The Midday Brief: June 29, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

 “The Texas Senate Republican Caucus today disputed Gov. Rick Perry’s accusation that Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, killed sanctuary city legislation by not adding the language to an unrelated school finance bill in a conference committee.” — Blame flying at Texas Capitol, Houston Chronicle

 “Texas Sen. John Cornyn criticized the DREAM Act Tuesday at the measure’s first-ever Senate hearing, calling it a move that could spur illegal immigration and fraud in the absence of comprehensive immigration reform.” — John Cornyn opposes latest version of DREAM Act, calling it a “political football”, Texas on the Potomac

 “A record 235 Texas counties have outdoor burn bans as the state continues to suffer from drought.” — Record 235 Texas counties have outdoor burn bans, Associated Press

 “He's been hinting since April that he might choose Dallas-Fort Worth, according to Web comments by viewers and listeners to his radio show, carried here on KLIF/570 AM.” — Glenn Beck might no longer be joking about moving to Texas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“When Tea Party groups celebrated their victories here in November — they had helped take the governor’s office and the legislature — it seemed that one of their priorities, school choice legislation, would have an easy time passing.” — Tea Party Finds Power Leads to Policy Splits, New York Times

New in the Texas Tribune:

“Gov. Rick Perry has released a statement blaming Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, for the death of sanctuary cities, which the governor added to the special session call. House Speaker Joe Straus has his own statement blaming the full Senate. And this morning, Senate Republicans and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst came to Duncan's —and their own — defense, releasing a statement turning the blame around on the House.” — Updated: The Sanctuary Cities Blame Game

 "The Senate's version of a bill to criminalize intrusive pat-downs by federal agents with the Transportation Security Administration has died in the House, after the chamber couldn't get the four-fifths vote needed to suspend the rules." — House Kills Senate's Anti-TSA Groping Bill