The Midday Brief: Jan. 12, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "The Texas Senate put off a fight over its rules until next week. Senators are considering whether to allow a voter identification bill to come up without a preliminary vote. Democrats used the so-called two-thirds rule to block debate on the legislation in 2007, but Republicans set the rule aside in 2009 for that one bill." — Quiet day in the Legislature, Texas Politics

• "The highest criminal court in Texas this morning permanently halted a Houston judge's hearing on the constitutionality of the state's procedures surrounding the death penalty." — Court permanently halts death penalty hearing in Houston, Houston Chronicle

• "Gov. Rick Perry wouldn't shut the door on a possible overhaul of the state's franchise tax during an morning press conference today. 'We, always, are open to fixing any inequities that may be there, but I don't suspect there will be a tax bill,' Perry said." — Guv talks franchise tax reform, sanctuary cities, Texas Politics

• "State Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) will chair the select committee responsible for determining the outcome of northwest Austin’s disputed Texas House race." — Hunter chairs committee to settle House District 48 dispute, The Texas Independent

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "The Sunset Advisory Commission today unanimously recommended consolidating the Texas Youth Commission and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission into one single youth justice division." — Sunset Says TYC and TJPC Should Consolidate