The Midday Brief: March 15, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

“Gov. Rick Perry, who earlier this month won the GOP primary, supports the law aiding illegal immigrant students. Perry, in a recent debate, said the students are on the path to citizenship.” — Illegal immigrants in Texas get in-state tuition — Houston Chronicle

“Mexican police said the three victims were attacked after they left a social event in Juárez at the home of another employee of the U.S. consulate.” — Aztecas gang, La Linea may be involved in the murders of three U.S. citizens — El Paso Times

“‘This proposal adds almost a decade of solvency to Medicare," Obama said in a visit to a senior center.” — Obama seeks to reassure seniors on health care — Associated Press

“More than three dozen counties in the region have lost population, anywhere from 0.1 percent to 37.3 percent.” — Region's influence may wane; Legislative seats could be lost — Amarillo Globe-News

“Others say their two-year terms in office prevent them from taking advantage of lower-cost, longer-term leases.  A spokesman for House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas), who is paying $1,628 to lease a GMC Yukon, cited those reasons — and others.” — Lawmakers spend 1K/month on taxpayer-funded cars — Politico