The Evening Brief: Oct. 2, 2013

New in The Texas Tribune

•    Tommy Williams to Leave Texas Senate: "State Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, is resigning from the Texas Senate, he told his staff Wednesday afternoon. Separately, Williams has been approached about a government relations position within the Texas A&M University System, sources with knowledge of the discussions told The Texas Tribune."

•    Libertarian Kathie Glass Announces Bid for Governor: "Houston lawyer Kathie Glass announced Wednesday that she will again run as a Libertarian candidate for governor, saying Texas voters are frustrated with the two major parties."

•    Poll: Abbott Leads Davis by 8 Points: "Republican Greg Abbott is leading Democrat Wendy Davis by 8 points in a hypothetical matchup for Texas governor, but it’s a statistical dead heat among women, according to a Texas Lyceum Poll of registered voters."

•    Perry Visits San Angelo to Push Water Plan Funding: "San Angelo's O.C. Fisher Reservoir, which after years of persistent drought is completely dry, served as the backdrop for Gov. Rick Perry's remarks Wednesday in support of a constitutional amendment to use $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund toward water-planning initiatives."

•    Meet the Operatives Behind Wendy Davis' Campaign for Governor: "Wendy Davis, expected to announce for governor on Thursday, is relying on a tight-knit group of people who have fought in the political trenches together — often against the odds, and often in territory inhospitable to Democrats."

•    U.S. House Democrats Make New Immigration Reform Push: "In an effort to keep immigration reform alive during the debate over the government shutdown, congressional Democrats have filed legislation that includes elements of a border-security measure backed by a key GOP leader."

Culled

•    Grover Norquist on Ted Cruz: 'He pushed House Republicans into traffic and wandered away' (The Washington Post): "Grover Norquist is the president of Americans for Tax Reform and the creator of the anti-tax pledge that nearly every Republican in Congress has signed. We spoke on Tuesday about the government shutdown and its consequences for his agenda. … 'Cruz said he would deliver the votes and he didn’t deliver any Democratic votes. He pushed House Republicans into traffic and wandered away.'"

•    Rep. Roger Williams' Office Gets Punk'd (Fort Worth Star-Telegram): "In what U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, described as an act of vandalism, unknown mischief-makers hung tea bags from the ceiling in the hallway outside his office and plastered his Cleburne office door with derogatory comments."

•    Wallace Jefferson joining appellate law firm (The Dallas Morning News): "Wallace B. Jefferson, the day after stepping down as chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, announced that he will be joining a boutique law firm with offices in Dallas, Houston and Austin."