08 July 2008
My life as of July 8, 2008 (Lou Minatti)
We're happy to see the return of this local blogger (Lou Minatti).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/08/08 11:13 PM |
How long will the public information position last at the District Attorney's office (Isiah Carey's Insite)?
Isiah Carey spoke to Clarence Bradford (a rare sighting!) today about the DA's new public information office, and Bradford is uncertain if he'll keep it if elected, because he views the DA's role as one of public information (Isiah Carey's Insite).
That comes as news to people who wish Candidate Bradford would receive and answer any number of questions about his role (mis)managing the HPD Crime Lab.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/08/08 10:55 PM |
A good man (LatHCCJC)
A Harris County Lawyer comments on blogger and lawyer Mark Bennett (Life at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/08/08 10:49 PM |
Culberson criticizes Dem effort to stifle member web communications (updated)
Earlier today, Rep. John Culberson's blog alerted us to an attempt by the Democratic House leadership to stifle various forms of electronic communication by members. Here's a statement from the Republican leadership, via the blog:
Millions of Americans today utilize free, unregulated and uncensored websites like YouTube on a daily basis to not only obtain information from their elected leaders about what’s going on in their government, but to also give feedback and easily share that information with others. The advent of new media technology has empowered American citizens with real-time information about the policy debates and actions being undertaken by Congress. This has increasingly forced Congress to become more transparent and made it easier for American citizens to hold their elected leaders accountable.
The Committee on House Administration is considering a new rule that could bring this trend to a screeching halt. The Committee is considering the adoption of new rules that would require outside websites such as YouTube to comply with House regulations before Members of Congress could post videos on them. Under the proposal, the House Administration Committee would develop a list of "approved" websites, and Members of Congress could post content only such websites. The rule has been proposed by the Democratic chairman of the Commission on Mailing Standards, Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA), and is being considered for adoption by the Committee on House Administration, chaired by Rep. Robert Brady (D-PA). A copy of Rep. Capuano's letter is available at http://gopleader.gov/UploadedFiles/Capuano_letter.PDF.
If the proposed rule is adopted, the free flow of information over the Internet between Americans and their representatives will be significantly curtailed. Americans who currently use free websites like YouTube to obtain uncensored daily information about congressional policy debates will instead be forced to go to websites "approved" by the House Administration Committee in order to continue getting such information. This would amount to new government censorship of the Internet, by a panel of federal officials that is neither neutral nor independent.
As noted previously, Culberson has actively embraced twitter and other web communication technology, and as one might expect, he has been blasting away on twitter at the effort by the Democratic House leadership to stifle such communications.
While we can understand why the Democratic House leadership might want to limit its exposure to the public right now, as web geeks we kind of like the fact that some elected officials have embraced... well, web geekery... to communicate with constituents.
Shouldn't we be encouraging more such freewheeling interaction with constituents, not discouraging it?
If you feel strongly about this matter, one way or the other, let Rep. Culberson know on his twitter page. You'll probably even get a response -- at least for now.
UPDATE: For balance, we offer this take on the controversy.
UPDATE (07-09-2008): And here's a counterpoint to the point directly above. We also noticed that Rep. Culberson commented on the post:
Heres how the House leadership will use this rule to control where and what I say and even exercise influence over your website/blog etc
If the Ds rule change were in effect today, before I could post this, your website/blog would have to be preapproved as complying with House rules, my post would require a disclaimer that it was "produced by a House office for official purposes," and the CONTENT of my post would have to be preapproved by the House Franking Committee as complying with "existing content rules and regulations."
This is a violation of your First Amendment rights and mine, and is an outrageous attempt by House leadership to stifle and control you and me. If Rs were in charge I would be just as outraged - forget the party label - I do not want the federal gov't/House of Representatives certifying your website or the content of my posts. I am writing this post personally, in my official capacity, so it would fall precisely under their new rule and you and I would both be in violation unless we subjected ourselves and my words to their prior approval/editing.
I am always ready to admit I am wrong but I am an attorney and this is what the letter means.
This is a story worth following because I am going to continue to vigorously exercise my First Amendment rights on every social media outlet I can reach. It is my right as an American and my duty as a representative.
thanks
John Culberson
It's worth noting that this sort of immediate response might not be allowed under a strict interpretation of the rules that are being proposed. And that's unfortunate.
UPDATE 2 (07-09-2008): The good folks at The Sunlight Foundation, who are advocates for openness, transparency, and accountability in government (as we are as well!), have come down solidly against unnecessary restrictions on web communications. They have also started a new campaign, Let Our Congress Tweet.
For some of us, this is about principles (of transparency and openness), not personalities or parties.
UPDATE (07-10-2008): Rep. Culberson offers this very thoughtful response to a highly critical blog post. Local hyperpartisans who hate Rep. Culberson and are working to elect his opponent probably won't find it reasonable or thoughtful, and that's too bad. As some less strident local bloggers have pointed out, openness and transparency in government (without the need for a House committee to approve content or websites) ought to be common goals.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/08/08 10:32 PM |
Arrogance of power, John Whitmire edition
Gary Scharrer of the Chron's Austin bureau reports on a California activist who's doing the work that once was done by watchdog reporter types:
A California disabled veteran who spends six days a week sifting through campaign finance reports has filed complaints against 10 Texas legislators and 15 judges with the Texas Ethics Commission, ranging from failing to identify campaign donors to using campaign money for personal use.
