The Midday Brief: Jan. 5, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "House Republican Caucus Chairman Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, has just told supporters of Speaker Joe Straus that he sees no legal problems with holding a caucus meeting on Monday to possibly coalesce around 'the Republican' candidate for speaker." — Taylor: No legal problems with caucus meeting, Trail Blazers

• "Seven states are likely to pass laws similar to Arizona's 2010 immigration crackdown law this year, but Texas is not among them, a new study found." — Study: Texas not likely to enact an Arizona-style immigration law, Texas on the Potomac

• "Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin said today that he will not seek another term. He current term ends Feb. 1." — Insurance commissioner to step down, Postcards

• "State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) has filed a bill to change the name of the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) to the Texas Energy Commission. Wentworth’s Senate Bill 300 does not address other recommendations by Sunset Advisory Commission staff, who suggested changing the RRC’s name to the Texas Oil and Gas Commission and also replacing the three elected commissioners with a part-time board." — Wentworth files bill to rename Railroad Commission, The Texas Independent

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Electronic textbooks are increasingly touted as an alternative to the more expensive traditional ink-on-paper variety. But how do lessons make the jump from the print to digital?" — How E-Textbooks Get Made

• "The 112th Congress will convene Wednesday with new faces at the helm of a number House committees. Jennifer Stayton of KUT News talked with U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, who will take over as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, about the issues on which he expects to find bipartisan support, the assertion that Americans won't work certain jobs and why he supports a repeal of the new health care law." — U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith on What to Expect From Congress