This is our State Representative. He is now running for Senate.
Representative Dennis Paul filed House Bill 1091 which would shorten the time for accepting mail in ballots. State Representative John Bucy who was appointed to the Elections Committee as a freshman legislator asked very specific questions when Paul’s bill was laid out in the Committee. Paul’s answers came back to embarrass him on the House Floor.
As he did in the Committee Paul continued his claim that his bill would actually give voters MORE time to send in a ballot by mail when in fact it actually shortened it. After an embarrassing questioning by Bucy on the House floor, Bucy called for a point of order and requested no further consideration due to the bill analysis being “substantially and materially misleading”. The Chair agreed. The bill died. (You can read the official details here)
This is one of the many reasons why Dennis Paul was listed as “furniture” by Texas Monthly. After 10 years his time in the House is been uneventful. Our district deserves better…..but not Scott Bowen.
I didn’t know the Houston Press still existed. Decades ago, when they were still in print, they ran a front page story on how I became a consumer advocate. It was a very detailed article and focused on my problem with Ryland Homes. (god rest their sorry ass) I really appreciated the article.
Today they focused on former District Attorney Kim Ogg and it makes her seem petty, vindictive, and still irrelevant. In 2024 she was absolutely trampled in the Democratic Primary losing 75/25 in the early vote totals. Her opponent went on to win the DAs race.
Ogg has been criticized for harassing her enemies including Judge Lina Hidalgo and her staff. Her extensive investigation, involving the Texas Rangers, ended in an ill called press conference including someone with a trombone playing WOMP WOMP in the background. (not really)
A number of cases have since been throw out with the DA claiming the cases lacked necessary evidence to convict. Based upon her past experience it’s probably true. A DA wouldn’t throw out a case after so many resources were spent on it. I just don’t see that happening. Now Ogg wants federal intervention and after sucking up to the republican party she just might get it from the weaponized arm of the department of justice.
I was a big supporter of Ogg for her reelection in 2020 and I’ve been critical of Ogg for her petty arguments with Judge Hidalgo. I’ve been critical of Hidalgo for not taking the high road and whining too much. The resolution prior to the primary passed by a handful of far lefties of the Harris County Democratic Party against Ogg was a waste of time and effort and unnecessary. But if made them feel like they did something productive then more power to them.
Take a few minutes to read the story. It is detailed, pointed, and Ogg deserves every fuckin bit of it.
Skip it. That was such a huge waste of a free movie ticket. The Amateur is about a pencil neck, computer geek working for the CIA who becomes an International CIA Agent overnight in order to find and kill those who killed his wife. Sounds stupid? You’re right. It is. It was.
Somehow over a 2 hour period Rami Malek, an academy award winner, is transformed into a bullet proof CIA spy using his skills he learned from Lawrence Fishburne over a period of a few days and the help of YouTube videos (seriously). Jon Berthnal has a couple of very regrettable appearances, seriously, just a couple. Needless to say Rami learns how to hack into every building, access every camera, to evade the highly trained CIA agents sent to find him. He is bulletproof. Literally escaping a Seal team with automatic weapons. Ugh. It is just so cringe worthy.
I feel more stupider just writing this. This was crap. Just total crap. A waste of 2 hours and a free movie ticket. Don’t waste your time or money watching this stupidity. Go watch something better like The Substance.
Progressive Insurance sent out a message to home owners and insurance agents in the Bay Area urging them to contact elected officials concerning an insurance bill. Just an FYI: Progressive will NOT write policies in the Bay Area.
The agents have responded. You can read their comments in opposition of the bill here. They pretty much reflect the talking points provided by Progressive. So take a few minutes to write to the Committee in support of this bill. Here are my talking points:
This bill requires the insurance industry to justify rate increases over 10%. If they can’t justify their increases they should not be able to increase.
This bill is the least our elected officials can do for those affected by the rising cost of home insurance. Literally.
This bill will NOT address the problem of our out of control insurance premiums
Justifying an increase in rates will NOT lower premiums since premiums are calculated based upon the rates and other factors
Our issue in the Bay Area is the extreme premiums and deductibles.
Your comments would be appreciated On Monday 5/19/25 the House Insurance Committee will hear Senate Bill 1643. This bill will require insurance companies to justify to the Texas Department of Insurance any rate increase above 10%. It DOES NOT regulate the rate, it simply requires a justification.
