The Evening Brief: Dec. 2, 2013

New in The Texas Tribune

•    Texas GOP Gets a Hand From Washington Democrats: "The conservatives who have been trying to get rid of the Texas Senate’s venerated two-thirds rule — here’s looking at you, Dan Patrick — may have received their best argument yet from U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada."

•    Despite Changes, Nurses Push for More Independence: "But some nurse practitioners argue lawmakers should have allowed them to practice independently, saying they could fill a need for primary care. And with recruitment campaigns by states like New Mexico, which has more lenient laws, some see an incentive to leave the state."

•    Carnes Launches "We Are Texas Ag" Video Campaign: "Uvalde Mayor J Allen Carnes, a Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner, launched a video campaign Monday called 'I am Texas Ag,' encouraging those with farming ties to send in videos."

Culled

•    Former Mexican governor, who once sought the presidency, charged in Texas (San Antonio Express-News): "Federal prosecutors in Brownsville have unsealed an indictment charging Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba, a longtime border politician who served as governor of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas and once sought his party's nomination for president, with racketeering."

•    Wendy Davis discusses food stamp cuts (KGBT 4): "The bill came after an Action 4 News investigation revealed a SNAP account balance of more than $7,000 dollars. Although the bill made it into the legislature and our investigation received network television coverage, the gubernatorial candidate had never even heard of it."

•    GOP rules Texas, but talking like they're on ropes (The Associated Press): "Sick of losing on Election Day, they huddled candidates on their 2014 statewide ticket in a hotel ballroom and bristled at being outspent and outnumbered by political rivals in Texas who they talked up as sophisticated and savvy. But this was no meeting of hapless Texas Democrats."

•    Didn’t get to Best Buy? Hey, there’s Dewhurst’s online sale (The Dallas Morning News): "Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, ever attentive to the economy, has moved decisively to respond to disappointing Black Friday sales by announcing his very own Cyber Monday. Yes, he has opened an online store where you can buy swag from his re-election campaign."