The Brief: Aug. 27, 2014

The Big Conversation

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis on Tuesday released her full 2013 tax return, which showed she made close to $250,000 while paying more than $70,000 in taxes.

The release was just part of the storyline, though. The Tribune's Christine Ayala wrote the returns were made available "four days after giving copies to the media with the stipulation that the document couldn't be shared with anyone or published in full. The decision came as The Texas Tribune was preparing to publish a story about Davis' limited release."

Her GOP rival in the governor's race, Greg Abbott, had already released his 2013 tax return and had needled Davis to do the same. Davis, meanwhile, had filed for an extension, but Ayala wrote that Davis "had said she would release them once they were ready."

Per her tax returns, Davis' income from her work as a lawyer fell to $120,000 from $275,000 the previous year. She also disclosed a payment of $132,000 for her soon-to-be-released memoir, Forgetting to be Afraid.

The Day Ahead

•    The House Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives meets at 10 a.m. in the Capitol Extension to discuss incentives for the movie industry and the special events fund. (agenda)

•    The House Government Efficiency and Reform Committee meets at 10 a.m. in the Capitol Extension to come up with recommendations for making transportation and water projects more cost-effective and efficient. (agenda)

•    Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis is in Austin to talk about her college affordability proposal at 11 a.m. at the Texas State Teachers Association.

•    A roast of outgoing state Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, benefiting the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee and HDCC Incumbent Protection Fund is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Saengerrunde Hall in Austin.

Trib Must-Reads

Local Debt Climbs as Texas Cities Deal With Growth, by Aman Batheja

Guard's Arrival on Border Brings Reassurance, Concerns, by Julián Aguilar

Analysis: Despite Calendar, Campaigns Take a Back Seat, by Ross Ramsey

Elsewhere

Wendy Davis slams Abbott over education, he returns fire, San Antonio Express-News

Oil and gas boom may be long-term, brings challenges, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Patrick, Van de Putte grill education chief over state testing, Houston Chronicle

Closing arguments heard in redistricting case, San Antonio Express-News

Williamson County drops 1 of 3 felony charges in pot brownies case, Austin American-Statesman

Meet Rick Perry: The fashion-forward governor who really digs nice weather, Washington Post

Steve Schmidt joins Rick Perry's legal team, Politico

Falkenberg: Whitmire describes how UH chancellor backed down, Houston Chronicle

Quote to Note

"Sometimes people will shake our hands and be very nice to us and say ‘I appreciate the work you do,’ but as soon as they walk in front of a TV camera, they say it a little bit differently."

— Public integrity unit leader Gregg Cox to The New York Times on political criticism of his division

Today in TribTalk

How Texas kicked its big drug problem, by F. Scott McCown

Trib Events for the Calendar

•    A Conversation With UT System Regent Wallace Hall, on Sept. 4 at The Austin Club

•    A Conversation With Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa and Republican Party of Texas Chairman Steve Munisteri, on Sept. 10 at The Austin Club

•    The full program has been announced for the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival. Register now before prices go up Thursday at 11:59 p.m.!

•    A Conversation With U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, on Sept. 24 at the UTSA Downtown Campus in San Antonio.