The Midday Brief: Aug. 19, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

"The debate over immigration often turns fierce, but under House State Affairs Committee Chairman Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, the air was of deliberate concern as lawmakers heard a partial tally of state costs for services to non-citizens." — A thoughtful discussion on immigration? Believe it., Texas Politics

"An emphasis on consensus and coalition-building worked well for Democrat Bill White when he was mayor of Houston, helping him twice win re-election by overwhelming margins. But running for governor is a different ballgame." — Gas-tax dustup points to stylistic difference between White and Perry, Austin American-Statesman

"The owner of the Deepwater Horizon rig is accusing BP of withholding critical evidence needed to identify the cause of the worst maritime oil spill in history." — BP accused of withholding spill data, The Associated Press

"Nevada Republican Sharron Angle is in the Metroplex today raising cash for her fight against US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid." — Angle raising money in North Texas today, PoliTex

New in The Texas Tribune:

"In this week's TribCast, Evan, Ross, Elise and Ben talk ethics and the Texas House, the newly noted $1.3 billion budget deficit and whether terror babies have much of a political impact." — The Texas Tribune Weekly TribCast: Ep 42