The Midday Brief: Dec. 2, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

• "The State Republican Executive Committee is considering a resolution calling on Gov. Rick Perry to grant a pardon to former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on his recent money laundering conviction. But unlike the president, a Texas governor does not have sweeping pardon authority." — Why Perry cannot immediately pardon Tom DeLay, Texas Politics

• "Perry is scheduled to present the designation to both Chuck Norris and his brother Aaron Norris at a Texas Rangers office in Garland this afternoon." — Chuck Norris, Texas Ranger. No, really., PoliTex

• "Houston's Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee seems to pop up everywhere. The Democratic lawmaker even makes a cameo appearance in this week's big story — the massive trove of State Department cables released by Wikileaks.org." — You won't believe who's in the Wikileaks leaks! Yep, Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas on the Potomac

• "It seems appropriate that the Tom DeLay trial would reach its climax last week — after all, it's time to discuss redistricting again. Austin-area Democrats did just that last week at the Central Texas Democratic Forum, a monthly affair held Downtown at the Austin Bar Association, hearing from a panel of folks knowledgeable on the issue." — Redistricting: GOP Has Lock – But Dems Have Key, The Austin Chronicle

• "Somos Republican, a group based in Arizona and is dedicated to attracting more Latinos into the GOP, has tapped Gov. Rick Perry as the number-one Hispanic-friendly politician in the nation. They cite his stance that an Arizona-type anti-illegal immigrant law isn't necessary in Texas." —  GOP Hispanic group calls Rick Perry Numero Uno, Trail Blazers

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Robert Grijalva isn't running for the Texas House. The chief of staff to Rep. Chente Quintanilla, D-Tornillo, says (via press release) that he poked around in HD-77 to see if the time was right to get into a House race." — Quintanilla Aide Won't Challenge Marquez

• "Texas universities are likely facing massive budget cuts in the upcoming legislative session — so how are they spending the money they have now, and is there even any room for cuts?" — New Report Examines Spending at Big 12 Universities