Good morning politicos, and welcome to the buzz. It’s a busy month for PA on the national stage. President Obama came to Pittsburgh Tuesday, Rick Perry came on Friday, and VP Biden is visiting York tomorrow. Isn’t nice being a swing state?

Ups & Downs: Lots of action in DC last week, and Harrisburg too. See who made Friday’s list.

$1 Mil for Casey: Sen. Casey raised $1 million in Q3 and now has $3.75 million on hand.

Perry in Pittsburgh: Texas Gov Rick Perry visited the a western PA steel plant to tout his plan to jobs and energy plans.

Don’t Go to Kathy Boockvar’s Fundraiser: Boockvar, the Democratic candidate for Commonwealth Court, has an… interesting strategy to bring in the bucks in the final month of the campaign.

Corbett Backs Online Tax: After initially deciding against mounting a concerted effort to collect sales taxes on purchases from online-only retailers like Amazon.com, Governor Tom Corbett is seeking such revenue.

Santorum on the Radio: Santorum goes on the radio and on the attack in Iowa.

Voter ID Debate: Commonwealth Secretary Carol Aichele defended the new Voter ID mandate in an Inky Op-Ed, but critics are questioning her numbers.

RedState Says Primary Platts: Erick Erickson and RedState are at it again. The managing editor of the influential national conservative blog RedState is saying Rep. Todd Platts (R-York) should face the same.

Montco GOP on TV: Bruce Castor and Jenny Brown, Republican candidates for Montgomery County Commissioner, are prepared to launch the first television ad of the election.

Pro-Life Pitts: The U.S. House passed Rep. Joe Pitts’ bill to block federal funding for any plan that covers abortions. Abortion rights supporters and some Democrats say the bill is a big step backward for women’s health.

National
The Big Tent: GOP Primary To Oppose Sen. Casey Getting Crowded
Pennsylvania Ave: Rep. Dent Votes To Bar Abortion Funding
Roll Call: House administration committee members suggest spending cuts
Real Clear Politics: Obama’s Pennsylvania Problem
York Daily Record: The VP will plug the American Jobs Act in York, PA on Tuesday.
The Hill: Huntsman, Santorum struggle to keep up in campaign cash dash
The Caucus: Santorum spends more than he raises
WFMZ: Santorum raises $700,000, but spends more
Citizens Voice: Casey balks at trade deals as Marino, Barletta and Toomey favor them
Times Leader: NEPA Q3 fundraising numbers are in
Keystone Politics: Altmire and Dent introduce enemy expatriation act
Patriot News: Pennsylvania Congressmen advocate shale gas drilling in letter to President Obama

Statewide
Capitolwire: Bill Proposes Use Of All Liquor System Sale Money For Transportation, Infrastructure
Capitolwire: Superior Court Candidates Talk About Past Experience, Court Decisions At Forum
Capitolwire: Judicial Forum Turns Political, At Least For A Moment
Post-Gazette: Bills Aim To Assist 14 State Schools
Capitolwire: A Look At Some ‘Low-Profile’ Legislation
Patriot-News: Pennsylvania Superior Court candidates spar over outside interests
Pennsylvania Ave: Casey raises over $1 million
Politico: Perry pitches energy plan for jobs
AP, Washington Post: Federal judge to decide whether cash-strapped Pa. capitol can continue with bankruptcy filing
New York Times: Gas company sues over zoning rules
AP, New York Times: Harrisburg mayor and state oppose bankruptcy petition for harrisburg
Times Tribune: Judge to weigh bankruptcy petition for Pa. Capital
Times Tribune: PA bishops support Gov. Corbett’s tax program
Times Leader: Casey backs lower rates for fed loans
Citizens voice: Welch, Kelly plan to challenge Casey
Go Lackawana: Pa. issues air pollution rules for gas drilling
Post Gazette: Another Republican tries to supplant Sen. Casey
Tribune Review: Voucher system may paint local districts into corner
Tribune Review: Swift action from Republican-dominated legislature hasn’t happened
Examiner: Senator Casey on Occupy Philadelphia with Dom Giordano
Morning Call: Dent: Revoke U.S. born terrorists’ citizen rights
Standard Speaker: Welch enters U.S. Senate race

Philly
It’s Your Money: The 14 Other Candidates Who Owe Campaign Finance Fines
PhillyClout: Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. Endorses Councilman Darrell Clarke for Council President
WHYY Newsworks: Once Friends, Nutter And Kenney At Odds
WHYY Newsworks: GOP Council Debate On Monday and A New Contender For City Council President
Inquirer: Who is policing Philly schools?
Inquirer: Philly protesters take part in Occupy protest
Daily News: SEPTA adds cameras
Inquirer: Moorestown alcohol referendum upheld
Philly Clout: Occupy Philly costs $230,000 at first week
Philly Now: Obama re-election office opens near city hall

Philly Burbs
Pottstown Mercury: Local price of school renovations come down
Philly Burbs: Same sex benefits included in BCCC faculty contract
Montgomery News: Germantown Academy breaks ground on new preserve
Bucks Local News: Newtown Township supervisors seek party status

