The Midday Brief: July 15, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

“He's been talking about it with his family -- his family's behind him. His friends are behind him. And I really think this something that came -- that started in 2010 when he was running for reelection as governor. He's been thinking about this for a long time.” — Is Rick Perry Running? ‘Absolutely,’ Says Texas Monthly Editor — The Note

“My lieutenant governor’s gotten a call from him. He’s put out some feelers in Iowa. The sense is that it’s very likely he’s will enter the field,” said Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who pointed to Perry’s economic record as a major political asset." — Rick Perry 2012 run 'very likely,' Terry Branstad says — Politico

"'The lakes are at their lowest (levels) that I've seen in 20 years,' said Chuy Reyes, general manager of El Paso County Water Improvement District 1.” — Farmers scratch for water: Little snow, shallow lakes sound 2012 alarm— El Paso Times

“The real problem with hydraulic fracturing is not its potential to contaminate groundwater, but the volume of groundwater being used to do it, an industry insider and state regulator said at a local conference Thursday.” — Railroad Commission, Halliburton officials acknowledge amount of water used for fracking is problematic — San Angelo Standard Times

“The city of Galveston, which received $160 million to rebuild and repair 1,033 storm-damaged houses for low- and middle-income families, has the largest rebuilding program. Houston, which received $82 million to rebuild and repair 242 houses as well as repair apartment buildings, has the fifth-largest.” — Disaster recovery chief warns laggards — Houston Chronicle

New in The Texas Tribune:

"Bennett Ratliff, son of the former lieutenant governor and brother of the SBOE member, is jumping into the race to replace Rep. Jim Jackson, R-Carrollton, in the Texas House." — Another Ratliff in Texas Politics?

"Gov. Rick Perry is a frequent traveler, and as his national name recognition grows, so does the cost of his travel. How much is all this costing taxpayers?" — Video: Who Pays For Perry's Travel?

"Yes, we know Rick Perry isn't a declared candidate for president — yet. But on the theory that it's better to be prepared than not, we've created a one-stop, curated home for data and information on all things Perry." — T-Squared: Perrypedia — All Things Rick Perry, in One Place