The Tribune's write-up of a question on Texas voters' perception of a gender wage gap focused on an apparent disconnect between the prevalence of the view that indeed there is a wage gap and an urgent need to do something.

The University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll found that 59 percent thought men are paid more for doing the same work. Another 34 percent thought men and women earn the same amount, while just 2 percent believed women earn more. In response to a follow-up question, 49 percent believed the state should do more to ensure equal pay between the sexes, while 34 percent believed the state is doing enough on the question. And 7 percent thought the state should do less.

The story accompanying the poll results focused on that 10-point gap between the portion of voters who thought a wage gap exists and the portion who should the state should step up its game in addressing the gap. The interpretation offered up in the story was the disconnect suggested the influence of the Tea Party and a general unease with the government solving problems.

It was subsequently suggested to us that a more accurate way to frame the question would be to focus on the 49-41 breakdown in favor of doing something more about the wage gap. The point here, it was argued, is that a strong plurality is in favor of action in a survey that had Greg Abbott ahead by 12 points over Wendy Davis for governor.

In other words, the more interesting interpretation, it was argued, is the issue must be a galvanizing one for so many Republicans to be willing to buck their party's standard bearer on the wage gap question and favor additional state action.

*****

Abbott, meanwhile, launched his first television ad of the general election season this week. And in one of those twists that cause pundits to start speculating, the ad was done entirely in Spanish and premiered during the World Cup. An early signal of the Republican candidate's intent to appeal to Hispanic voters? A subtle countermessage to his party's messaging on immigration from the state convention?

Abbott's goals here, of course, are not an either/or proposition. It's probable that he was trying to do all those things and more by choosing this manner to introduce himself to voters beyond his party. And he got his mother-in-law to say nice things about him, to boot.

*****

And in case you missed it, here's some other pertinent changes made to the Republican Party of Texas platform:

•    The party supports recall elections for elected officials and making House Speaker a statewide elected position.

•    The party supports a "full repeal" of the Patriot Act, legislation pushed by President George W. Bush at the outset of the global war on terror. Before, the platform had just called for "reviewing and revising" the law.

•    The party withdrew support for term limits for elected officials in the new platform.

•    The party also removed explicit support for the Boy Scouts of America.

This week saw a couple of interesting developments in the ongoing court challenges to the electoral maps drawn up in 2011.

Many moons have passed since then, of course, as have several iterations of the maps themselves. With the court fight threatening the 2012 primary calendar, the judges presented a set of interim maps under which those primary elections were conducted. They were then largely incorporated by the Legislature last year into its enacted maps that were used for this year’s elections.

The other big intervening development, of course, was the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that invalidated an underlying mechanism that allowed the preclearance section of the Voting Rights Act to function.

With all that in mind, the three-judge federal panel in San Antonio that has been dealing with this legal fight since the beginning issued a ruling this week dealing with both the 2011 and the 2013 maps.

The state has been asking for the judges to declare legal action on the 2011 maps to be over because they were supplanted by the set of maps adopted last year. The judges, though, disagreed that those 2011 maps are no longer relevant.

“Evidence submitted by Plaintiffs and the United States,” the judges wrote, “indicates that the Legislature adopted the 2013 plans at least in part in an attempt to end this particular litigation, not because it conceded the any of its actions were wrongful or because it had abandoned any intent to engage in the same conduct.”

There’s enough of the 2011 maps in the newly adopted plans, the judges said, to make them relevant to the claims being pursued by the plaintiffs. The judges cited, for instance, claims of vote dilution in the Fort Worth-based HD-90 adopted last year.

The judges ruled against the plaintiffs, though, in their attempt to advance a political gerrymandering claim against the 2013 maps. The reason given by the judges was that the plaintiffs failed to name a standard by which a claim of gerrymandering would be judged.

The judges noted that the plaintiffs were asking to introduce facts during a trial to help create a standard. But the judges weren’t willing to grant the plaintiffs that level of flexibility.

The standard must come first, the judges wrote, and “the development of facts should alter only the application of the established standard.”

*****

It’s generally not a good sign for your side when a judge begins an order this way: “This matter presents a case study in how not to respond to a motion for attorney fees and costs.”

