The Midday Brief: January 21, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

• “Three or four shots were fired outside the State Capitol on the South Steps at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, according to Capitol officials.” – TribBlog: Shots fired at Capitol – Texas Tribune

• “A divided Supreme Court struck down limits on corporate political spending, overturning two precedents in a ruling likely to affect campaigning in the 2010 elections.” – Supreme Court Overturns Limits on Corporate Spending in Political Campaigns – The Wall Street Journal

• “Texas had the second highest number of companies represented with 13. California was No. 1 with 16 companies, and New York was third with 10.” – Texas has 2nd most firms on Fortune's 'best places to work' list ­– The Dallas Morning News

• “Pelosi, D-Calif., made the comment to reporters after House Democrats held a closed-door meeting at which participants vented frustration with the Senate's massive version of the legislation.” – Pelosi: House Lacks Votes To OK Senate Health Bill – Associated Press

• “It would be expected for Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has been in the U.S. Senate since 1993, to raise a significant amount of money from Washington, D.C. for her gubernatorial campaign. However, Rick Perry … actually raised more …” – Perry, Hutchison raise money from Washington –  Burnt Orange Report

• “"We have to get this done," Obama said at the White House. "If these folks want a fight, it's a fight I'm ready to have." – Obama steps up campaign against Wall Street banks – Associated Press