The Midday Brief: April 21, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "Texas Representative Leo Berman says Republican John McCain was the sole target of questions about his legality as a presidential candidate in 2008 because he was born outside the United States. McCain was born in Panama. Berman says questions about Barack Obama didn't emerge until well after the election. Not exactly true." — Texas sponsor of birther bill revises history at House committee hearing, Trail Blazers

• "Tony McDonald, senior vice chairman of the Young Conservatives of Texas, credits his organization with helping craft the language of state Rep. Wayne Christian’s (R-Center) budget amendment requiring universities with state-funded 'gender and sexuality' centers to spend an equal amount of state money on 'family and traditional values' centers." — YCT claims responsibility for ‘family and traditional values’ centers amendment, The Texas Independent

• "The Texas House adjourned for a four-day Easter weekend break shortly before 1 p.m. today without taking up a bill to raise the size of kindergarten through fourth-grade classes and give school districts greater flexibility to fire and cut pay to teachers and other staff." — House adjourns with no action on school mandates bill, Postcards

• "Few people will mistake Texas Gov. Rick Perry as a crusading environmentalist. So his revelation Wednesday to a group of business leaders in Dallas shed a different light on Perry. Perry said that when the Texas Governor's Mansion is finally renovated, there will be solar energy panels on the roof." — Rick Perry says Governor's Mansion will have solar energy panels, Trail Blazers

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "A $176.5 billion budget for the 2012-13 biennium — 5.9 percent smaller than the current budget but almost $12 billion larger than the version passed earlier by the House — won approval from the Senate Finance Committee Thursday." — Senate Panel Approves $176.5 Billion Budget

• "With Texas in the throes of a terrible drought and wildfires raging across the state, Gov. Rick Perry designated April 22 to April 24 as official days of prayer for rain." — Governor Declares Days of Prayer For Rain

• "For the second time, Rep. Senfronia Thompson's contentious 'puppy mill' bill has been bumped from the fast-track. It will now be subject to debate on the general House calendar." — Puppy Mill Bill Bumped Off Fast Track

• "The House has given an early OK to a bill that would allow craft breweries to charge admission for tours, and include up to two six-packs of beers to give to tourists at the end." — House Gives Initial OK To Craft Beer Bill

• "The Daughters of the Republic of Texas would continue to be the caretakers of the Alamo, under a bill the House gave preliminary approval to this morning." — "Daughters" Gets Early Victory On Fight Over Alamo