But that’s how D.C.-based U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer began her order handed down yesterday that awarded nearly $1.1 million to the three intervenors who challenged the state’s actions in redistricting.

Collyer singles out the state’s response or, perhaps more accurately, lack of a response in arriving at her ruling.

“Texas basically ignores the arguments supporting an award of fees and costs,” she wrote. “In a three-page filing entitled ‘Advisory,’ Texas trumpets the Supreme Court’s decision, expresses indignation at having to respond at all, and presumes that the motion for attorney fees is so frivolous that Texas need not provide further briefing in opposition unless requested.”

This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: The Republican Party of Texas lays out its new platform, Gov. Rick Perry weighs in on homosexuals and more University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll issues.

You can view the video at: https://trib.it/1l7JcTE

This week, we cribbed a trio of education questions from the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll and put them to our political and governmental insiders.

Given a list of proposals and asked whether they would be effective, the insiders were in favor of all but allowing school vouchers. They were most enthusiastic about providing incentives to encourage people to become teachers, increasing teacher pay, and increasing funding for the schools.

When asked to choose the most effective idea from the list, 24 percent chose increased funding for schools, followed by 16 percent who think establishing a statewide pre-kindergarten program would be best, and 13 percent who would put the incentives for people choosing teaching careers at the top.

Finally, we asked whether a college education is necessary to succeed — 27 percent said yes — or whether there are many other ways to succeed without a degree — an idea that 72 percent chose instead. That’s pretty much in line with Texas voters in the UT/TT Poll: 28 percent chose the college answer, while 68 percent chose the other ways option.

As always, we collected verbatim comments from the insiders and a full set of those is attached. Here’s a sampling:

Below is a list of proposals for improving the K-12 education system in Texas. For each proposal, please tell us whether you think it would be extremely effective, somewhat effective, not very effective, or not at all effective in improving the quality of K-12 education in Texas.

• "As with most things, the devil is in the details. With regard to incentives, are we talking about encouraging more education majors (ineffective), or encouraging mid-career and retired professionals to enter the classroom which would bring in real-word experience (much more effective)?"

• "Teachers should TEACH! It is imperative that students learn reading, math, language arts and have science. It is RIDICULOUS that everything - each lesson, each unit is dedicated to passing a TEST! Companies such as Pearson have made the legislature believe (through the hiring of so many former legislators and TEA personnel) that ONLY testing will help us determine the success our students. Go back to the Iowa Test of Basic Skills or the California Achievement test (yes I realize Texas wants its OWN test, but STAR, TAKS etc. are NOT working). Community colleges in Texas are offering more REMEDIAL classes now than EVER before and why? Because students did NOT learn the basic skills they needed - fundamentals of English, math and science. Further - we don't teach students how to write in CURSIVE? We have generations of students who will not be able to SIGN their names unless their parents teach them? Go back to writing paper and teach students the BASIC skills! Every student is NOT going to college - please allow students to determine College Prep, Basic and Fundamentals/VOTech for their high school degree program! (Wow - sorry for all this)"

• "Texas' public education system should be like any other business. It should be well funded to hire the best people and get the best equipment. And like other businesses, it should also be able to fire employees at will if they're ineffective. Perhaps it needs a citizens IPO to get the funding."

• "It will take all of these items to make the public schools better."

• "There is no better indicator for educational success than early childhood education."

• "Money to public schools, nothing for charters or vouchers. Either we are educating all of the public, or we are short changing the public by giving taxes to religious and/or political groups despite the federal constitution."

• "You didn't ask about 1. Principal autonomy, 1. Adopting merit based instead of tenure-based hiring and termination policies for teachers, 3. Cutting down on Administration staff and costs in Districts, 4. Longer school days, 5. Longer school year, 7. Vigorous curriculums and high expectations for all students, 6. Overcoming teachers unions. Until these things are done, most of the proposals mentioned in your questionnaire will not work."

Which of the following do you think would be MOST effective in improving the K-12 education system in Texas?

