The Midday Brief: Jan. 23, 2012

Your afternoon reading:

• "Republican Senate hopeful David Dewhurst, in a nod to tea party activists, promised Monday that if elected he'd only serve two six-year terms." —In nod to tea party, Dewhurst promises he'd only serve 2 terms in Senate, The Dallas Morning News

• "I had written on Saturday night, before the results of the South Carolina primary were known, that Mitt Romney could not necessarily bank on holding down a lead in Florida despite recently having had a double-digit advantage in the polls there. … Two new automated polls suggest that the swing in momentum — plus whatever additional gains Newt Gingrich made from the favorable news coverage following his South Carolina win — are enough to have given him the lead in Florida." — New Florida Polls Show Big Swing to Gingrich, FiveThirtyEight
  

• "State Rep. Jessica Farrar asked Gov. Rick Perry today to pay the state back for the travel expenses he incurred during his presidential run. Although his campaign pays for Perry’s travel, the state has picked up the tab for the travels of Perry’s security detail. Farrar, D-Houston, sent a letter requesting that Perry write a check to the Texas Comptroller’s Office for $2,692,376, plus any other expenses related to his out-of-state campaign activity. Here’s the letter." — State rep asks Perry to pay back state for travel expenses, Postcards

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has made the next move in the state's face-0ff with the federal government over the state's voter ID law, which the Justice Department is reviewing. Abbott is suing to have the law implemented without further delay." — Abbott Sues Feds to Get Voter ID Implemented

• "Texas State University President Denise Trauth expects the institution's new emerging research classification to enhance its reputation and help in the recruitment of students and faculty." — Texas State Relishes New Status, Focuses on Future

• "The pipeline would have been a disaster for our climate, the quality of the air we breathe and critical water resources across our country." — Guest Column: Obama Got It Right on Keystone XL  

• "Not only would Keystone XL have brought jobs to the United States, it would have bolstered our national security by bringing us almost 1 million barrels each day of secure, North American oil." — Guest Column: Obama Got It Wrong on Keystone XL