The Evening Brief: Feb. 29, 2012

Culled:

• Texas Association Criticized for Denying Jewish School’s Title Shot (The New York Times): "A Texas high school athletic association is facing pressure from the mayor of Houston and criticism from a former N.B.A. coach over its handling of an Orthodox Jewish day school that is no longer scheduled to play its state semifinal boys basketball game because the players observe the Sabbath."

• Dreier's departure could lead to opportunity for Sessions (The Dallas Morning News): "Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, could get a chance to lead the powerful House Rules Committee in the next Congress. Rules Chairman David Dreier, R-Calif., announced on the House floor Wednesday that he will not seek reelection in November, opening the door for Sessions, who is vice chairman, to take the helm in 2013."

New in The Texas Tribune:

• New Paul Ad Pops GOP Rivals — Including Mitt: "GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul is out with a new ad today attacking all three of his rivals: 'serial hypocrite' Newt Gingrich, 'counterfeit conservative' Rick Santorum and 'flip-flopper' Mitt Romney."

• Cruz Video: No Time for "Timid Career Politician": "In a new video, GOP U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz is posing the race as a choice between a 'strong conservative' (that would be him) and 'timid career politician' David Dewhurst."

• Texas Lawmakers Continue Quest to Reform Medicaid: "A joint interim committee is charging ahead in the state's effort to persuade the federal government to give it more flexibility to run its Medicaid program."

• Campaign Roundup: The Week's Political News: "Lloyd Doggett is moving again, and has a new Democratic opponent in Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector Sylvia Romo. State Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, has seen the interim maps adopted by the federal judges in San Antonio, and decided not to run for re-election. That's just the start of a busy week on the campaign trail."