron E-Board has a piece today on if you build it they might not come.  I’m talking about the much ballyhooed Buffalo Bayou sprucing up.  Apparently accessing the bayou is a challenge.  Here is how the piece ends:

After all, the park won’t be a very smart use of tax dollars if Houstonians have to run across the freeway to get there.

Check it out here.

Dierk is back.

Check it out here.

Don Baylor of course was the first Rcokies’ skipper back in 1993 of course.

A first!  Jason Castro was named AL Player of the Week after batting .579 with three dingers.  Congrats to Castro!

We’re at Coors for two starting this evening.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Houston City Hall,Texas Legislature,Texas Politics,Redistricting in Texas,Governor Rick Perry,David Dewhurst,Houston Economy,Houston Politics

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And Again

It is back to redistricting again.  I knew all the recent articles and columns about the legislative feel good session would come to an end.  I’m betting it will be a red meat special session. 

It is a slow news day I have to say.  Politico didn’t add much today.  Their lead story this morning on May 28, 2013 is who is Hillary going to hire in 2016.  She is not even interviewing folks these days.

Walt Weiss is the skipper of the Rockies.  As an A’s, Weiss got him a World Serious ring.  He also was a member of The ATL when they beat us in 12 in Game 3 of the NLDS back in 1999.  In the bottom of the 10^th with the game tied at 3, the ‘Stros loaded the bases with nobody out but failed to score.  Name the three batters that came up in the bottom of the 10^th that failed to bring in the winning run?

I don’t know how long they will be in special session but if someone runs into The Dean, tell him he’s not missing much at The Yard.

With the infield playing in, Carl Everett grounded one to the first baseman who forced out Baggy at home for the first out.  With the infield still playing in, Tony Eusebio grounded one to shortstop Walt Weiss who threw home to force out Caminiti for the second out.  Ricky Gutierrez struck out to end the inning and the rest is history.

I don’t feel so bad with only 15 wins.  There are three other teams with wins in the teens.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Texas Legislature,State Senator John Whitmire,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Redistricting in Texas,Texas Politics,Hosuton Politics,Texas Latino Politics

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The Metro Honor System

Commentary doesn’t ride the Downtown Light Rail much.  I’ve ridden it probably less than five times since it opened back in 2004.  You have to purchase a ticket to ride even though they don’t have turnstiles or ticket takers.  It is called an honor system. 

Sometimes Metro will have some of their police waiting at stops and ask to see the tickets of departing passengers.  You get busted and handed a citation if they catch you riding without paying.

This December the Metro North Light Rail Line will open and next year the East End Light Rail Line and Southeast Light Rail Line will open.  I’m thinking since all the new lines will be running through the ‘hood Metro will get a bit more aggressive in checking to see who is paying to ride the light rail. 

I’m OK with that just as long as it doesn’t get to the harassment level or doesn’t get into a sort of racial profile thing.

Everybody knows that the Cy Young Award has been around since 1957.  How many MLB clubs have never produced a Cy Young Award winner?

Burkablog gave the Lite Guv a blistering spanking this past weekend.  Here it is:

Poor David Dewhurst. He occupies what was once widely considered to be the most powerful office in the state. Now he is reduced to begging Rick Perry to help him pass his pet legislation so that he can have something to take to the voters. Dewhurst has had plenty of time after his loss in the Senate race to develop a legislative program, and now he comes along at the last minute to ask for special [session] treatment for his legislation.

And whose fault is it that the Dew doesn’t have much to show for his efforts? Why, it’s those awful Democrats, of course, the ones who have 12 votes in their caucus while the Republicans have 19 votes in theirs. No wonder he can’t get anything done. The minority is just too strong. The man hasn’t got a scintilla of self-awareness, and the whole Capitol is scoffing at him. Now Dewhurst wants his issues, the ones he couldn’t get passed in the regular session, to be front and center in the special.

It would be different if even one of Dewhurst’s issues were good for the state, but even that hurdle is too high to climb. Water? Who needs it? Roads? We’ve got plenty of them. Education? Sure, let’s give public money to TLR for private schools. What we really need are drug tests for welfare recipients and people seeking unemployment benefits. Campus carry? Now you’re talking. Let’s not forget redistricting and Voter I.D. Surely there’s an abortion bill we’ve neglected to pass. And we can always recycle that state spending cap his buddy MQS likes to write about.

If Dewhurst had exhibited one iota of leadership this session, he wouldn’t have to beg for a special session. But he didn’t. And the truth is, he hasn’t done so for years.

What is really on your mind Burkablog?

This is from MLB.com today:

Astros designated hitter (catcher) Jason Castro continued his red-hot surge, going a career-high 4-for-4 with four singles to raise his average to .283 following a 10-for-12 tear. He is the first Astros player with at least three hits in three consecutive games since Ty Wigginton on Aug. 15-17, 2008.

Speaking of, I wonder what kind of session Ty Wiggintonner’s Brother had up in Austin?

Here is what The General had to say in the Chron last Thursday:

Since Houston won the vote Tuesday, I have been asked about the Astrodome and its fate in relation to the 2017 Super Bowl.

The Astrodome had nothing to do with the owners’ decision, but I’ll make this prediction: It will be demolished before Super Bowl LI. I think it’ll be cleared for 1,600 parking spaces or possibly something like a small replica that’s a museum for what used to be the Eighth Wonder of the World.

The Astrodome isn’t an issue for the Texans or the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo or the NFL, for that matter. Its fate will be decided by our politicians. It’ll be a difficult decision to tear it down, but it will be the right decision.

Here is what Chron columnist Ken Hoffman said yesterday about the Dome:

Here’s why nothing will ever be done about the Astrodome. Politicians know they will anger voters no matter what they decide to do with the Dome. It’s easier to do nothing and offend nobody and get re-elected. Do something! Anything! Either fix it up or tear it down. Let’s not have another Super Bowl with that moldy, rat-infested Astrodome ruining our image.

OK, so the A’s own our arses 9 games zip this season.  I wish I could say let’s look at the bright side.  Jason Castro is hitting .283 and if he stays around .283 that’s a good thing.  Jose Altuve is batting .309.  Matt Dominguez is starting to get a hot bat.  Let’s just hope it stays hot.

Five MLB clubs have never produced a Cy Young Award winner of course:  Marlins, Nationals, Rangers, Reds, and Rockies.  When the Nats were the Expos, they won one with Pedro Martinez back in 1997.

The Rockies are in town for a couple. 

 

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