The Midday Brief: May 27, 2011

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Texas Gov. Rick Perry, in his boldest statement yet about a possible run for national office, said Friday he will think about launching a campaign for president in coming days. 'I'm going to think about it,' Perry said. He quickly added, 'I think about a lot of things.'" — Perry Flirting With White House Run

• "The House and Senate must agree on how to distribute the $4 billion reduction in state public education funding by 5 p.m. today, say Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, and Rep. Charlie Geren, R-River Oaks. After rejecting an initial proposal from the House late last night, the Senate sent a counter-offer back across the dome, which members there are currently considering." — School Finance Deal Running Out of Time

• "State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, appeared on conservative talk radio host Laura Ingraham's show Friday morning to announce he is considering a run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison." — Patrick Considering U.S. Senate Run With Exploratory Committee

• "Police across the state are watching the House anxiously today, hoping for the passage of HB 1541. It's a last-ditch effort to keep alive a small state agency lawmakers created in 1991 that awards grants to police agencies to help prevent and investigate auto theft and burglary." — House Passes Bill to Save Car Theft Agency

Your afternoon reading:

• "Declaring, 'OK, Amen,' Republican Gov. Rick Perry signed the voter identification bill Friday that Republicans have pushed for the past several sessions." — Perry signs voter ID bill to cheers from Republican lawmakers, Trail Blazers

• "The gavel hasn’t yet marked the close of arguably the most conservative session of the Texas Legislature in anyone’s memory — and already tea partiers have renewed their efforts to oust Texas House Speaker Joe Straus and reform the way state representatives pick their leader." — Session not yet over, tea partiers renew battle against Straus, pledge cards, The Texas Independent

• "A bill that would let Capital Metro buses — and transit buses in four other counties — use highway shoulders when roads are congested ran into its own traffic in the Texas House today." — Bus-on-shoulders bill hits a bump, Postcards