The Midday Brief: Dec. 16, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

• "Texas' senators sought Wednesday to distance themselves from a $1.1 trillion spending package that contains hundreds of millions in earmarks they requested, including $20 million for Dallas' Trinity River Project." — Texas Sen. John Cornyn at odds with spending bill because of earmarks, The Dallas Morning News

• "Attorneys for 20 states fighting the new federal health care law told a judge Thursday it will expand the government's powers in dangerous and unintended ways." — 20 states ask judge to throw out Obama health law, The Associated Press

• "Roger Williams, the car dealer and candidate for the U.S. Senate, has a deal for you. 'I've got a plan that can turn the economy around tomorrow and send the stock market through the roof tomorrow,' he declared one day recently." — Fort Worth car dealer Roger Williams pitching economic turnaround plan to sell voters on 2012 U.S. Senate bid, The Dallas Morning News

• "Texas state Rep. Aaron Peña's switch from Democrat to Republican this week made him the 20th state legislator since the midterm elections to make the switch to the GOP." — Party-switchers beware: it ain't easy, The Washington Post

• "A police officer, her lesbian partner and the president of the El Paso police union are suing the city over an ordinance passed by voters ending health benefits for gay and unmarried partners of city employees." — Mayor John Cook welcomes lawsuit on benefits, El Paso Times

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Texas sheriffs fear that the looming budget shortfall will turn the growing shortage of bed space for their psychologically disturbed inmates at state mental hospitals into a crisis." — Sheriffs Worry Over Proposed Mental Health Cuts

• "After the election last month, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, promised to start a Tea Party Caucus in the Texas Legislature. Today, Patrick has the names of the founding members." — Sen. Dan Patrick Announces Tea Party Caucus