The Midday Brief: July 6, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

"Last week, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst appointed the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting. Dewhurst drew some criticism on the opinion pages over the weekend for his appointments, or, more to the point, for his non-appointments. The 11-member committee has four members from the Houston area (Patrick, Huffman, Williams, Gallegos) and two from Dallas (West and Carona) but none from Fort Worth, the Austin area or San Antonio." — Dewhurst takes some heat over redistricting panel, First Reading

"Texas Democrats have filed formal complaints against Republican Gov. Rick Perry, saying he failed to dislose debts and income on his home in College Station." — Democrats file complaints against Gov. Rick Perry, The Associated Press

"We took a look in Sunday's paper at the failed effort to change the name of the Texas Railroad Commission. … Republican David Porter said he opposes a name change, citing the agency's history. … Democrat Jeff Weems supports a name change but doesn't think the Texas Energy Commission is the right replacement given the agency's focus." — RRC candidates at odds over what to call the RRC, PoliTex

New in The Texas Tribune:

"The Texas Ethics Commission recently released more than 3,000 personal financial statements — documents that detail state officials' financial interests and liabilities. Read, download or embed them with our new application." — Read 3,000 Officials' Personal Financial Docs

"Somewhere in Indiana, a man needs a date. And he's using Democratic land commissioner candidate Hector Uribe's photo to try to seal the deal." — Man on Dating Site Uses Democrat Candidate Photo

"If the rainbow flavors of the Tea Party feature a common taste, it’s that of fiscally restrained government — and the anti-Washington and pro-state fervor that comes along with it. Not coincidentally, that was the overwhelming theme of the Republican Party of Texas’ recent convention, setting the tone — as the Democrats did in their state gathering — for the November general election." — Texas GOP Incorporates Some Tea Party Positions

"After a series of investigative reports revealed serious problems with the quality of legal representation for indigent defendants on Texas death row, lawmakers created the Office of Capital Writs. California lawyer Brad Levenson will be moving to Texas to open the new office and attempt to restore some confidence in the state's busy system of capital punishment." — Trying to Restore Integrity to Death Row Defense