The Brief: July 8, 2015

The Big Conversation

Attorney General Ken Paxton's name has come up in a federal investigation into a company in his hometown in which he owns more than 10,000 shares.

The company, Servergy, is based in McKinney and is under investigation from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for "potential misstatements" about the data servers it sells. 

The Tribune's Morgan Smith has more on the investigation, which was first reported by The Associated Press:

Paxton's email address appears with about 70 other contacts in one list of search terms in a subpoena of Servergy from the SEC. His name is also included in an October 2014 letter from Servergy to the SEC describing the search terms used to produce the documents the company turned over in response to a subpoena.

Trib Must-Reads

Analysis: Waiting for the Political Field to Form, by Ross Ramsey — Not all of the pieces are in place as the new political season begins. For starters, the maps used to elect people to the Texas House and to the state's congressional delegation are still tangled up in federal litigation.

Three DFW-Area Senators Sent Fewest Bills to Abbott, by Polo Rocha — State Sen. Konni Burton sent one bill to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk this past session, and that's one more than fellow conservative Republicans Don Huffines and Bob Hall. But that's just one legislative yardstick among many, supporters say.

What Happened to Straus' and Patrick's Priority Bills?, by Aman Batheja and Becca Aaronson — Over the course of this year's legislative session, House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made their priorities known by what bills got the lowest bill numbers. Take a look at how those proposals fared.

Shale Drilling Leaks More Methane Than Feds Thought, by Jim Malewitz — Gas producers in North Texas’ Barnett Shale are responsible for significantly more methane pollution than previously estimated, according to a new series of studies. 

Otto, House's Lead Budget Writer, Announces Retirement, by Aman Batheja — After a decade in the Texas House and fresh off his first session as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, state Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, announced Tuesday that he is not planning to seek re-election.

The Day Ahead

•    Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller gives his State of Agriculture address at 11 a.m.

Elsewhere

Ted Cruz's angry allies, Politico

Ted Cruz partners with donor’s 'psychographic' firm, Politico

After Supreme Court decision, Texas’ gay and lesbian parents turn attention to birth certificates, The Dallas Morning News

West Texas county clerk refuses to issue same sex marriage licenses, Houston Chronicle

At public forum on UT Confederate statues, most attendees urge removal, Austin American-Statesman

Facebook data center could have far-reaching impact on Fort Worth, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Ted Cruz gets to keep $51,100 in excess contributions with one small accounting maneuver, Center for Responsive Politics

In Rio Grande Valley, Some Campaign Workers Are Paid To Harvest Votes, NPR

Texas GOP hits Dem chairman on voter fraud, Houston Chronicle

State Department Orders Tarrant County to Stop Issuing Passports, NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

Johnson, immigration brass ordered to Texas court, Politico

In Texas, colleges prepare for concealed weapons, Reuters

Customers can't open carry at Whataburger, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Quote to Note

“If you’re looking for dirt on Ken Paxton, he’s the cleanest guy in the world. You can take a flying leap."

— Keresa Richardson, a Paxton donor whose email also surfaced in the SEC investigation into Servergy, tells The Associated Press

Today in TribTalk

The 2015 Texas House, from left to right, by Mark P. Jones — Who had the most conservative voting record in the Texas House this year? The most liberal? A new analysis breaks it down.

News From Home

•    Gov. Greg Abbott's call for meaningful ethics reform prompted heated debates this session on secret recordings, "dark money" and the lawmaker-to-lobbyist "revolving door." See what happened to ethics reform using our Texas Legislative Guide.

Trib Events for the Calendar

•    The Texas Tribune Festival on Oct. 16-18 at the University of Texas at Austin