The Midday Brief: Aug. 11, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

"Texas' top elected officials — all Republicans — were unanimous in their condemnation of legislation signed into law yesterday by President Obama that sends billions of dollars to states to prevent layoffs of teachers and police officers." — Texas officials blast anti-Perry provision in new school law, Texas on the Potomac

"As if we didn't have enough to worry about during these dog days of summer, along comes state Rep. Debbie Riddle, the Tomball Republican and Arizona-law crusader, warning of a new threat to the body politic. She allegedly told the screener last night on Anderson Cooper's CNN show that pregnant women are coming to the U.S. as tourists, having babies and then going back home 'with the nefarious purpose of turning them into little terrorists who will then come back to the U.S. and do us harm.'" — Riddle's killer babies, Texas Politics

"Democrat Bill White today stepped up his claim that Rick Perry is an ethics-challenged governor, saying his administration would follow stricter policies to avoid the influence of big money and pledging to be more transparent about his personal finances. The changes underscore White's campaign theme that Perry is beholden to political cronies and major donors. Perry denies that. White outlined his ethics policy today in Fort Worth and compared it with Perry's practices during the governor's decade in office." — White outlines how he'd be more ethical than Perry, Trail Blazers

"Larry Blackerby, the general manager of Houston NBC affiliate KPRC, took to the airwaves Tuesday night with a rather blunt commentary calling on Perry to debate Democrat Bill White." — First Reading — First Reading

New in The Texas Tribune:

"Last night on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, state Reps. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, and Debbie Riddle, R-Houston, debated the perilous issue del día: anchor babies. According to Riddle, women would give birth to terrorist babies in the U.S. who can then destroy America once they come of age." — Reps. Anchia, Riddle Battle Over Anchor Babies