The Midday Brief: June 14, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "Political Wire has learned that Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) requested a sit down with the Wall Street Journal editorial board today while he's in New York City. It's certain to increase speculation that he's readying a possible presidential bid." — Perry Travels to New York, Political Wire

• "Party Chairman Bill Armistead says Texas Gov. Rick Perry will speak at the dinner Aug. 12 in Birmingham. Armistead says the three-term governor is a standout in the group being mentioned as possible presidential candidates." — Texas governor to address Alabama GOP, The Associated Press

• "Robert Gibbs thinks Rick Perry should run for president. He then offered that Texas’s Republican governor has a chance to jump in the race. Asked whether as Perry’s adviser, he would advise the governor to make a bid for the White House, Gibbs said, 'I probably would.'" — Gibbs to Perry: Run!, Politico

• "It’s only 300 acres populated by 28 voters but it became the subject of an arm-wresting match between two Houston-area congressmen during the Texas House’s redistricting debate today." — The spoils of redistricting, Texas Politics

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Texas Gov. Rick Perry, in New York for a speech that’s fueling speculation about a possible run for the White House, said Tuesday that voters seem hungry for more candidates to pick from in the presidential contest." — Rick Perry Says Voters Want More Options in GOP Field

• "Hey, Texplainer: Is is true that sex acts are being taught to college students at state-funded gender and sexuality centers?" — Texplainer: Are Your Tax Dollars Paying for Sex Classes?

• "Public education in Texas is now the top concern — surpassing immigration and even the economy — for many Texans, according to poll results released today by the Texas Lyceum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of civic leaders." — Poll: Education Foremost on Minds of Texans