The Evening Brief: Sept. 25, 2013

New in The Texas Tribune

•    Cruz's 21-Hour Speech Further Propels Senator Into National Spotlight: "During his marathon speech, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz talked on the Senate floor about how 'Obamacare' would fuel higher insurance premium rates and force businesses to cut back on employee hours. The address only adds to the national attention that the senator is receiving."

•    Abbott: Legal Action Could Follow Arms Treaty Ratification: "Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has warned that the state will file its 30th lawsuit against the Obama administration if a United Nations arms treaty is ratified."

•    As Railroad Commission's Influence Grows, Will Voters Take Interest?: "The Railroad Commission, the state's oil and gas regulator, plays a major role in Texas' energy production, which has only grown since the state's drilling boom. But how much do voters care about the commission candidates?"

•    How Will Regent Impeachment Investigation Work?: "Ahead of the state House hearings on whether University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall should be impeached, here's a look at how the process works and the questions likely to come up."

Culled

•    Ted Cruz speech reignites John McCain feud (Politico): "[John] McCain was defending his own — and the Senate’s — honor after Cruz had suggested that those who oppose his tough tactics were akin to 'appeasers' before World War II. 'I do not begrudge Sen. Cruz or any other senator who wants to come to talk as long as they want to,' McCain said. 'But I do disagree strongly to allege that there are people today who are like those who prior to World War II didn’t stand up and oppose the atrocities that were taking place in Europe.'"

•    Cornyn on Cruz: Good speech, bad tactic (Austin American-Statesman): "Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Wednesday congratulated colleague Ted Cruz 'on his historic marathon speech in opposition to Obamacare,' but said he still can’t go along with an effort to filibuster the continuing resolution that will keep the government operating past Monday. 'While I remain committed to defunding Obamacare, I’m also committed to avoiding a government shutdown,' said Cornyn in a conference call with Texas reporters an hour after Cruz ended his 21-hour, 20-minute, talkathon against Obamacare."

•    Ted Cruz, Wendy Davis and media bias (Politico): "Sen. Ted Cruz has been speaking on the Senate floor for almost 19 hours, as of this post. The talk is not technically a filibuster — he can't actually block the Senate from going about its business — but symbolically, it's more or less the same thing. The point is to show one's opposition to something through a demonstration of physical will. Which is why you can forgive conservatives for being upset with the mainstream media's coverage of the Cruz affair."