The Midday Brief: November 24, 2009

Your afternoon reading:

• “State Comptroller Susan Combs warned lawmakers today the state doesn't have much wiggle room in keeping the current two-year budget balanced.” — State budget balances, barely — San Antonio Express-News

• “This is the new, improved Department of Homeland Security response to a crackdown on illegal immigration. Before Obama took office, the Bush Administration favored immigration raids which destroyed families and communities and seemed very well, un-American.” — Immigration Reform: How Soon is Now? — La Linea

• “Motorists may soon feel another pinch at the pumps — and this time they may not have oil companies to blame.” — State, federal officials consider raising gas taxes — Fort Worth Star-Telegram

• “As mayor of Houston, White enjoyed considerable support — political and financial — from Republicans.” — Can Bill White penetrate the Republican vote? — BurkaBlog

• “Her support for a shake up in the way health care coverage is provided stands in stark contrast to Texas’ two Republican U.S. senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, who both blasted the Senate health care reform plan over the weekend.” — Sebelius: Health insurance reform will be great for Texas — Rio Grande Guardian

•“Why leave a race for a candidate who isn't even running?” — Guessing Gilbert — Austin Chronicle

New in The Texas Tribune:

• “You don't have to feel like you missed out on the shakeup on the Democratic side of the governor's race yesterday.” — HuTube: Monday's Developments in 60 Seconds — The Texas Tribune

• “If we didn't think campaign finance law was confusing before this morning, well, we do now.” ­— T-Squared: Give or Take a Million — The Texas Tribune

• “For a quarter century, Rev. Rayford Butler has watched the slow collapse of his church community, in this neighborhood he calls ‘the stepchild of Dallas.’” — Soul Search, Part Two — The Texas Tribune