The Brief: Perry second Texan to land in Trump’s Cabinet

Tribune Today 

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The Big Story

Although President-elect Donald Trump has yet to confirm the speculation, CBS News and other outlets reported late Monday night that Trump selected erstwhile rival and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to serve as his energy secretary. Here’s the story so far:

• Trump's transition team praised Perry's time as Texas governor. "They talk about Texas' economic revival, and a lot of that had to do with the energy sector," Trump spokesman Jason Miller told reporters. Texas Republicans also began celebrating the news Tuesday morning. U.S. Rep. Joe Barton of Ennis, a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, called the former governor an "excellent choice.”

• During Perry's record 14 years as governor, oil and natural gas production surged — by roughly 260 percent and 50 percent, respectively. The phenomenon, however, also stirred concerns about air and water quality and strained infrastructure in some regions. Texas also became the nation’s leader in wind energy generation during his tenure — and Perry helped steer that boom.

• Advocates were generally unhappy with Perry’s efforts on solar energy — or lack thereof. The solar industry struggled to get a foothold because lawmakers provided fewer incentives than other states. However, Perry helped Texas become one of the nation’s few facilities that accept low-level nuclear waste. The U.S. Department of Energy plays a major role in advancing and implementing policy on nuclear waste.

• If selected, however, Perry will have to reconcile his new gig with his past comments on Washington, D.C., the federal government and Trump himself. During a presidential debate in 2011, Perry forgot the name of the third federal agency he wanted to shutter — the Department of Energy. He also has called Trump’s candidacy “a cancer on conservatism,” and accused him of offering "empty platitudes and promises.”

What We're Reading

(Links below lead to outside websites; content might be behind paywall)

'Peanuts' Christmas decoration hearing draws big crowd, Killeen Daily Herald

Abbott floats school choice as solution to special ed frustration, Houston Chronicle 

Army recruiter admits funneling guns to drug cartel, San Antonio Express-News

11 things to know about Texan Rex Tillerson, Trump's secretary of state nominee, The Dallas Morning News

Rice, UT join effort to recruit more lower income students, Houston Chronicle

An Exit Interview With Art Sisneros, The Texas Elector Who Resigned Rather Than Vote For Trump, Texas Monthly

Today in TribTalk

"The fetal remains rule move places an additional barrier on women who seek to exercise their constitutional right and represents another attempt to shame and restrict access to abortion care."

— Nancy Cardenas, Associate director, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health

Trib Events for the Calendar

•   Health Care and the 85th Legislature on Dec. 15 at UT Health Science Center San Antonio - Pestana Lecture Hall

•   Trivia Night on Jan. 8 at The Highball 

•   A Conversation with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Jan. 11 at The Austin Club 

•   A Conversation with the University of Houston's Renu Khator on Jan. 12 at The Austin Club

•   A Conversation with Reps. Dustin Burrows & Drew Darby on Jan. 19 at Howard College – West Texas Training Center

•   A Conversation with Sen. Kel Seliger & Rep. Brooks Landgraf on Feb. 17 at Odessa College – Saulsbury Campus Center

•   A Conversation with Reps. Senfronia Thompson & James White on March 31 at Prairie View A&M University – W.A. Tempton Memorial Student Center