The Industry has sent out emails to their insurance agents to write comments opposing this bill and they have. You can also send in comments. It is easy. The form is online here. Do the following:
Fill out your personal information
Select SB 1643 by Schwertner
Enter your comments including your support for the bill
And we wonder why a 21 year old white wing nut killed 23 human beings at an El Paso Walmart?
Randy Weber, the Congressman of Galveston County who has never met a constituent face to face, thought it was real funny to joke about killing immigrants. And it’s on video. This is the kind of talk that gets people killed including 23 shoppers in El Paso, 10 in Santa Fe High School, and 19 children in Uvalde. He thinks it’s funny. He thinks it is cute.
Randy claims to be a Christian, a “republican” Christian. Republican Christians are different kind of Christians. They talk a great game about Christian values, loving thy neighbor, telling the truth, yada yada yada. In real life they tolerate liars, cheaters, racists, sympathizing with NAZIs, and porking porn stars, paying them off and getting indicted and convicted on 34 felony counts. That is Randy Weber.
Randy gives real Christians a bad name. I guess he is a CHINO. Christian In Name Only. May god damn him to hell.
Progressive Insurance sent out a message to home owners and insurance agents in the Bay Area urging them to contact elected officials concerning an insurance bill. Just an FYI: Progressive will NOT write policies in the Bay Area.
Senate Bill 1643 will require an insurance company to justify their rate increases of more than 10% prior to using the new rates. Back in 2003 the Legislature removed the prior approval of rate increases and implemented a “File and Use” system allowing the insurance industry to raise rates, file them with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), and immediately use the new rates. The rates could be challenged by TDI but they rarely do.
Needless to say the insurance industry is whining like a two year old, sending out emails to their agents and homeowners doing what they have been doing for the last 20 years, complain about turning into California with rate regulations. If they lived in the Bay Area they would realize that we ARE California! Rates have skyrocketed and deductibles are through the roof. Many companies including Progressive, will NOT write policies in the area. Their great “Free Market” lets them Flee the Market and they have. All the bill requires is justification for raising rates above 10%. If you can’t justify it, you shouldn’t be using it. It’s not regulating squat.
The hearing for the bill was scheduled in the House Insurance Committee has been canceled.
We all knew it was coming. The darling of the republic party, Scott Bowen.
After a devastating loss in his reelection bid for CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen has decided to run for State Representative. It’s a logical choice. Congressman Brian Babin’s seat is being saved for his son. Current State Representative Dennis Paul is running for State Senator. Current State Senator Money Mayes Middleton is running for Texas Attorney General. This leaves the State Representative seat open for Bowen.
This district was built for a do nothing republican because they don’t have to do anything to win besides put their name on the ballot. It’s so gerrymandered a Democrat can never win. Back in 2008 the State Representative, John Davis, was caught using tens of thousands of his donors money for personal items including a pair of custom made $1500 cowboy boots, gasoline for his roofing company, and other items. His approval rating was in the gutter and few if any voters knew who he was. His opponent raised $400,000, knocked on over 25,000 doors, made over 20,000 phone calls and yet still lost by 12 points.
This is a perfect place for Bowen. He can now officially go after public education funding. He can turn his back on gun violence victims and their families. He can ignore those of us who are being devastated by the rising cost of home insurance and an electricity grid in disarray. Like Dennis Paul, Scott will have a special place on Greg Abbotts ass. He will have money from his billionaire buddies and every special interest in Texas. He will be welcomed in Austin.
Maybe the parents, teachers, and taxpayers in House District 129 will hold him accountable. Again.
David Hogg, newly appointed Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, surprised the Committee and progressives across the party when he announced his plan to primary the members of The Squad. The Squad is composed of 7 of the most progressive members of the Democratic Congress. According to NBC News:
Hogg set off a firestorm among Democrats last week when he said his political action committee would fund a $20 million effort to challenge “ineffective” incumbents in primaries
The Washington InCider continues:
“My job as Vice Chair of the DNC is to find and fund candidates to challenge ineffective Democrats in the House and Senate. My targets may include the members of The Squad including my good friend Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. After years in office AOC and The Squad collectively have accomplished little. They can’t make progress. They can’t forge relationships with others in the Party or across the aisle.”
