The Midday Brief: June 3, 2011

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "State GOP leaders want quick action on a new congressional map that would transform the district of Tea Party godfather Ron Paul. Senate Redistricting Commitee Chair Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, and Democrats heatedly sparred on the redrawn map in a hearing today." — GOP Pressing for Quick Action on Congressional Map

• "School finance likely hits the Senate floor this afternoon. Will anything change?" — School Finance Returns to Senate Floor; What Next?

• "Texas’ long-shot efforts to take control of Medicare and Medicaid — the health programs for the elderly, the disabled and the state’s poorest children — from the feds are back on the table." — Lawmakers Renew Push to Take Over Medicaid, Medicare

• "Many Texas lawmakers have the resources to stay in Austin a few extra weeks — or even months — for special sessions. But others take a big fiscal hit. And it takes a personal toll on all of them." — Some Lawmakers Struggle to Balance Personal, Legislative Duties

Your afternoon reading:

• "The Democrats of the Texas congressional delegation are loudly protesting the Texas state legislature’s new congressional redistricting proposal, calling it a Republican attempt to illegally minimize minority representation in Congress." — Sheila Jackson Lee says GOP redistricting map 'blatantly' violates Voting Rights Act; Gene Green predicts 'more lawsuits,' Texas on the Potomac

• "Efforts to create a statewide smoking ban will get a second chance in the special legislative session. The House Appropriations Committee will hold a Saturday hearing on a bill by Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, that would penalize smoking in bars and restaurants." — Statewide smoking ban is back, Postcards

• "Sometimes the business community rails against government spending. But recently, some Texas business leaders have been railing against spending cuts. Their target: a planned $4 billion reduction in school funding over the next two years, which is backed by Republican majorities in the Legislature." — Cutting Texas education spending poses economic risks, business leaders say, The Dallas Morning News