• "Throwing money at the problem won't automatically make it better (whether for brick and mortar projects or for teacher pay). What will make it better is parental involvement--period. The suburban schools are doing fine. Rurals are generally ok. Urban and border schools are a mixed bag and need the most help--let's focus on helping them and not Highland Park ISD."

• "None of the above."

• "Research, not withstanding ridiculous assertions to the contrary, is pretty conclusive. Early intervention as brain synapses develop result in future cost avoidance. Should be a strong conservative position."

• "You can always do more with money than you can without money."

• "Uncap the limits on charter schools. Meanwhile, allow any school that is currently private but is willing to fall under the 'charter school' rules and regulations to become a charter."

• "Money does make a difference, but increased funding should be targeted to where the greatest needs are. For example, in the current system lower-funded districts actually have the highest tax rates. Why should parents and other taxpayers be required to pay at higher rates to get less for their children?"

Do you think that a college education is necessary for a person to be successful in today’s work world, or do you think that there are many ways to succeed in today’s work world without a college education?

• "There are many ways to succeed but the college education has become the starting point for most jobs that pay above minimum wage. Technical certification certainly helps."

• "'The world needs ditch diggers, too' Judge Smails. Not everyone *needs* to go to college. There are plenty of good-paying jobs out there that do not require a 4-year degree. A two-year degree or trade school certificate works just as well. The problem is the stigma attached to those jobs by most Texas parents--raise your hand if you want your own child to work in a chemical plant or as a truck driver?"

• "We need true vocational education again - auto mechanics, drafting, computer tech; construction trades. Every student is NOT going to college (especially when so many cannot read very simple books or complete simple math problems!)."

• "Ask the college grad living with their parents with 50K in loans with their degree in English, or the kid that chose that makes 100K a year as a tradesman."

• "If the measure of success is how much one is paid, then the average starting salary of a public school teacher, about $35,000, doesn't seem like much of a reward for obtaining a college education as far as I am concerned."

• "Advice to HS students: yes, it is possible to succeed without it, but don't pass up a college degree if it is an option for you."

• "I may be one of the few who does not believe that the whole world should go to college, but I don't. I have clients that need good mechanics - mechanics that may make in the 6 figures. It doesn't require a college degree but specialized training. Same is true for air conditioning, plumbing and much more. If everyone goes to college, who will make the repairs. Demographics indicate that only 25% of the population has a college degree. Clearly, not everyone is getting one."

• "There are many ways to succeed without a college degree. However, chances for a good career (not a job) are immeasurably better with a college degree. Plus. You're less likely of ever having to utter the question: 'Would you like fries with that?' And again I ask: why did the 'not everyone needs to go to college' push start when our student population became mostly Hispanic?"

• "Lots of college-degree'd Starbucks servers this morning..."

• "I guess it depends on your definition of success. But, there is no doubt; it is the clearest path to success."

Our thanks to this week’s participants: Gene Acuna, Cathie Adams, Brandon Aghamalian, Jenny Aghamalian, Brandon Alderete, Clyde Alexander, George Allen, Jay Arnold, Charles Bailey, Allen Blakemore, Tom Blanton, George Bristol, Chris Britton, Blaine Bull, David Cabrales, Thure Cannon, Snapper Carr, William Chapman, Elna Christopher, Kevin Cooper, Randy Cubriel, Curtis Culwell, Denise Davis, Hector De Leon, June Deadrick, Glenn Deshields, Holly DeShields, Tom Duffy, David Dunn, Richard Dyer, Jeff Eller, Jack Erskine, Wil Galloway, Norman Garza, Dominic Giarratani, Bruce Gibson, Stephanie Gibson, Kinnan Golemon, Daniel Gonzalez, Jim Grace, John Greytok, Clint Hackney, Wayne Hamilton, Ken Hodges, Deborah Ingersoll, Bill Jones, Mark Jones, Robert Kepple, Richard Khouri, Tom Kleinworth, Sandy Kress, Nick Lampson, Pete Laney, Dick Lavine, James LeBas, Luke Legate, Leslie Lemon, Ruben Longoria, Matt Mackowiak, Jason McElvaney, Steve Minick, Mike Moses, Keir Murray, Nelson Nease, Keats Norfleet, Pat Nugent, Nef Partida, Gardner Pate, Jerod Patterson, Robert Peeler, Tom Phillips, Wayne Pierce, Richard Pineda, Kraege Polan, Jay Pritchard, Ted Melina Raab, Tyler Ruud, Jason Sabo, Luis Saenz, Andy Sansom, Jim Sartwelle, Barbara Schlief, Stan Schlueter, Bruce Scott, Robert Scott, Ben Sebree, Bradford Shields, Christopher Shields, Julie Shields, Nancy Sims, Ed Small, Martha Smiley, Dennis Speight, Bob Strauser, Colin Strother, Michael Quinn Sullivan, Sherry Sylvester, Trey Trainor, Vicki Truitt, Corbin Van Arsdale, Ware Wendell, Ken Whalen, David White, Darren Whitehurst, Seth Winick, Peck Young, Angelo Zottarelli.

