The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for March 22, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "House Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, took a few moments on the House floor today to thank her colleagues for their support through an effort by her failed election opponent, Dan Neil, to overturn his November loss." — House Dem thanks colleagues, slams election contest, Trail Blazers

• "Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, has given his new subcommittee members until Friday to mine some of the lesser known areas of state finances for new revenue." — Senators begin hunt for $5 billion in new revenue, Postcards

• "Normally, state Reps. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, and Leo Berman, R-Tyler, are on opposite ends of the political spectrum. But on Tuesday, they joined together — along with other lawmakers — to call for an end to the Driver Responsibility Program, created in 2003 to levy surcharges for traffic violations in order to raise funds for highways and trauma care." — Burnam/Berman on the same side?, PoliTex

• "Two bills concerning liquor and wine that are expected to boost state revenues were approved this morning by the Texas Senate." — Two booze bills, more state revenue, Postcards

• "The number of non-Hispanic white children attending Texas public schools continues to decline and again reinforces the state's rapidly shifting demographics." — White students continue decline from 1995 enrollment peak, Texas Politics

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "In a meeting this morning punctuated by harsh denunciations of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas Railroad Commission voted unanimously to clear a natural gas driller, Range Resources, of charges that it contaminated two water wells in Parker County. The EPA, however, said it stands by its charges against the driller." — Railroad Commission Clears Gas Driller of Harming Water

• "The Senate passed a bill today that would streamline the process of obtaining a medical license in Texas for out-of-state doctors." — Senate Approves Incentive for Out-of-State Doctors

• "Texas' environmental regulators — already under fire from green groups for not doing enough to keep air and water pollution in check — are bracing for deep cuts as lawmakers hash out the budget. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality faces a possible cut of about $295 million, or 34 percent. The Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil and gas industry, could see a 16 percent cut. Other agencies with some environmental functions also face the ax." — Environmental Regulators Brace for Budget Cuts