The Midday Brief: Aug. 20, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

"Gov. Rick Perry's campaign Web video today is trying to make it look like Bill White wants to increase taxes for highways. As we pointed out the other day, the issue is not that simple." — New Perry Web attack on Bill White, Texas Politics

"The Texas Supreme Court today set a Sept. 15 hearing for oral arguments in efforts by the Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and the Austin American-Statesman to obtain copies of travel vouchers for the governor's protective detail." — Texas Supreme Court sets hearing in effort to get travel records from the governor's protective detail, Texas Politics

"Texas Republicans are really, really, really lucky today that Steve Munisteri is their state party chair." — Prominent Texas Republican joins Obama-is-Muslim conspiracy crowd, Texas on the Potomac

"Two years after President Obama brought hope and change to America, we have the odd spectacle of an entire mid-term election campaign strategy hinging on former President George W. Bush, the new patron saint of Democrats." — George W. Bush is star of Democrats' ad campaign, Texas on the Potomac

New in The Texas Tribune:

"The commissioner of the state's Department of Family and Protective Services talked to the Tribune about the planned redesign of Texas' foster care system — one she hopes will keep kids close to home and connected to their siblings and reduce their time in state custody." — An Interview With DFPS Commissioner Heiligenstein