Bill Flores working the polls on March 2, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

โ€ข โ€œThe new survey of 400 likely voters, conducted May 2-3 by OnMessage Inc, a GOP firm, shows Edwards remains popular in the Republican-leaning district, with a name I.D. of 53% favorable/38% unfavorable.โ€ โ€”ย New poll shows Flores leading Chet Edwards โ€” BurkaBlog

โ€ขย โ€œWanted: a Republican Senator willing to reach across the aisle and work with Democrats and the Obama Administration on a bipartisan bill on immigration reform that’s already half done.โ€ โ€”ย Why GOP Senators Won’t Play on Immigration Reform โ€” Time

โ€ข โ€œTexas legislators are reacting to Solicitor General Elena Kagan’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. We will post more statements as we recieve them. Here’s what some legislators are saying.โ€ โ€”ย Kagan special report: Texas reaction โ€” Texas on the Potomac

โ€ข โ€œTexans for Public Justice has a new report out showing spending on lobbyists in last year’s legislative session dropped for the first time in a decade: down to $344 million from $348 million in 2007.โ€ โ€”ย Recession in the lobby industry โ€” Texas Politics

โ€ข โ€œThe Dallas Morning News reported Monday that state Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston says the 22-student limit is costing school districts “millions and millions of dollars” without any evidence that it boosts student performance.โ€œ โ€”ย Texas could adjust 22-student class limit โ€” Associated Press

New in The Texas Tribune:

โ€ข โ€œCould a BP-style oil spill happen closer to our shores, threatening our fisheries and beaches? Of course. But Texas reformed its process for dealing with such a catastrophe two decades ago, and state officials say we’re better prepared than other states to respond to โ€” or better still, prevent โ€” a major spill.โ€ โ€” State of Readiness

โ€ข โ€œLast Thursday, I talked with the state representative-elect from House District 76 about her headline-making defeat of incumbent Norma Chavez โ€” and how she’ll bring peace to the El Paso legislative delegation.โ€ โ€” Video: Naomi Gonzalez: The TT Interview

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Reeve Hamilton worked at the Tribune from 2009 to 2015, covering higher education and politics and hosting the Tribune's weekly podcast. His writing has also appeared in Texas Monthly and The Texas Observer....