Hogg went on to say that The Squad has have filed a total of 290 bills, passing only 4. 3 of these bills renamed buildings. The Squad has been very effective in getting media attention, appearing on MSNBC claiming to represent the Party, and complaining about the very party they belong to. Yet when it comes to the hard work of actually making progress on progressive issues they have been silent.
“We need young Democrats to file and challenge the members of The Squad. They need to learn the art of being a politician. Anyone can yell and scream about progressive issues we are passionate about but it takes a politician to actually make progress. Independent Bernie Sanders a perfect example of being ineffective. Sanders has yelled and screamed about “Medicare for All” for 40 years with absolutely nothing to show for it.”
Hogg claims his vast experience he gained at Harvard University gives him the skills to reform the DNC much like Bernie Sanders has reformed healthcare. His degrees in International Studies and Theoretical Concepts of Doing Stupid Shit makes him a great candidate for getting nothing accomplished.
If you are concerned about the rising cost of home insurance you might want to attend and learn what the insurance companies are doing in reference to “frequency and intensity of storms” ie climate change.
Major meeting Extreme Weather & Changing Climate next week, Thursday May 15 6:30 pm at Bay Area Community Ctr. Power panel of experts address key issues of extreme Texas weather and changing climate concerns/actions. Expertise in extreme weather, disasters and resilience, climate change, environment and human health, impacts to Gulf and bays, environmental organizations.
Galveston Bay Foundation – Bob Stokes, Director Houston Chronicle – Chris Tomlinson columnist UT Health Science Center – Dr. Yun Hang, extreme weather & natural disasters Rice U – Dr. Isabelle Bunge, climate change and human health Rice U – Dr. Daniel Potter, Houston population research UT Medical Branch – Dr. Lance Hallberg, environmental health and toxicology UH-Clear Lake – Dr. George Guillen, former director Environmental Institute, our moderator
I had heard rumors he was retiring. Unfortunately I was wrong.
After spending 12 years in the Texas House, accomplishing little if anything substantial, State Representative Dennis Paul will be running for the Senate seat being vacated by Money Mayes Middleton.
For the politically ignorant, Texas has 31 Senate districts. Senate District 11 (SD11) is composed of most of Galveston County, and parts of Brazoria and Harris County. The Texas House has 150 House Districts. Dennis Paul represents House District 129 (HD129) covering the area from Seabrook to Friendswood.
Dennis Paul has served for 10 part time years as a House Member and will run for Money Mayes Middleton’s seat. Middleton has decided to run for Texas Attorney General using $20 million of his own money. Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging Senator John Cornyn and is expected to kiss Trump’s ass better than John.
Paul is leaving the House District in shambles. He has sat on the House Insurance Committee for 10 years yet property insurance is out the roof. Our electricity grid is still unstable. He voted in favor of passing the cost of upgrades to his constituents. NASA is poised to be gutted in 2026 leaving many without jobs. Paul has never publicly addressed his constituents. His local office is closed most of the time. He never responds to his constituents or even answers the phone. He has been invited to discuss the rising cost of insurance and has refused. He supported gutting our public schools with vouchers. He supported easy access to guns even after one of his own members of the State Republican Executive Committee was senselessly gunned down and 19 children were gunned down in Uvalde. Paul can’t raise money. After 12 years he still has an outstanding balance of $25,000 on a $150,000 personal loan that he used to initially win the seat. He has just $49,000 Cash on Hand.
In 2023 Paul was listed as “Furniture” by Texas Monthly, accomplishing little if anything and just getting in the way. In his comment to The Texas Tribune Paul ignored the very people he is suppose to represent, his constituents:
If elected to the Senate, Paul said, “I will faithfully represent those values which make Texas the greatest state to live, work and raise a family: faith in God; love for family and liberty.”
With Paul running for SD11 his buddy, CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen, will probably run for his seat. Like Paul, Scott can’t raise money. In his latest run for re-election Scott spent $20,000 of his own money. He lost. Like Paul, Bowen supported vouchers, cuts to public education, and unlimited access to guns.
HD129 is a safe gerrymandered district for any republican candidate. An opposing, well qualified, candidate could raise $500,000, knock on over 25,000 doors, make over 20,000 phone calls and they will still lose.
Posted by johncoby 
Bay Area Houston 