The head of UTIMCO resigned during a contentious Senate Finance Committee hearing, later ending his appearance by telling the assembled senators that his successor would probably be happy to meet with them next month. Robert Rowling, a Dallas billionaire serving as appointed chairman of UTIMCO — the University of Texas Investment Management Co. — was, along with the fund's president, taking populist salvos from the senators for bonuses paid to investment managers at a time when the fund's investments were losing money. Bruce Zimmerman, the CEO, got a $1 million bonus in November — part of a bonus package given to him and other execs there. Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst fired off a letter this week to show their displeasure; the Senate committee followed with an excoriating hearing. "You can have my job," said Rowling, who's also on UT's Board of Regents, in reponse. Rowling said the bonuses were awarded on the basis of UTIMCO's performance through the end of June — when its investments were performing well. While that deal was made in the summer, the actual bonuses were awarded, however, two or three months after the stock market and the economy tanked. He also said UTIMCO had managed to lose less money in the market fall than comparable funds. But the state's political leaders had no stomach for that. "There are not three people in the state who think that was a smart thing to do," said Finance Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan. Senators softened up later, asking Rowling if he really intends to resign. He said that he does. Asked if he would come back next month to talk about it, he told the committee his successor — whomever that is — would probably be happy to do that. • Addendum: Rowling is a big Republican donor, giving almost $1.5 million to state candidates since 2000. The list includes $157,934 to Dewhurst, $282,262 to Perry, $275,000 to Attorney General Greg Abbott, and a total of $27,000 to four members of the committee that chewed his tail: Bob Deuell of Greenville, Kevin Eltife of Tyler (whose questions prompted the resignation during the hearing), Jane Nelson of Lewisville, Tommy Williams of The Woodlands, and a Democrat, Judith Zaffirini of Laredo. Rowling has recently moved from insider to outcast in the governor's political world. He's been a major donor, was part of the Governor's Business Council, and was one of the people Perry picked for the committee that revised the state's business taxes before a special session in 2006. But he recently showed up, prominently, as a supporter of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's bid for governor in 2010. And he was one of several UT regents who supported Dr. Francisco Cigarroa over former state Sen. John Montford for chancellor of the UT System. Montford was Perry's favorite.

The migratory pattern has changed in a small way, with a band of policy wonks leaving the Senate to work for new House Speaker Joe Straus. They'll announce a full list of hires in the next few days, but some names are out: Andrea Sheridan (education), Jana Burleson (criminal justice), and Shelly Botkin (environment), all from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's staff, will join a team that's headed by Lisa Kaufman, who worked in the Senate before working for a tort reform group, and Denise Davis, who worked on the east side of the Pink Building before becoming House Parliamentarian. Straus also hired Craig Chick from the Texas Association of Realtors (former House and Senate aide), and Andrew Blifford, a budget analyst, from Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie. Jesse Ancira, who'll be general counsel, was a House creature before working for the State Auditor and then the Comptroller.

Kurt Meachum and Jerry Philips, late of the Texas Progress Council and the House Democratic Campaign Committee, respectively, are hanging out a lobby shingle. They're both House rats, working for Democrats there for the last half-dozen sessions.

Bryan Eppstein is busting his Fort Worth-based The Eppstein Group into four parts — each with a principal who's not named Bryan Eppstein. Michael Grimes is the new president and will head Capitol Alliance, which will do public affairs, public relations and lobbying. Keats Norfleet will run the Election Group, also based in Austin, working on political campaigns for candidates and causes. John Shults will head the Fort Worth-based Lighthouse Opinion Polling and Research, taking over the firm's survey business. Jonathan Rice is the lead name at the newly created RADAR Agency — a Fort Worth-based advertising firm. Eppstein says he'll be an advisor and strategist to all four companies, focusing on growth of the ad firm at first. He'll also stay involved with "select state officeholders" and work as a pollster and lobbyist for a couple of current clients. All four principals already work for the firm; Eppstein and Grimes say the new setup will let the units work together or separately, depending on the client.