The Midday Brief: Sept. 27, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Perry team calls $20 million fundraising report "nutty"; Romney hits Perry again on immigration; Texas nets biggest haul in latest federal health care grant Full Story
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Draft Water Plan: Texas "Will Not Have Enough"
The Texas Water Development Board's just-released 295-page report says that if Texas does not spend tens of billions more on water infrastructure, a drought as bad as that of the 1950s could cost Texans $116 billion per year by 2060. Full Story
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Guest Column: The GOP Flipped on Tuition Issue, but Perry Hasn't
Gov. Rick Perry’s defense of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants now seems out of step with the GOP mainstream. But that wasn't the case 10 years ago. It's the Republican Party that has moved — not the governor. Full Story
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Donna Nelson: The TT Interview
The chairwoman of the Public Utility Commission on how close Texas came to rolling blackouts this summer, what consumers can expect to pay as wind-power transmission expands, and how the historic drought affects the reliability of the power grid. Full Story
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Video: Paul on The Daily Show
Ron Paul was Jon Stewart's guest on last night's episode of The Daily Show. Only a portion of the extended interview aired, but the full video was posted online this morning. Full Story
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The Brief: Sept. 27, 2011
On Monday, Rick Perry, still reeling from a pundit pile-on, went on the offensive. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry announces his presidential bid in South Carolina on Aug. 13, 2011.]()
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After Setbacks, Perry Finds Himself in a Tougher Race
Gov. Rick Perry’s meteoric rise to the top of the Republican field last month led many analysts to conclude that the Texas governor would waltz to his party’s presidential nomination. It’s looking more like a grind dance now. Full Story
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Anticipating Budget Cuts, State Agencies Shrink
The numbers prove it: State government is shrinking. Many attribute the drop in state jobs to the budget cuts lawmakers passed last legislative session. But agencies had been preparing for the deficit by dropping employees for more than a year. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Video: String of Perry Flubs Sparks Doubts
Gov. Rick Perry's underwhelming and inconsistent debate performances have made him a target of pundits, political satirists — and many of his party's top figures. Full Story
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Protesters Gather for Boehner Reception
Protesters gathered outside the Headliners Club in Austin to urge U.S. House Speaker John Boehner and Congress to pass the American Jobs Act. Boehner was in Austin to attend a reception with several GOP congressmen from Texas. Full Story
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![Protesters march to the site of the fundraiser with Speaker John Boehner and several Texas congressmen.]()
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Staples and Generals Call Out Feds on Border Security
The former head of the U.S. Armed Forces Southern Command said Monday that if the U.S. does not provide more support to Mexico, that country's next presidential administration may have no choice but to make a deal with cartel leaders. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, holds up copy of recently released independent copy of Texas border security during press conference at Texas Capitol on September 26th, 2011]()
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Travis County Attorneys May Hold Answers in 25-Year-Old Murder
Travis County prosecutors on Monday provided “powerful evidence” to a Williamson County district court that could be crucial in exonerating Michael Morton of the 1986 murder of his wife. Full Story
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![Presiding Officer of the Texas Forensic Science Commission John Bradley during a commission meeting April 14th, 2011]()
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Harris Won't Run Again; Vandergriff's In
State Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, won't seek another term in the Texas Legislature, he said Monday, and he encouraged Victor Vandergriff to get into the race. UPDATE: Vandergriff says he's in. Full Story
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The Midday Brief: Sept. 26, 2011
Your afternoon reading: post-debate poll shows Perry still on top but Romney gaining; Romney still swinging at Perry over book; Bachmann opens up new line of attack Full Story
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The Brief: Sept. 26, 2011
Rick Perry's roughest week yet has put his front-runner status in serious jeopardy. Full Story
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Inside Intelligence: Bordering on...
In this week's nonscientific survey of political and government insiders, we asked about immigration — and how Rick Perry's positions as governor will work out for his campaign for president. Full Story
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No Easy Path to Winning Michigan for Perry
Gov. Rick Perry came in a distant second in the Michigan straw poll over the weekend. And his top opponents' ties to the state may make it impossible to do any better come primary day. Full Story
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![Rick Perry speaking at a Michigan GOP conference on Mackinac Island on Sept. 24, 2011.]()
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Texas' Struggle to Combat Childhood Obesity Advances, then Retreats
Texas' latest effort to address childhood obesity — a new law allowing a deeper study of student fitness data — could be blunted by the exemption lawmakers gave school districts from having to collect and report the data on a significant number of students. Full Story
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Texas Puts the "T" in ATM
Texas is a lock for Republicans at the statewide level, from the president on down. So color the state red and stop talking about the electoral map. Talk instead about the financial primary. Full Story
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Ken Starr, an Improbable Unifier, Presides Over Baylor University
Athletic conference instability has easily been the most significant struggle of Ken Starr's first year as Baylor University president. Otherwise, he has thrived beyond expectations — something that even his critics happily concede. Full Story
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![Former Baylor University President Ken Starr will continue to serve as the university's chancellor and as a law professor.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond
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