The Midday Brief: Jan. 19, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "House GOP leaders’ deep-cutting budget plan drew immediate howls Wednesday from fellow Republicans angered by a proposal to close four community college districts." — Republican lawmakers balk at budget cuts that would close some Texas junior colleges, The Dallas Morning News

• "Texas Representatives Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo, and Michael McCaul, a Republican from Austin, will breach the partisan divide and sit side-by-side at next week's State of the Union address, their offices announced today." — Texans among those shaking up partisan seating at State of the Union, Trail Blazers

• "Rep. Gene Green is on track to become the top Democrat on the House Energy and Power Subcommittee, but there's still question marks surrounding several other key Energy and Commerce subpanels dealing with the environment, telecommunications and commerce." — Rep. Green likely top Dem on key energy subpanel, Politico

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, laid out the grim details of the proposed budget this morning — but said he still thinks lawmakers can be approve the budget during the regular legislative session." — Pitts Lays Out Budget To House Lawmakers

• "In a party-line vote, the Texas Senate adopted its rules today without making any changes to the rule that requires the consent of two-thirds of the body in order to bring an issue to the floor. Of course, no change means that controversial legislation on voter ID — as it was last session — is exempt." — Texas Senate Discusses But Doesn't Change Two-Thirds Rule

• "Ted Cruz, who served as Texas Solicitor General from 2003 to 2008, is the latest to officially throw in for the race to replace GOP U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison." — Former Solicitor General Ted Cruz Joins Senate Race

• "Texas innocence clinics escaped unscathed from the first round of budget cut recommendations, but at the Capitol today advocates said they aren't safe yet." — State Innocence Clinics Dodge Budget Bullet, For Now