The Evening Brief: March 12, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

• Justice Department Rejects Voter ID Law: "The U.S. Department of Justice has rejected Texas' application for preclearance of its voter ID law, saying the state did not prove that the bill would not have a discriminatory effect on minority voters."

• Dems Cheer, GOP Slams Federal Voter ID Decision: "Reaction has been pouring in after today's news that the U.S. Department of Justice has refused to preclear Texas' voter ID law. Republicans are chiding the federal government, and Democrats are cheering."

• Storify Timeline: See How Controversy Over Health Program Has Unfolded: "Over the last year, anti-abortion lawmakers and activists have made it clear that they are dissatisfied with the largest beneficiary of the Texas Women's Health Program: Planned Parenthood. Federal funding for the program is poised to end because the state wants to exclude Planned Parenthood. Our Storify timeline shows coverage of this topic."

• Texas A&M Looks for Savings, Finds a Fight: "John Sharp, the new Texas A&M University System chancellor, is out to privatize services at the main campus in College Station."

Culled:

• Amid buzz about land commissioner, George P. Bush says ‘no firm plans’ to run in 2014 (Austin American-Statesman):"George P. Bush is said to be weighing a bid for Texas land commissioner in 2014, but he told the American-Statesman on Monday that he has 'no firm plans' to run. A source familiar with Bush’s plans, who is not authorized to discuss them and therefore requested anonymity, said Bush has been talking about running for state land commissioner when that office is on the ballot in two years."

• Frontiers of Ron Paul spin (Politico): "The Paul campaign sends out a message from the candidate blaming — wait for it — the media for understating the Texas congressman's accomplishments on Super Tuesday: The mainstream media got the Super Tuesday story wrong. Very wrong. Again. I'm sure you heard them gleefully talk about which establishment candidate "won" which primary or caucus Tuesday night, if you were even watching. Most Americans thankfully had more sense and switched on something else."