The Midday Brief: Nov. 5, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

• "Today, Sen. John Cornyn and the NRSC sent an email urging donors to contribute to GOP nominee Joe Miller, to help him defray expenses related to the recount — against Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow Republican." — Cornyn, pinched in Alaska, aids tea party/GOP nominee over GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Trail Blazers

• "Along with most everybody else, the Texas press corps didn’t anticipate the magnitude of Republican victories across the ballot Tuesday night — although in retrospect all the signs were pointing in that direction. Whether or not the press should have seen it coming is still a matter for debate, according to a panel of journalists who met Thursday to discuss election results and the upcoming legislative session." — Texas press corps looks back on 2010 election, ahead to 2011, The Texas Independent

• "Clearing up confusion in its dismissal of an ethics rebuke against Judge Sharon Keller, a special court of review has issued an order that no longer makes taxpayers liable for Keller's legal costs." — Taxpayers not liable for Keller's legal fees, court says, Austin American-Statesman

• "Everybody liked Edmund Kuempel. He never had a mean word for anybody. No one enjoyed being in the House more than he did." — Edmund Kuempel will be missed, BurkaBlog

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Carol Kent, a freshman Democrat who unsuccessfully defended her north Dallas seat in the Texas House, spent $64.06 per vote — the most of any of the 194 candidates running for state offices in this year’s general election, according to an analysis of campaign finance data by The Texas Tribune." — Cost Per Vote Varies by Race

• "Embattled former Dallas Rep. Terri Hodge hasn't even finished serving her year in prison for lying on her tax returns. But her successor, freshman Democratic Rep. Eric Johnson, is already pledging to file legislation that would prohibit lawmakers who commit felonies from receiving state pension benefits." — Johnson To File Ethics Bill On Lawmaker Felons

• "In a pivotal decision that will attract the attention of property rights groups and open beach advocates across the country, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that the Open Beaches Act doesn't allow the state to condemn private property if a hurricane or other natural disaster moves it within the public section of a beach." — TX Supreme Court Decides Open Beaches Act Case