Ladies and gentlemen, we have a shutdown. And speaking of shutdown, see who won last night’s East v. West lawmaker softball game in Harrisburg. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.

Western Lawmakers Dominate East 8-1 in Charity Softball Game: MVP Jim Christiana led the West PA team to a 8-1 victory in the first ever Capitol All-Stars Game. The game raised money for the state’s largest food banks.

Dem Guv Hopefuls Fundraise With Imaginary Deadline: It’s the final day of the quarter for federal candidates and fundraising emails are pouring in. But some gubernatorial candidates, who face no deadline until Dec. 31, want to get in on the action.

WaPo: PA-Guv Most Likely to See Party Switch: Governor Corbett is still No.1! Unfortunately for him, though, he’s still the number one incumbent likely to be replaced come re-election time, according to the Washington Post.

Dent to GOP: Pass a Clean CR: As the government shutdown looms, Rep. Charlie Dent wants the House to act on the Senate bill and leave Obamacare alone for now.

Rep. Perry fights Chris Matthews on Obamacare: Rep. Scott Perry and Chris Matthews got in a major scrap over the Obamacare. Watch it all here, you won’t want to miss this.

HHS Arkansas Decision a Boon For CorbettCare: The federal government accepted Arkansas’ private model for Medicaid expansion. Their plan inspired CorbettCare and could portend its success.

Galloway Pulls Cosponsorship From LGBT Bill: State Rep. John Galloway withdrew his as co-sponsor from HB 300, a bill to protect LGBT citizens from work and housing discrimination. He said it was due to concerns about transgendered people and public restrooms.

Legislative Election Updates

HD-78: Lawmakers observed a moment of silence Monday for Rep. Dick Hess (R-Bedford); he passed away in early September. Jesse Topper, the Bedford GOP committeeman and former borough councilman, finally issued a public statement confirming his intent to run in the Jan. 28 special election in the safe GOP seat. “In light of all that is occurring in Washington, D.C. and Harrisburg, I believe we need a true fiscal and social conservative who will fight for our values – including lower taxes, less government – and who will protect our Constitutional Rights and the sanctity of life,” he said.

Statewide
Capitolwire: Rep. Grell unveils ‘shared sacrifice’ pension reform plan
Capitolwire: OFF THE FLOOR: Inside the threats, bluffs, strategies in transportation funding debate
Capitolwire: OFF THE FLOOR II: Dem Gov hopefuls must find billions for education and pensions
Capitolwire: POINT OF ORDER: Grell’s pension plan doesn’t appear to offer much certainty to PA taxpayers
PA Independent: Study: ‘Recession still haunts’ PA business owners
PA Independent: PA pension reform could involve lots of borrowing
PA Independent: WATCHBLOG: ‘Business as usual’ for PA state government as feds prepare for shutdown
StateImpactPA: Taxpayer and industry-funded review of DEP praises its oil and gas regulations

Philadelphia
Philly Clout: Nutter talks Obamacare exchanges, disses Republicans in Congress
Philadelphia Inquirer: Liberty Bell, Independence Hall would close during government shutdown
CapitolInq: Update: Dent push to avert shutdown stalls
PA Independent: PA pension reform could involve lots of borrowing
Commonwealth Confidential: PA hunger games: Lawmakers take to the field for charity
Heard in the Hall: Council Members Want Administration to Analyze Bill
Heard in the Hall: Mayor Nutter honored for anti-obesity efforts
Big Tent: Will Wagner shake up Pa. gov race from the west?
Big Tent: Wolf wins western endorsement in Pa. gov race
WHYY Newsworks: After much anticipation, health care exchanges set to debut
WHYY Newsworks: Casey’s medical device tax ‘compromise’
WHYY Newsworks: New strategy to address Pa. pension debt includes borrowing
WHYY Newsworks: Activists call on Philly schools to limit teacher seniority, unilaterally
KYW: Shutdown Impact: Tourists, Homebuyers Hit Quickly
KYW: US Sen. Casey Says Even GOP-Led Gov’t Shutdown Won’t Derail Obamacare

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Phoenixville candidates collect endorsements
Delco Daily Times: So, is the government shutting down Monday?
Montgomery Media: Colonial School Board rushes through session citing ‘tragedy’
Montgomery Media: Taxpayers swarm Harrisburg to demand property tax relief
Bucks Local News: Bucks County Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick calls for one-year delay of ‘ObamaCare’

