The Midday Brief: July 28, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• “'I probably needed to add a few words after that "it’s fine with me," and that it’s fine with me that a state is using their sovereign rights to decide an issue. Obviously gay marriage is not fine with me. My stance hasn’t changed.'" — Rick Perry: Gay marriage 'not fine with me,' Politico

• "Texas Governor Rick Perry has put out feelers on the possibility of participating in the August 11 Fox News Debate in Ames." — Perry put out feelers on Fox debate, Politico

• "As multiple redistricting lawsuits work their way through state and federal court, an issue that has emerged in the last week is whether legislative staffers that helped draw the maps are fair game." — Latest battle in redistricting lawsuits: what legislative staffers know, PoliTex

• "State Sen. Troy Fraser said Wednesday that he would be interested in seeking one of the state's two top elected offices if 2012 election results create that opportunity." — Fraser ready for top state offices, Abilene Reporter-News

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "If current trends continue, the federal government will approve nearly 18,000 more applications for citizenship this year than it did in 2010, according to data recently posted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The number of visas for victims of certain crimes is also likely to increase." — Legal Immigration Increases in Texas, U.S.

• "Just because Gov. Rick Perry hasn't announced whether he’s running for president doesn’t mean people aren’t selling stuff that says he is. Matt Mawhinney of KUT News reports on the growing demand for Perry merchandise."  — "Perryphernalia" a Hot Commodity Even if Perry Isn't Yet a Candidate