The Evening Brief: March 1, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

• Federal Judges Order May 29 Primary Elections: "The Texas primaries will be held, as expected, on May 29, according to a federal court order issued this afternoon. Candidates have a week to file, starting tomorrow."

• Suehs: Feds' Stand on Women's Health Program Sets Dangerous Precedent: "In an uncharacteristically angry letter written as the Women's Health Program circles the drain, the state health commissioner is blasting the Obama administration's argument that Texas can't exclude Planned Parenthood clinics."

• Prescription Drugs Rolled Into Managed Care, Despite Pharmacists' Fears: "Lawmakers approved carving prescription drugs into Medicaid managed care to save Texas money — an estimated $100 million over the next biennium. Pharmacists worry lower reimbursement rates will drive them under."

• Arturo Vargas: The TT Interview: "The executive director of NALEO's Educational Fund on what it will take to motivate Latinos to vote this year, why immigration isn't the group's only concern and why voter ID legislation is a bad idea. If they are smart, he says, President Obama and his GOP opponent will make a Latino strategy an important part of their campaigns."

Culled:

• Debra Medina eyes run for state comptroller (Austin American-Statesman): "Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina said today she is weighing a run for comptroller in 2014. 'I’m looking at running for something,' Medina said, adding that she’s intrigued by the comptroller’s office because much of her focus has been on fiscal issues. Medina, who finished third in the 2010 gubernatorial primary, said she is also considering another run for the governor’s office, which also comes open in 2014."

• Rick Perry praises Andrew Breitbart after right-wing blogger’s death (Houston Chronicle): "Rick Perry has no love for the mainstream media, and he has gone out of his way to cultivate right-wing bloggers such as Andrew Breitbart, the conservative provocateur who died at the age of 43. Here’s what Perry had to say today about the death of his conservative media ally: 'Andrew Breitbart was an outspoken pioneer for conservative media who fought for what he believed in, exposing government corruption and media bias. His spirited voice will be missed, but not forgotten.'"

• Roberto Alonzo backs Steve Salazar in District 33 congressional primary (The Dallas Morning News): "State Rep. Roberto Alonzo told me today that he toyed with the idea of running in the newly created congressional District 33. But instead of jumping in a race that's expected to include his old rival, former state Rep. Domingo Garcia, Alonzo is backing longtime ally Steve Salazar in the Democratic primary. The former Dallas council member announced his candidacy for the seat Tuesday. Salazar is also a rival of Garcia."