The Midday Brief: July 20, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "A top congressional handicapper today called it 'likely' that Republicans will oust Austin Rep. Lloyd Doggett next year, helping them keep control of the House." — Doggett "likely" to lose seat, handicapper predicts, Trail Blazers

• "Todd Staples' campaign spokesman insists the agriculture commissioner remains in exploratory mode for the 2014 lieutenant governor race.  But Staples did take the time to issue a statement on Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's recent decision to run for U.S. Senate." — Ag. Commish Todd Staples sets stage for lt. gov campaign, Trail Blazers

• "Even as he meets with potential top donors, Rick Perry has yet to decide if he’s running for president. But two polls released this week indicate that if the Texas governor chooses to do so, he would enter the race better positioned than rivals who have campaigned for far longer." — Polls Show Perry Already Resonating With GOP Voters, National Journal

• "Rick Perry, who won't personally take part in the Ames Straw Poll and may not announce his 2012 decision before the August event, nonetheless won a county GOP straw poll in Iowa this week." — Rick Perry wins Iowa county straw poll, Politico

• "A Texas man who said he wanted to kill Arabs to avenge the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday evening, even as one of his victims filed a last-minute appeal to save his life." — Texas Schedules Execution, Despite Victim’s Plea, The New York Times

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Republican Ted Cruz parried David 'unapologetically conservative' Dewhurst's video announcement this morning, calling himself the 'proven conservative' in the U.S. Senate race." — U.S. Senate Race: "Proven" vs. "Unapologetic" Conservatives

• "The contentious sanctuary cities legislation debate left a bitter aftertaste for some Latinos, but whether it translates into change at the ballot box next year may depend on how much they remember about one of the state’s most controversial bills." — Will "Sanctuary Cities" Debate Galvanize Latino Voters?

• "If we are serious about higher ed reform, state lawmakers, our colleges and universities and the business community must work together and lead, not bury ourselves in lofty rhetorical arguments or burden our education system with misguided micromanagement." — Guest Column: Seven Breakthrough Distractions