Mersky

Mersky's Journal

April 16, 2024

DeJoy's aggravated malfeasance on display - Senate Hearing LIVE

I can’t live comment much this morning, but earlier I heard him say the Postal Service didn’t have a purpose until he got involved.

June 29, 2023

ERCOT voted to give themselves substantial raises

Because ya know, got get it in now before the blackouts begin.

The PUC votes on whether to give it to them today. Haven’t heard of this going on til now? Yeah, same for this news hound. Well, I believe a single reporter on Houston’s local Fox station is the only coverage of this happening... possibly in the state:

https://twitter.com/linadeflorias/status/1674183768209334273

Good luck finding a public notice of this occurring on ERCOT or the PUC’s website, but here’s the proposal:

https://interchange.puc.texas.gov/Documents/54444_33_1305021.PDF

Editing to add the local report:

https://www.fox26houston.com/video/1241792

March 28, 2023

For the love of Molly Ivins, and all the good that can come out of Texas...

Help save the Texas Observer!

I was flat out shocked to hear the board of the Obsever voted to shutter the publication due to a fundraising shortfall. I would have gladly increased my monthly subscription rate, if they had only asked.

Contribute to their GoFundMe to try to save a 68 year old Texas original: https://gofund.me/de7dbbae

https://twitter.com/0liviajulianna/status/1640740098026135552

To catch up on the situation:

Find the Texas Observer on Mastadon: https://texasobserver.social/@TexasObserver

Staff members found out about the layoffs from the Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/26/texas-observer-shutting-down/

https://twitter.com/TexasTribune/status/1640155150353330176

June 23, 2022

Forecasts show ERCOT may need reserve power Thursday afternoon, as demand could reach all-time high

Houston Chronicle
Shelby Webb, Staff writer
Updated: June 23, 2022 10:56 a.m.

Forecasts on ERCOT's website show the state's non-profit grid operator may need to dip into power reserves or implement emergency actions later this afternoon.

ERCOT's current estimates show it may need to start pulling reserve power online by 3 p.m. and could continue to do so until shortly after 9 p.m.

Demand, driven by record temperatures and population growth, could reach an all-time system high of 77,895 megawatts by 5 p.m. That's slightly above the estimates ERCOT forecasters projected for all-time summer peak, which they expected to hit in August. The previous record for demand was set on Monday, with 75,080 megawatts being used.

-snip-

ERCOT, overseen by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, has been operating in a more conservative manner in efforts to stave off tight grid conditions like might be seen later today. Its independent market monitor has estimated the grid manager has likely spent more than half a billion dollars through May buying more reserve power and changing its operations to bring more power online sooner in tight grid conditions.

-snip-

https://twitter.com/HoustonChron/status/1540001083824771073
no paywall: http://archive.today/dEGbz

https://twitter.com/mattlargey/status/1539937544841953281

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I will temporarily block out our highest afternoon Sun exposure windows with cardboard to keep the house cooler if we face rolling blackouts. Keeping my fingers crossed that ERCOT rolls the power in a sane way and that, if needed, we only lose power for fifteen minutes every few hours.

September 21, 2021

Policy Options for Improving SSI - Senate Finance Committee Hearing 9/21

https://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/policy-options-for-improving-ssi

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My niece is excited about these proposals. Would mean a great improvement in her young life outlook where the current system she knows keeps her reliant on family and little but poor access to healthcare in her adult years, especially as she resides in Texas.

Please note, this a hearing regarding SSI, not SSDI. Should be noted that under the SSI system, monthly payments are $794 vs. $2-3k under SSDI. The current rules penalize efforts to live with dignity, security, and seeking greater independence. Is long overdue for reform as little has changed since 1972.

August 28, 2021

March On For Voting Rights - Washington D.C. - Aug. 28, 2021

August 21, 2021

TxGQP is conducting business w/ #FAKEQUORUM in the lege

Texas House finally makes quorum, but Democrats say Republicans cheated to get there

Texas Tribune
BY PATRICK SVITEK AUG. 20, 2021 6pm CT

There were 99 members registered as present Thursday evening, the exact number needed to end the 38-day Democratic quorum break over the GOP’s priority elections bill. But not all of those members were physically on the floor.

There were 99 members registered as present Thursday evening, the exact number needed to end the 38-day Democratic quorum break over the GOP’s priority elections bill. But it quickly became clear that some of the 99 members were not physically on the floor and instead marked present by their colleagues.

That means that the House could be operating with a tenuous quorum in the coming days, even if more Democrats start returning — though none were giving any indication of that Friday.

While some Democrats conceded Thursday night that the quorum bust was over, others were less willing to admit defeat.

“Based on numerous media reports, it seems evident there was not a true quorum present today — ironic, given this entire session is premised around Republicans preaching about so-called voter integrity,” Rep. Chris Turner of Grand Prairie, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said in a statement.

A group of 34 House Democrats released a statement Friday that called it a “questionable quorum” and warned that Republicans “will lie about the number of legislators present at the Capitol to establish quorum, keep Texans in the dark, and bend the rules to get their way.”

In a follow-up interview, Turner said the apparent lack of a real quorum was “of grave concern.” He declined to speculate on whether the Democratic presence on the floor would grow when the House nexts meets on Monday.

-snip-

[/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/20/texas-house-quorum-democrats/

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Gina Hinajosa and Colin Allred appeared on The Last Word with Capehart in for O’Donnell. TxDems are exploring their options as they view this as a game changer for how things might proceed.

https://twitter.com/miyashay/status/1428908824715571207