The Midday Brief: May 10, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

• “The 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.” — New poll shows Flores leading Chet Edwards — BurkaBlog

• “Wanted: 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.” — Why GOP Senators Won't Play on Immigration Reform — Time

• “Texas 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.” — Kagan special report: Texas reaction — Texas on the Potomac

• “Texans 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.” — Recession in the lobby industry — Texas Politics

• “The 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.“ — Texas could adjust 22-student class limit — Associated Press

New in The Texas Tribune:

• “Could 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 — or better still, prevent — a major spill.” — State of Readiness

• “Last Thursday, I talked with the state representative-elect from House District 76 about her headline-making defeat of incumbent Norma Chavez — and how she'll bring peace to the El Paso legislative delegation.” — Video: Naomi Gonzalez: The TT Interview