Friday, June 20

• Former First Lady and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in support of her book, Hard Choices; BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin (3 p.m.) and the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin (7 p.m.)

Wednesday, June 25

• Fundraiser for Republican nominee for attorney general Ken Paxton; 110 E. Ninth St., Austin (4:30-6 p.m.)
• Fundraiser for state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio; 707 N. St. Mary's St., San Antonio (5:30-7:30 p.m.)

Thursday, June 26

• Texas Democratic Party state convention; Dallas Convention Center, 650 S Griffin St., Dallas (June 26-28)

The furor continued over Gov. Rick Perry's remarks at a San Francisco event where he compared homosexuality to alcoholism. In an attempt to put the controversy behind him, Perry on Thursday admitted he "stepped right in it" and said he should have called instead on the need for "a really respectful and tolerant country."

The state's top leadership — Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus — authorized the Department of Public Safety to spend an additional $1.3 million weekly on border security operations. DPS said it would not enforce immigration laws but would work with local and federal authorities to “deter and disrupt drug and human trafficking, and other border-related crimes.”

The Republican Party of Texas released its full party platform, close to two weeks after its adoption at the state convention in Fort Worth earlier this month. In addition to new, controversial language on gays and immigration, the platform also does things like call for the post of House speaker to become a statewide elected position.

Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay returned to court Wednesday as prosecutors asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to reinstate convictions against him for money laundering and conspiracy.

The Texas Water Development Board released draft rules this week that offer Texans a clearer sense of how the board will prioritize and fund competing water supply projects. The rules will help determine how $2 billion in upcoming water projects will be spent.

A Texas Railroad Commission policy of denying reporters access to agency staff was in the news after a report from The Associated Press on the practice. Among those subsequently expressing discomfort with the policy were House Energy Resources Chairman Jim Keffer, R-Eastland, and Democratic Railroad Commission candidate Steve Brown.

Ernie McClendon of Livingston was named judge of the 258th Judicial District Court in Polk, San Jacinto and Trinity Counties by Gov. Rick Perry for a term to expire at the next general election.

Robert Trapp of Coldspring was named San Jacinto County Criminal District Attorney by Perry, effective July 1, 2014, for a term to expire at the next general election.

Ida Louise “Weisie” Steen of San Antonio was appointed by Perry to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a term to expire Nov. 15, 2019.

William L. Kibler was named sole finalist in the Sul Ross State University presidential search. He is currently vice president for student affairs at Mississippi State University, and was chosen from a field of nearly 40 candidates, according to an announcement from the Texas State University System.

Dan Sharphorn took over permanently as vice chancellor and general counsel to the University of Texas System this week after having served in the role on an interim basis for the past year. He joined the UT System in 2007 as associate vice chancellor and deputy general counsel.

Bryan W. McMath has joined Sledge Fancher, PLLC as a legislative consultant where he will focus on natural resources issues. He was state Sen. Kel Seliger's chief of staff for more than six years and has also worked on the staff of state Sen. Kip Averitt.

Victoria Ramirez was named director of the Bullock Texas State History Museum. She had been deputy director since early 2013 and had served as interim director for the past six months.

Deaths: Daniel McCool, member of the State Republican Executive Committee from the southeast Houston area. He was 51.

Disclosure: Texas State University System and the University of Texas are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.