The Midday Brief: May 10, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "Many top Hispanic activists say Obama’s commitment to a bill is welcomed, but too little, too late, and they’d rather he put just as much effort into actions he can do with the stroke of his pen — such as slowing the deportations of certain illegal immigrants." — Immigration advocates press President Obama, Politico

• "Obama’s White House spokesman, Jay Carney, wants you to know this: The administration doesn’t think it has slighted Texas in any way. 'I think it’s important for everyone to know that this administration has been extremely responsive to the state of Texas’ requests for wildfire management assisting grants — 25 of them at last count,' he told reporters on Air Force One en route to El Paso. 'All that have been requested had been, as far as I know it, have been provided.'" — White House spokesman says Obama has been ‘extremely responsive’ to Texas wildfire aid requests, Texas on the Potomac

• "House Bill 400 has stalled three times in the House. But if it passes, how will the controversial bill pass the Senate?" — Will the Senate Bypass the Two-Thirds Rule to Pass Teachers' Groups' Worst Nightmare?, The Texas Observer

• "A bill to strengthen the state’s bigamy laws, inspired by the 2008 raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch in West Texas, was sent to the Senate floor today." — Bigamy bill heads to Senate floor, Postcards

• "Without debate, the Texas Senate approved legislation today that would strip state pension benefits from lawmakers and statewide elected officials who are convicted of bribery, extortion and other felony crimes." — Senate: No pensions for lawmaker felons, Postcards

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "In a last ditch effort to tweak one of their most despised bills of the session, House Democrats tried — and failed — to adopt several amendments today to the “sanctuary cities” bill initially passed by the House late Monday." — More Debate, Same Result: House Passes Sanctuary Cities

• "Texas A&M University System Chancellor Mike McKinney is stepping down effective July 1, 2011. "The time has come for me to step aside," he explained this morning in a memo to System employees." — A&M Chancellor Mike McKinney Stepping Down

• "President Barack Obama will be in Texas today for a fundraising event, and at least one Republican running for U.S. Senate, former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams, is eager to welcome him to the state — sort of." — Roger Williams "Welcomes" Obama to Texas

• "The founder of Teach for America and Highland Park High School alum on why she's (generally) positive about the direction of public education in America and how Texas school districts should cope with deep funding cuts." — Wendy Kopp: The TT Interview