One of the complaints takes aim at state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, for dipping into his massive campaign chest for $165,061 worth of Houston Astros, Texans and Rockets tickets — expenses the veteran says personally benefit the senator.
"Does every voter get a free ticket to the ballgame?" wonders Dave Palmer, who filed the complaint. "It's a wonder that the Astros don't ask him to call balls and strikes."
In his campaign finance report, Whitmire says the expense was necessary for "constituent entertainment."
Politics is big business, of course, and our politicians have grown very accustomed to the same sorts of perks that many top business executives enjoy.
Besides, Sen. Whitmire told the Chronicle that watchdogs shouldn't be so worried about his political bidness:
"It's a total non-issue by some character out in California, so I don't care what he thinks," Whitmire said Monday when the commission received Palmer's complaints.
As one sarcastic Chron.com commenter wrote, "Ah, the voice of a public servant."
It's not clear that the sports expenditures actually amount to an ethics violation, but there is a clear violation detailed later in the report:
Palmer's complaint against Whitmire also accuses the senator of not fully identifying major campaign contributors by not including the donor's occupation and employer. The requirement became law in 2003 for those who contributed at least $500. Whitmire has failed to fully identify more than 250 supporters whose contributions amounted to more than $400,000, Palmer said.
Whitmire said he was unaware of the requirement and will instruct the person who prepares his reports to amend them.
Wait a second, we thought he didn't care about these alleged non-issues raised by a Californian?
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It's a Sport.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/08/08 10:07 PM |
Chronicle strikes out... again (HCSO Blog)
The Editorial LiveJournalists "missed the real issue [here], which is County law enforcement is not underfunded as much as it is mismanaged" (HCSO Blog).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/08/08 09:54 PM |
Clutterbuck: Your bad! (Chron Houston Politics)
Carolyn Feibel posts that Councilmember Anne Clutterbuck got a little testy with some colleagues today (Chron Houston Politics).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/08/08 09:35 PM |
Closed: Bob's Steak and Chop House Houston (Cleverley's Blog)
Bob's Steak and Chop House in the Galleria area exists no longer (Cleverley's Blog).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/08/08 09:34 PM |
The offensive, insensitive email (Bayou City Madman)
I.J. Reilly reposts the Houston-Barbie email that nearly all of us received at some point, but that has now been deemed offensive and insensitive (Bayou City Madman).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/08/08 08:25 AM |
The sheriff promises to talk to me! (On the Beat with Mary Benton)
KPRC-2 reporter Mary Benton posts about her difficulties getting Sheriff Tommy Thomas to talk to her (On the Beat with Mary Benton).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/08/08 07:48 AM |
07 July 2008
We don't need no stinkin' good news (Unca Darrell)
The Editorial LiveJournalists try international politics again. Unca Darrell comments on their misadventure (Unca Darrell).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/07/08 11:26 PM |
Caffeinated WiFi: Inversion Coffee (Chron TechBlog)
Dwight Silverman reviews Inversion Coffee on Montrose (Chron TechBlog).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/07/08 11:23 PM |
Residents living near the airport.... (Lose an Eye, It's a Sport)
Cory Crow comments on the latest erosion of property rights in Houston (Lose an Eye, It's a Sport).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/07/08 11:21 PM |
Chron metro/state diarist tackles energy security
Just before the Fourth, Chronicle metro/state diarist Lisa Falkenberg decided to step outside her area of expertise to tackle the more complicated subject of energy security -- or, to be more precise, the superiority of her own knowledge of that subject when compared to our state's candidates for U.S. Senate (because most Falkenberg columns do revolve around Falkenberg, after all).
Here are some excerpts from a metro/state column -- COLUMN -- that really did appear in the newspaper of record in the energy capital of the world:
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/07/08 11:17 PM |
Chronicle discovers contract deputies...again (HCSO Blog)
The HCSO Blog argues that in the Chron's umpteenth story on the Sheriff's contract deputy program, the reporter "missed the real issue..." (HCSO Blog).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/07/08 08:26 AM |
The Floodway Ordinance - Grinding the legislative sausage (Fireballs, Lightning Bolts, and Hell Storms)
The Mighty Wizard praises Mayor White and Council for revisiting the floodway ordinance mess, despite the ongoing Ready-Fire-Aim! process (Fireballs, Lightning Bolts, and Hell Storms).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/07/08 08:21 AM |
Doing commuter rail right by 2012 (Houston Strategies)
Tory Gattis is so wowed by Christof Spieler's pretty maps that he's changed his mind on commuter rail (Houston Strategies).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/07/08 08:16 AM |
Emmett finding boundaries (The County Seat)
The County Seat comments on Judge Emmett and the limitations of his office (The County Seat).
In related news, David Mincberg finally has come up with some issues (well, if you count promises to manage Harris County like a business as an "issue" anyway).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/07/08 08:14 AM |
Houston apartments: Crime, crime, crime (Chron Houston Politics)
Matt Stiles posts that a Council committee will be getting a briefing on the apartment safety ordinance this week (Chron Houston Politics).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/07/08 08:08 AM |
Mrs. White jumps on her moral high horse (Lose an Eye, It's a Sport)
The Chron editorial board finally has found someone it thinks is guilty of a crime (Lose an Eye, It's a Sport).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/07/08 08:06 AM |
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