The Midday Brief: May 30, 2011

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "The big questions under the Pink Dome today: What’s the strategy? Does it matter? If there is a special session for SB 1811, will lawmakers revise school finance numbers in a way that changes any outcomes — or will they just go into overtime and get the same results?" — A Sine Die Strategy? Three Questions Facing the Lege

• "State Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, leader of the House Democrats said Gov. Rick Perry should be the one concerned about the implications of a special session since he's the one who is on the national political stage." — House Dems: It's Perry Who Should Worry About Special

• "Gov. Rick Perry talked this morning about the late-night filibuster by state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, that kept the upper chamber from voting on SB 1811, a critical piece of the budget puzzle." — Video: "She Raised A Hurdle. That's Her Call."

Your afternoon reading:

• "House Speaker Joe Straus might have to delay the customary ritual of collecting colleague pledges of support for re-election. Democrats are collecting signatures on a letter asking Democratic House members to delay pledging support to the San Antonio Republican." — House Democrats stay on sideline, won’t pledge to Speaker Straus — for now, Texas Politics

• "It was a night few Capitol watchers will forget, a night when the best-laid plans of the governor and the legislative leadership were obliterated by a first-term Democrat who may not return next session." — Wendy Davis’ Last Hurrah?, The Texas Observer

• "Texas drivers beware: Texting while driving could soon become illegal. The Texas Senate and House on Sunday approved a final version of a bill that will ban drivers from reading, writing or sending a text or e-mail while they are driving, among other things." — Ban on texting while driving goes to Perry, Postcards
  

• "State Sen. Mike Jackson, a veteran lawmaker and conservative LaPorte Republican who chairs the Upper Chamber’s economic development committee, was elected president pro tempore this morning." — Jackson elected president pro tem, Postcards