The Midday Brief: Nov. 16, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "Looking to claw back to relevance in the Republican presidential race, Texas Gov. Rick Perry appears to have settled on a simple strategy: attack President Obama. His latest ad, which began airing today in Iowa and on national cable stations, takes Obama to task for a recent comment that America has grown 'a little bit lazy' in selling the country overseas over the past few decades." — Rick Perry’s comeback strategy: Attack Obama, The Washington Post

• "Rick Perry's campaign moved quickly Wednesday to correct an employee's inaccurate statement that non-United States citizens would not be allowed to attend a town hall the Texas governor held at a plant.  The event was hosted by Granite State Manufacturing, which does defense contracting work. An employee checking in members of the news media at the entrance asked each person for his identification and whether he was a citizen." — Citizenship check causes controversy at Perry event, CNN

• "Throughout the summer, former state senator John Douglas of Social Circle — he ran for state Public Service Commission in 2010 — may have been Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s most ardent supporter in Georgia. Where two or more Republicans gathered, Douglas was there with bumper stickers and a petition urging Perry into the race. But no more." — Rick Perry loses a Georgia supporter, and Newt Gingrich gains one, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• "In the wake of a scathing '60 Minutes' report Sunday night suggesting that U.S. senators and House members have profited from non-public information — legally, thanks to the fact that Congress exempts itself from insider-trading rules — Sen. John Cornyn agreed today that the rules should be tightened." — Cornyn says Congress needs inside trading ban, Trail Blazers

• "Sen. John Cornyn implored his colleagues in the House to vote for a strong balanced budget amendment this week — something he does not expect House Republican leaders to do." — Cornyn calls for a stronger balanced budget amendment than current House GOP proposal, Texas on the Potomac

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Gov. Rick Perry is urging Americans to 'browbeat' members of Congress into accepting his plan to slash their pay and limit the amount of they spend in Washington. It's part of Perry's pitch to dramatically reform government, but it's a tough sell in New Hampshire, where polls show him in low single digits." — Perry Urges Voters to "Browbeat" Congress to Accept Overhaul