Pittsburgh
Early Returns: Raja Ad Promises Property Tax Freeze
Post-Gazette: Occupy Pittsburgh marchers gather together in Mellon Green

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Four county council candidates to run under Working Families banner
Citizens Voice: Square protest urges a Barletta vote for jobs bill
Times Leader: Politicking on public time increases

South Central
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Franklin Financial’s board sets dividend
Chamberburg News: Franklin County area governmental meetings
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Ant-Wall Street movement arrives in Chambersburg
Patriot-News: Harrisburg’s bankruptcy filing taints the city’s image, residents say
AP, Patriot-News: Pa. Capitol’s historic tiled floor hazardous to heels
Patriot-News: Occupy Harrisburg protesters to hold general assembly meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday on Capitol steps
Patriot-News: Occupy Harrisburg protesters vote to remain on Pennsylvania Capitol steps for another 24 hours
Patriot-News: Harrisburg-area anti-drilling group wonders if it’s time to employ civil disobedience
Patriot-News: Swatara Township residents stricken by flood seek help from FEMA township commissioners
Patriot-News: State and Mayor Thompson take action towards countering City Council’s bankruptcy petition
Sentinel: Gov’t pulls back on junk food marketing proposal
Sentinel: Protests in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philly
York Daily Record: Attorney: York Councilwoman Toni Smith’s fliers were a ‘public service
York Dispatch: Speakers to address Social Security, Medicare at free event
York Dispatch: Dallastown board takes up energy review, PSSA scores
York Dispatch: York County Commissioners recognize contributions to storm recovery
AP, Lancaster Era: Prison officials sue state over firings

North by Northwest
AP, Erie Times: Pa. lawyers, mayor oppose Harrisburg bankruptcy
Leader-Vindicator: Keys a concern for Sligo leaders
Courier Express: Horton Twp. considering ATV ban
Centre Daily Times: Lawmakers support Medal of Freedom for Paterno
Centre Daily Times: PSU, Pa. groups get grants to improve agriculture
Erie Times: ‘Protesters’ agenda is ‘opaque’
Erie Times: Albion Council approves hefty loan to fund capital projects
Sun Gazette: Downtown developers get City Council approval
Sun Gazette: Commissioners higher firm to manage 911 funding

Lehigh Valley
The Morning Call: Politics as Usual
The Morning Call: Williams Township Manager to retire
Lehigh Valley live: Lopatcong Township OKs asphalt plant in the face of a lawsuit
Lehigh Valley Live: Six Candidates seek three seats on the Bethlehem City Council Southwest
Tribune Review: Commissioner candidates offer few deficit fixes

Opinion
Salena Zito, Tribune Review: Obama’s Pennsylvania Problem
Courier Express: Private schools should not get public-tax vouchers
Tri-County Sunday: The issue is safety; the issue is not abortion
Intelligencer: Bucks Commissioners meetings should be held in the evening
Leader-Vindicator: Schools meet targets, but Corbett’s aim is off
Patriot-News: Your comments: Vouchers, charter schools are good ideas for Pennsylvania
WHYY Newsworks, Centre Square: Fresh Debate On School Vouchers, Anyone?
Patriot-News: Cities send an SOS: Reading’s poverty rate should be wake-up call to state legislators
Patriot-News: Protesters need to wake up and earn their own way
Sentinel: The magic words- class warfare
Sentinel: Pieces of education reform plan may work
Inquirer: Herman Cain making all the right choices
Erie Times: Electoral College proposal criticized
Washington Post: Gaming the 2012 election?
Times Tribune: State ignores root problem for it’s cities
Citizens Voice: Reject Corbett’s fee on gas drillers
Standard Speaker: Signer’s remorse for some reps who took “the pledge”
Standard Speaker: Put transportation on the front burner
Centre Daily Times: Corbett shale fee plan predictable
York Daily Record: Grading Gov. Corbett’s school reform

Blogs
John Hanger: Do the people own mineral rights under public lands?
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Stoffa has kept commitment to open space
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Democrat Commissioner Candidates to hold news conference about Cedarbrook
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: The battle of Bethlehem looms
NEPArtisan: Observations – October 15
2 Political Junkies: I wonder what they’re talking about
2 Political Junkies: Congressman Mike Doyle on Occupy Wall Street
PA Watercooler: #OccupyPhilly: Against something, I think
PA Watercooler: Mitt Romney must address his Mormonism
Pennsylvania Progressive: Occupy Wall Street: separating fact from media
Pennsylvania Progressive: Anne Covey (hearts) Karl Rove
Pennsylvania Progressive: Berks Tea Party candidates use army truck to advertise
Pennsylvania Progressive: News & Notes Oct. 14
Above Average Jane: HR 358: Let Women Die Act
Keystone Politics: Altmire & Dent introduce enemy expatriation act
Keystone Conservative: Are we giving up?