The Brief: Nov. 25, 2014

The Big Conversation

Gov.-elect Greg Abbott indicated on Monday that Texas could soon file suit over the Obama administration's executive order intended to protect up to 5 million undocumented immigrants from the threat of immediate deportation.

Action could happen in the next couple of weeks.

"Abbott said he plans to reach out to other state governors and attorneys general over the next two weeks to come up with a plan to counter Obama’s Thursday executive action," reported the Tribune's Terri Langford. "Whether or not they sign on will not affect Abbott's decision. Asked if he will file suit against the federal government, something he has done 33 times before as attorney general, Abbott said the 'odds are in favor.' Thirty of those lawsuits have been filed against the Obama administration."

The Houston Chronicle's Mike Ward wrote that Abbott is arguing that Obama's orders "violate the so-called 'take care' provision of the U.S. Constitution specifically included by the Founding Fathers to make sure the president would 'take care' to faithfully execute all the laws passed by Congress, not choose only certain ones."

That legal theory received a failing grade from UT government professor Bruce Buchanan. He told Langford, “It’s not expressly forbidden. There are very few things expressly allowed or forbidden by the Constitution when it touches the president. So no, I don’t think that argument holds water.”

Trib Must-Reads

For Rep.-Elect Molly White, Abortion Changed Everything, by Neena Satija

Ship Channel Shows a State Vulnerable to Climate Effects, by Neena Satija

Odds Favor Kolkhorst in Race for Hegar's Seat, by Bobby Blanchard

Elsewhere

No indictment in Ferguson, Washington Post

From Plains to Both Coasts, Fury Boils Over, The New York Times

Straus perilously close to winning it in his own caucus, The Dallas Morning News

Texan Ted Cruz, ’16 Hopeful, Woos New York Jewish Donors, New York Observer

Dispute over Big Bend skies tied to coal-fired power plants, Houston Chronicle

Allow gay marriage in Texas now, judge urged, Austin American-Statesman

Ron Kirk joins Dallas-Houston bullet train developer, The Dallas Morning News

Woman Cleared in Death Linked to G.M.’s Faulty Ignition Switch, The New York Times

UT’s Ransom Center acquires archive of famed writer García Márquez, Austin American-Statesman

Quote to Note

“That idea would go about as far as I would go flying in the air jumping off a tall building. It’s straight down, baby.”

— Austin lobbyist Bill Miller, assessing the chances of a push to make the post of Texas House Speaker a statewide elected office

Today in TribTalk

Stop denying Straus' pro-life credentials, by Jodie Laubenberg

Trib Events for the Calendar

•    A Conversation With Reps. Myra Crownover, Tan Parker and Ron Simmons on Dec. 1 at Texas Woman's University in Denton

•    A Conversation With Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Dec. 4 at The Austin Club

•    The Texas Tribune Festival presents a one-day symposium previewing the 84th Legislature on Dec. 5 at the Austin Community College Highland Campus in Austin

•    A Panel Discussion on the Transformation of Medical Education in Texas, on Dec. 9 at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio.

•    Meet the New Guys: A Conversation With Incoming Members of the Texas Senate on Dec. 11 at The Austin Club