On FIEL
Crooked GOP AG Ken Paxton is bringing his attacks on immigrants here to H-Town. See this from the Chron:
Attorney General Ken Paxton is trying to shut down an immigrants rights group in Houston, alleging it is “systematically” flouting nonprofit rules by advocating too aggressively against state laws and political candidates.
It is the latest attempt by the Republican attorney general to shutter groups aiding immigrants in Texas. Paxton has sought, unsuccessfully so far, to close a handful of Catholic-affiliated migrant shelters along the border, alleging they are engaged in human trafficking.
But the drive against FIEL Houston, a longtime nonprofit advocating for immigrants, takes a new tact, arguing the group has run afoul of federal rules governing how far nonprofits can go in seeking to influence legislation, and barring certain nonprofits from backing political candidates.
“FIEL openly flouts these rules,” Paxton’s office said in a lawsuit filed this summer.
The suit, which was not reported, points to a series of social media posts in which the group deemed former President Donald Trump “El Hijo Del Diablo,” or “son of the Devil,” called Gov. Greg Abbott “a violent racist Fascist man,” and advocated repeatedly against SB4, the state’s migrant deportation law that has been blocked by the courts.
Paxton is asking Harris County District Judge Ravi K. Sandill to revoke FIEL’s corporation and “dissolve its existence.” Sandill heard arguments in the case on Thursday.
FIEL argued in court filings that Paxton is retaliating after the group challenged state election laws in court, including in one lawsuit that specifically names Paxton as a defendant. They argue it is the latest example of what a judge in July deemed “outrageous and intolerable” behavior by Paxton to “selectively interpret” laws to advance his own political agenda.
Here is the entire Chron read: Paxton sues to close Houston nonprofit for its posts on Trump, Abbott (houstonchronicle.com).
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Harris County voters will get an opportunity to increase our taxes this November for flood control. See this from the Chron:
Harris County Commissioners Court on Thursday voted unanimously to ask voters to support a tax increase to help maintain the county’s flood control infrastructure.
On the November ballot, voters will see a proposal to raise Harris County Flood Control District’s tax rate to 4.8 cents per $100 of assessed value. The increase would cost an extra $60 per year for a taxpayer who owns a $400,000 home – generating an additional $113 million in revenue for the flood control district.
Harris County Budget Director Daniel Ramos told the court at a meeting earlier this month that the flood control district’s tight budget doesn’t allow the agency to keep up with maintenance of existing infrastructure, let alone the new projects that are currently in the pipeline.
“We’re doing $5 billion worth of projects in the next four to five years,” Ramos said. “If we don’t have the maintenance dollars to maintain those, they’re going to fail.”
The proposal received overwhelming bipartisan support from members of the court, including Republican Commissioner Tom Ramsey, a civil engineer who said Thursday that underfunded infrastructure maintenance was “the most talked about issue” over the course of his career.
“We have known for 30-plus years that flood control was underfunded when it came to maintenance,” Ramsey said, adding that past members of Commissioners Court made a mistake when they cut the flood control tax rate from eight cents to three cents in 1998.
“We are today saying that’s not acceptable,” Ramsey said.
Here is the entire Chron article: Harris County voters to consider proposed flood control tax increase (houstonchronicle.com).
I guess we are voting for a tax increase.
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If you are a serious MLB fan like Commentary, you probably have mixed feelings about the following:
GOING INTO THE 2023 season, Major League Baseball implemented the most extreme set of rule changes in the history of the game. The league instituted a pitch clock, eliminated the shift, enlarged the bases and placed a limit on pickoff throws. The changes have been significant leading to shorter games and more action on the basepaths. While fans are still getting used to those headline-making adjustments, the league is already identifying its next set of goals aimed at improving the product on the field.
The commissioner’s office wants starting pitchers to spend more time on the mound — pitching deeper into games — and less time in the operating room undergoing surgery on their arms. Baseball also wants more balance in a sport that has revolved around strikeouts in recent seasons.
“We are interested in increasing the amount of action in the game, restoring the prominence of the starting pitcher and reducing the prevalence of pitching injuries,” an MLB official told ESPN. “There are a whole host of options in addressing those issues.”
The league has discussed a limit to the size of pitching staffs and the double-hook DH, according to sources familiar with the discussion. There is some belief around the game, however, that one idea could be a panacea: requiring starting pitchers to go at least six innings every time they take the mound.
ESPN spoke to executives and players around the league about what such a change would mean for the future of baseball.
THE PRIMARY GOAL of a minimum-innings rule would be to immediately restore the prestige of the starting pitcher. Fans would be able to tune in to a game knowing that he would be on the mound for the majority of it.
“I do that anyway,” Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo said with a smirk. “We all want to go at least six.”
But in reality, starting pitchers are increasingly unlikely to reach that goal. In 2014, starting pitchers averaged just under six innings per start (5.97), according to ESPN Stats & Information. This season, that figure stands at 5.25 and is down to 4.3 in Triple-A.
MLB acknowledges that adding such a rule would not be as simple as forcing every starter to pitch at least six innings every time out — exceptions would have to be included.
The objective is to prioritize starting pitching, not to leave a struggling starter in to reach the innings threshold while his ERA skyrockets or at the risk of injury. So the league’s conversations have included carve-outs, instances when pitchers would not have to pitch the required six innings. Some instances when a starter would be allowed to leave early might include:
- He throws 100 pitches
- He gives up four or more earned runs
- He gets injured (with a required injured list stint to avoid manipulation)
Here is the entire read: Could six-inning minimum starting pitcher rule come to MLB? (msn.com).
I don’t see this being implemented anytime soon. I always want Astros pitchers to go at least six innings. I don’t know if you can mandate it. The other thing is what happens at the beginning of the season when a lot of starting pitchers can’t go six innings because they are not yet in their groove.
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The Mariners lost yesterday. We now have a three-game lead in the AL West. The White Sox are at The Yard this weekend. The White Sox have the worst record in MLB at 29-93. We are 65-55.
Here is from the Chron:
The White Sox have lost 26 of their last 28 games, including a 21-game skid that tied the American League record. They haven’t won a series since June 28-30 against the Rockies.
This past Monday the White Sox beat the Yankees 12-2. You never know.
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The featured photo is from a gathering we had last night to celebrate H-Town Mayor John Whitmire’s birthday.
