The Evening Brief: Feb. 5, 2013

Culled

•    Jerry Brown calls Texas Gov Rick Perry's ad 'barely a fart' (Sacramento Bee): "One day after Texas Gov. Rick Perry released a radio ad in California criticizing the Golden State's business climate and encouraging businesses to relocate to Texas, California Gov. Jerry Brown said today that Perry's campaign is 'barely a fart.' 'It's not a serious story, guys,' the Democratic governor told reporters at a business event here. 'It's not a burp. It's barely a fart.'"

•    Republican lawmaker Dan Branch considering running for AG, if Greg Abbott vacates the seat (The Dallas Morning News): "State Rep. Dan Branch said Tuesday he’s considering a campaign for Texas Attorney General in 2014, if incumbent Greg Abbott leaves the post to run for another office. 'I’ve been encouraged to look at it,' Branch said Tuesday. 'I’m grateful that people see me as worthy of making such a run.'"

•    Castro to Congress: 'America is watching' (San Antonio Express-News): "San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro on Tuesday urged quick action on much needed family-based and high-skilled visas at the first congressional hearing on immigration reform held by House Republicans. 'America is watching,' Castro said. 'Let's get this done.'"

•    UT president under apparent gag order regarding employee-student relationships (Austin American-Statesman): "University of Texas President Bill Powers appears to have been placed under a gag order of sorts when it comes to talking about inappropriate relationships between campus employees and students. Powers told the Statesman on Tuesday that the UT System and the system’s Board of Regents have asked him to refer questions to them."

New in The Texas Tribune

•    Video: Greg Abbott vs. Piers Morgan on Guns: "On Monday night's edition of Piers Morgan Tonight, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott spoke out against both background checks for personal gun sales and a ban on high-capacity magazines."

•    CPRIT Founders Lay Out Reform Legislation: "The legislative founders of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas laid out the first draft of a bill to reform the embattled agency on Tuesday before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee."

•    Border Coal Mine Plan Advances; Opponents Consider Their Options: "A decision by the Texas Railroad Commission has paved the way for an open-pit coal mine to begin operating on the Texas-Mexico border. Opponents of the plan are weighing their options, which include making a request for another hearing."