The Midday Brief: June 15, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Texas Monthly reveals its best and worst list; House gives early OK to windstorm bill; the national press and Perry Full Story
Your afternoon reading: Texas Monthly reveals its best and worst list; House gives early OK to windstorm bill; the national press and Perry Full Story
House lawmakers gave early approval to a bill designed to let Texas take control of Medicaid and Medicare from the federal government after a high-decibel argument between the measure’s Republican author and Democratic lawmakers. Full Story
The bill has pitted Republican Gov. Rick Perry and trial lawyer Steve Mostyn, the largest Democratic donor in Texas, against one another, and it is a key reason that lawmakers are in a special legislative session. Full Story
Texas Monthly's list of the Ten Best and Ten Worst Legislators in the 82nd session has finally been released. Who made the cut — and how did our Texas Tribune insiders do with their predictions? Full Story
The current controversy dominating the higher education headlines in Texas is nothing if not nuanced. See if you can read between the lines and figure out who made what comment in our latest quiz. Full Story
Texans are hammering away at Barack Obama for failing to secure our borders and for refusing to put forward a comprehensive immigration-reform plan, but the number of federal prosecutions for "illegal re-entry" has quietly skyrocketed under his administration. Full Story
A buoyant Rick Perry bounded through the Big Apple on Tuesday. Full Story
In a victory for environmental groups, the L.C.R.A. board decided to delay the decision on whether to grant a large water contract to the proposed White Stallion coal plant near Bay City. Full Story
Texas peace officers will be allowed to inquire into the immigration status of any person arrested or legally detained under legislation passed by the Texas Senate early Wednesday morning. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry, moving closer to a run for the White House, took his anti-Washington message to New York City Tuesday, telling a gathering of Republican donors that the Obama administration had “promised jobs and … delivered economic misery.” It comes as Perry steps out increasingly on the national stage. Full Story
The Center for Urban Research at the City University of New York released a map of Houston today using data from the Census Bureau to visualize changes in race and ethnicity population patterns. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry made double appearances on Fox News Tuesday evening ahead of a speech in New York City. During an interview, Perry addressed Weinergate, Hispanic voters and abortion politics and, when asked about his popularity in his home state, compared himself to a "prophet." Full Story
Hey, Texplainer: Does the Texas Windstorm Industry Association have enough money for this year's hurricane season? Full Story
The Texas House tentatively passed SB 4 on Tuesday afternoon, following nearly four hours of debate in which Democrats argued the congressional redistricting plans under consideration would "ensure" minority voters will lack proper representation in Congress. Full Story
Faced with extreme drought, the Midland City Council approved a plan today to fine residents $500 for violating watering restrictions, the first time the city has ever enacted such restrictions. Full Story
Somebody tell Assemblyman Dan Logue, the California Republican leading the charge to draft Gov. Rick Perry for president, that his Razorback reinforcements have arrived. Full Story
The board of the Lower Colorado River Authority wasted no time in naming a long-time staffer to take over as the organization's general manager, following the resignation of Tom Mason a week ago. Full Story
Your afternoon reading: Perry requests sit-down with Wall Street Journal editorial board, says voters want more options in Republican field; Gibbs says Perry should run Full Story
Public education in Texas is now the top concern — surpassing immigration and even the economy — for many Texans, according to poll results released today by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Texas Lyceum. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry, in New York for a speech that’s fueling speculation about a possible run for the White House, said today that voters seem hungry for more candidates to pick from in the presidential contest. Perry, in an interview with the Tribune, said there's still ample time to get in the race. Full Story