The Midday Brief: Sept. 16, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "Michele Bachmann is continuing her criticism of Rick Perry's controversial HPV mandate, releasing a YouTube video on Friday that slams 'Perry-care.'" — Bachmann continues HPV attacks, slams 'Perry-care,' Trail Blazers

• "Rick Perry has proved he will keep coming at his rivals hard, and today in a speech at the Iowa Credit Union League he added another data point: "The model for socialized medicine has been tried before … whether it was in western Europe or in Massachusetts. … The problem with state-sponsored health care is that you cannot contain it just within the borders of your state. When that plan took effect, it also increased Medicare/Medicaid costs.'" — Perry slams 'socialized medicine,' Politico

• "Mitt Romney told CNN yesterday that unlike Rick Perry, he doesn't think it's wise to describe Barack Obama as a socialist." — Romney changes tune on 'socialism,' Politico

• "President Barack Obama will visit Dallas on Oct. 4, a White House official said Friday. Details aren't yet available, but we've confirmed that the president will attend two campaign fundraising luncheons in the city. It's also likely that Obama will use the visit to pitch his $450 billion jobs-creation package." — Exclusive: Obama plans Dallas visit Oct. 4; likely to pitch jobs and re-election

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "The shining Texas jobs miracle that Gov. Rick Perry is touting on the presidential campaign trail may be dimming, according to statistics released today by the Texas Workforce Commission. Texas lost 1,300 jobs in August, marking the first month of employment decline in Texas in almost a year." — Texas Reports Increased Jobless Rate

• "Budget cuts have placed a premium on efficiency-boosting measures, which is why the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is working to eliminate degree programs with low enrollment — like physics. Critics, including many professors, say that could do lasting harm to the state." — Budget Woes, Calls for Efficiency Imperil Physics Programs

• "Texas A&M University System scientists want cinephiles to know that the scenario in the movie Contagion is a very real one — and that if it did come to pass, they'd have a major role to play in solving the problem." — For A&M, It Could Be "Lights! Camera! Contagion!"