The Brief: June 18, 2014

The Big Conversation

Most Texans would deport undocumented immigrants immediately, a stance influenced by the hard-line position's popularity among Republicans, according to a University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.

Fifty-four percent at least somewhat agreed with the statement that undocumented immigrants should be deported immediately. The statement had stronger support among Republican voters, 74 percent, and the strongest support among Tea Party voters, 85 percent.

“This tells us a lot about the continuing power of immigration and border politics in Texas,” said Jim Henson, co-director of the poll and head of the Texas Politics Project at UT-Austin. “You definitely get the sense that the Tea Party is the center of gravity when it comes to concern about immigration in the Republican Party.”

The UT/TT Poll also found that 59 percent of Texas voters believe that men get paid more than women for the same amount of work, but a significantly smaller percentage — 49 percent — think the state should do more to address a gender wage gap. Forty-one percent think the state is doing enough or should do less.

“People might recognize a problem but also have a coexisting ideological belief that tells them government cannot do anything about the problem,” Henson said. “This is one of those areas where the limited-government approach by the Tea Party really stands out.”

The Day Ahead

•    The Senate Government Organization Committee meets at 1 p.m. in the Betty King Committee Room to look at how to better secure the state against cybercrime as well as improving transparency and using technology to reduce costs. (agenda)

Today in the Trib

Pipeline Companies Paying More To Cross Private Land: "As pipeline companies scramble to provide infrastructure to support the energy boom, they are having to pay more for the right to build oil and gas pipelines across private property."

Subsidized ACA Enrollees in Texas Paying Lower-Than-Average Premiums: "Texans who received financial assistance to purchase health coverage through the federal insurance exchange are paying less in monthly premiums than individuals in most other states using that online marketplace."

Must-Read

Texas officials to discuss border funding, San Antonio Express-News

Abbott's first statewide TV ad in race against Wendy Davis is in Spanish, San Antonio Express-News

Greg Abbott: Common Core not welcome in Texas, Austin American-Statesman

Wendy Davis touts education, infrastructure proposals in economic plan, The Dallas Morning News

Castro faces little turbulence for HUD post, Houston Chronicle

Garcia: Castro seeks confirmation for the job he never wanted, San Antonio Express-News

Texas political scene to star in new HBO series, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas County commissioners unwittingly back slavery reparations, The Dallas Morning News

Rick Perry’s ‘Groundhog Day’, The New York Times

Quote to Note

“When I step out of my current job, and I have 15 or 20 productive years left in my body, I want to be able to have as in-depth an understanding about this world as possible.”

— Gov. Rick Perry, sharing with The New York Times Magazine's Mark Leibovich on where he sees himself 15 or 20 years from now

Today in TribTalk

Kill the grading curve, by David Laude: "My work at the University of Texas at Austin has helped draw attention to why poor students often don't graduate from college. But there's another reason why many students don't graduate: the grading curve. Let's get rid of it."

Trib Events for the Calendar

•    The Texas Tribune Festival runs from Sept. 19-21 at the University of Texas at Austin. Tickets are on sale now.