Pittsburgh
KDKA: Government Shutdown Will Impact Local Area
KDKA: Health Insurance for Uninsured Kicks off on Tuesday
KDKA: Corbett Leads Bi-Partisan Tour of Local Inventors Workshop
Early Returns: Capital All-Stars: West is best
Early Returns: No run for Ron
Tribune Review: Business are preparing to absorb the many costs from new health care laws
Tribune Review: Newly insured will be met with shortage of care providers
Tribune Review: Closing of Flight 93 Memorial, other National Parks to be among most immediate signs of shutdown
Tribune Review: Indiana University of Pennsylvania investing $37 million in dining facilities
Post-Gazette: Pa. House bill may restrict release of details on 911 calls
Post-Gazette: New Pa. pension plan rising from GOP ranks
Post-Gazette: Pa. House legislators look to lower burden of property taxes
Post-Gazette: Health care law’s prescription coverages questioned

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Government shutdown shuts down veterans’ trips
Beaver County Times: Drilling in the dark: Range Resources apparently unaware of all chemicals used for drilling
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Health care changes kick in Tuesday

Lehigh Valley
Express-Times: Government shutdown: Local representatives weigh in as midnight approaches
WFMZ: How Pennsylvania will be affected by a shutdown
Morning Call: Glitches evident as Obamacare goes live
Morning Call: Federal shutdown: Fear and confusion in the Valley

NEPA
Times Leader: Casey: Ideology causing government shutdown
Times Leader: Police probe theft of PennDot truck
Times-Tribune: State delays release of school data
Times-Tribune: Carbondale boosts pension perks to get three cops to retire
Times-Tribune: Dunmore School District tries to control rising healthcare costs

South Central
Patriot News: Oct. 1: Obamacare milestone, but enrollment rush not forecast
Patriot News: Shutdown could keep KKK, and everyone else, off Gettysburg battlefield this weekend
Patriot News: Former U.S. Rep. Mark Critz runs afoul of some Democrats over rape remark and marriage equality
Patriot News: Cumberland County commissioners abolish per capita tax
Patriot News: Democrats’ hope for civil gubernatorial primary permeates weekend gathering
York Daily Record: Local lawmakers divided as federal budget deadline looms
Lancaster Intelligencer: What the federal shutdown may mean for you
Lancaster Intelligencer: Obamacare marketplace opening for business- here’s what you need to know
Roxbury News: Pa Rep. Glen Grell – Pension Reform.

North by Northwest
Venango County Daily News: Hutchinson’s “Telephone Town Meeting” Set For Tuesday Night
Express: Clinton, SEDA-COG to partner in nat-gas use study
Sharon Herald: Pa. health insurance exchanges full of confusion
Sun-Gazette: Dems picnic focuses on good food, candidates and getting out the vote
Sun-Gazette: Local and state candidates speak up
Onward State: 10 (More) Questions with John Ziegler
Daily Collegian: Annual ‘Truth Week’ held to seek Republican discussion
AP: State teachers’ union praises latest pension reform plan
AP: Report: Room for Pa. oil, gas oversight to improve
AP: Pa. insurance rate, network info coming to website
AP: Pa. lawmaker offers new approach to pension reform

Opinions
Nancy Collins, Forbes: The Future of Fraud Prevention in Government Benefit Programs
Nancy Collins, Forbes: How to Simplify Payments for Millions of Americans
Philadelphia Daily News: The government already shut down
Patriot News: Finally, a pension reform plan that seems to be workable and politically realistic
Morning Call: Dent on wrong side of important poverty vote
Sun-Gazette: When the law is the law – unless it is inconvenient
Times-Tribune: CLEANER simply means what it says

Blogs
Commonwealth Foundation: Obamacare Victims Mount
Keystone Politics: Charlie Dent Voted for the Shutdown Bill That Started It All
Keystone Politics: SEPTA Can’t Wait for 2015. Pass Original SB1 Now.
Keystone Politics: HHS Approval of Arkansas “Private Option” Plan Doesn’t Clear the Way for CorbettCare
Keystone Politics: Sorry, Signing Transportation Funding Is Not Going to Carry Tom Corbett to Reelection
Keystone Politics: Pay for Education From the State Level With a Statewide Land Tax
Third and State: Employment In Shale-related Industries Fell In Most Recent Year
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Dent, Cartwright on Looming Government Shutdown
John Hanger’s Facts of The Day: New York City’s Clean Air Must Not Come At The Expense Of Dirty Air In Pennsylvania’s Gas Fields
John Hanger’s Facts of The Day: Shock Fact: Bloomberg New Energy Finance Forecasts Wind & Solar Will Total 33% Of Global Generation Capacity By 2030
2 Political Junkies: “I can smell the booze wafting from members as they walk off the floor”