The Midday Brief: Aug. 10, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "Gov. Rick Perry can't cheer about the nation's economic jitters, but they sure offer him chances to tout Texas as another, 'bottom up' source of wisdom on the economy. Appearing Wednesday before state legislators gathered in San Antonio, Perry blasted President Barack Obama's stimulus package as a failure. He called it 'top down' and denounced those who preach the economic philosophy of John Maynard Keynes, who has influenced presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Obama on the timing of cuts and increases in government spending." — Perry says U.S. is 'in trouble,' Texas offers better way on economy, Trail Blazers

• "Sounding increasingly like a candidate for national office, Gov. Rick Perry told the National Conference of State Legislatures meeting in San Antonio this morning that Standard & Poor’s recent downgrade of United States investments validated his administration’s frugal approach to government." — Perry says S&P downgrade of U.S. validates his approach, Texas Politics

• "The president has a 19 percentage point lead over Texas Governor Rick Perry. Here, 52% support the president, 33% are behind Perry, and 14% are undecided." — Obama’s Re-Election Prospects: Voters Divide, Marist

• "Rick Santorum’s identified a new way to boost his presidential prospects: attack Rick Perry for his position on gay marriage. “When someone who is a serious candidate for president is doing things that will be destructive not just for the Republican Party, but for the country, I’m going to point that out any chance I get,” Santorum told POLITICO." — Santorum: Perry marriage stance 'destructive,' Politico

• "Ron Paul’s son, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, joined him in Iowa on Wednesday for several days of campaigning ahead of the Ames straw poll. Now the rest of the family is also on the way.  About 30 members of the Paul clan — sons, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and more — piled onto a charter bus that left Texas late Tuesday night." — Ron Paul busing 30 family members in to Iowa, Politico

• "The son of former New York Gov. George Pataki is considering a run for a new Texas House seat in Williamson County." — Son of former NY governor eyes elected office in Texas, Postcards

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Throughout August, the Tribune is featuring 31 ways Texans' lives will change come Sept. 1, the date most bills passed by the Legislature take effect. DAY 10: Losing $31 million in state aid leads UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas to layoff more than 100 employees and eliminate 250 vacant positions." — 31 Days, 31 Ways: UT Southwestern Loses $31M in State Funding