The Brief: Aug. 6, 2014

The Big Conversation

Like a lot of politicians lately, Gov. Rick Perry has done his fair share of finger-pointing as to who deserves blame for the recent influx of migrant children across the U.S.-Mexico border. This week, he's getting a taste of his own medicine from a potential opponent in the 2016 race for president.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who sparred recently with Perry over foreign policy issues, revived a potent attack used against Perry in his failed 2012 bid for president.

“President Obama won’t send them home, and Gov. Perry has done the same thing by giving them in-state tuition. That’s a beacon without any kind of border security,” Paul told the Wall Street Journal.

Perry spokesman Travis Considine chose not to directly address Paul’s criticism, instead telling the Journal that Perry “has taken extraordinary steps to secure the border, stepping in where Washington has failed.”

Meanwhile, more behind-the-scene details of the state’s response to the influx of tens of thousands of migrant children across the border filtered in Tuesday. Mike Morrissey, Perry’s deputy chief of staff and senior adviser, defended Perry’s decision to sidestep the Legislature and use an obscure budget rider to fund the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to the border as the best option in a fast-moving situation, according to a report by the Tribune’s Eli Okun. State officials also said the National Guard troops deploying to the Rio Grande Valley will be armed for self defense, trained to avoid confrontation with border crossers and take up Spanish lessons, the Houston Chronicle’s Mike Ward and Peggy Fikac wrote.

The Day Ahead

•    Gov. Rick Perry will speak at a news conference announcing a Carl’s Jr. sweepstakes fundraiser in Austin to support Houston’s Lone Survivor Foundation.

•    Attorney General Greg Abbott will hold a press conference in Houston to unveil a set of proposals to address human smuggling in Texas. 

Trib Must-Reads

Search: Pardons by Gov. Rick Perry, by Jessica Hamel and Ryan Murphy

Years After Tragedy, Calls for Mental Health Screening, by Terri Langford

EPA's Proposed Emissions Limits Drawing Debate, by Neena Satija 

Texas Posts Top High School Graduation Rates, Again, by Morgan Smith

Elsewhere

Texas eased rules for housing immigrant children, The Associated Press

Brandon Creighton to represent Houston area in state Senate, Austin American-Statesman

Politicians, Texas companies still figuring out the new rules for carbon dioxide, The Dallas Morning News

Showdown in Van Horn? Sheriff calls border vigilantes’ claim made up, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Ken Paxton named in State Bar grievance, Austin American-Statesman

Legislators want fast action on Ike Dike, Houston Chronicle

Nelson: Franchise-tax cut for business will last another year, The Dallas Morning News

Spurs hire Becky Hammon, NBA's first paid female assistant coach, CBS Sports

Quote to Note

"I just love the smell of new leather! This is going to wind up in your piece, isn't it? 'He likes to sniff women's shoes!'" 

— Gov. Rick Perry, speaking to a reporter profiling him for The Atlantic, after he stuck his face in a woman’s cowboy boot and inhaled deeply

Today in TribTalk

High-tech learning is no easy A, by Mark David Milliron

Trib Events for the Calendar

•    Health Care: What's Next?: Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith will lead a discussion with two of the Legislature's most respected thinkers on health care, state Reps. Garnet Coleman and John Zerwas, on Aug. 18 in Richardson. The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. 

•    The Texas Tribune Festival runs from Sept. 19-21 at the University of Texas at Austin.