The Evening Brief: April 12, 2013

New in The Texas Tribune

•    Perry Backs Dedicated Car Sales Taxes for Highway Fund: "Gov. Rick Perry on Friday said he likes the idea of dedicating a portion of future car sales taxes to road projects and also said he's open to spending up to $6 billion of the Rainy Day Fund on infrastructure projects."

•    Railroad Commission Chairman Apologizes for Retweeting Noose Image: "Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman apologized on Friday for retweeting an image that showed a noose beside the names of Republican U.S. senators who had voted down a gun-control filibuster."

•    Tackle Redistricting or Wait for the Courts?: "Texas could trim the size of its court fights over redistricting by endorsing maps drawn by federal judges, but legislative leaders fear the harmony of the current session would evaporate in the process."

•    For Texas Politicians, Energy Dollars Plentiful: "Friendliness toward the drilling industry is typical in Texas, where many lawmakers receive campaign contributions from oil and gas groups or have investments in drilling companies."

•    Erica Grieder: The TT Interview: "Erica Grieder, a senior editor at Texas Monthly and the author of a new book on the 'Texas Model,' on the state's successes, its critics and whether the model needs any tweaks."

Culled

•    Texas Gov. Rick Perry outlines case for re-election (The Dallas Morning News): "Texas Gov. Rick Perry said this week that his experience leading the Lone Star state was the best reason to keep him on the job. During a recording of Inside Texas Politics, Perry said that Texas had become the envy of the nation during his years as governor. He said the state’s success could be attributed to stable, conservative leadership. 'Why would you want to change?' he asked."

•    Stockman’s new bumper sticker: 'If babies had guns they wouldn’t be aborted' (Houston Chronicle): "Just three months after being sworn in to office, Rep. Steve Stockman is blazing the re-election campaign trail — and he’s not holding back. The Republican from Friendswood is running on the claim that he is 'the most conservative congressman in Congress,' and his recently debuted campaign merchandise designed to prove his claim. Stockman has managed to combine two of the most polarizing issues into one slogan, 'If babies had guns, they wouldn’t be aborted.' Stockman tweeted the sticker, along with #gosnell, a reference to Dr. Kermit Gosnell who is charged with murder for performing illegal abortions."

•    In Dallas for Bush library opening, Obama to headline DNC fund-raiser (The Dallas Morning News): "President Obama, in Dallas later this month for the Bush library grand opening, will use his visit to scoop up some campaign cash. The president and first lady Michelle Obama will fly to Dallas on April 24, an aide tells us today. That evening, they’ll participate in fund-raising events for the Democratic National Committee."