Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, addresses BP chief executive Tony Hayward at an oil spill hearing in Washington.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, addresses BP chief executive Tony Hayward at an oil spill hearing in Washington. YouTube

Your afternoon reading:

  • “Prosecutors in Tom DeLay‘s money laundering trial rested their case against the former U.S. House majority leader on Wednesday, as DeLay’s team insisted that the state hasn’t proven he engaged in criminal activity.” โ€” Prosecution rests in DeLay case, The Associated Press
  • “Rep. Joe Barton got a big boost this morning in his quest to take hold of the gavel and lead the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee next year, when eight of the panel’s Republicans endorsed him for the job.” โ€” Barton’s energy committee colleagues fuel his bid for chairman, Texas on the Potomac
  • “The Daily Callerโ€˜s Steven Nelson reports that U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Clute) will not be joining the new House Tea Party Caucus because he thinks the tea party should remain a grassroots movement.” โ€” Report: Ron Paul not joining House Tea Party Caucus, The Texas Independent

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    David Muto was the editor of TribTalk, The Texas Tribune's opinion page. He is also the Tribune's copy editor. A Richardson native, he attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned degrees...