Good morning politicos, and welcome to the Buzz. Make sure to check out our Joe Biden Caption Contest (item three below).
$773K for Smith: Coal industry veteran and former Tea Party leader Tom Smith pulled in a total of about $875K during the third quarter, including a $750K loan to his campaign.
Biden in York: VP Joe Biden visited an elementary school in York this morning to advocate for a portion of the American Jobs Act that would support teachers, police and firefighters.
Caption Contest! PoliticsPA scribe Sari heidenreich snapped this photo of Biden talking with school children during his visit. Comment on facebook to see who can think of the best caption – winner announced at 5pm today.
Did a Hot Dog Shop Cost This Candidate an Endorsement? One Bucks County Democrat’s love for “the O” was too much for the Tea Party-affiliated Kitchen Table Patriots to abide. But it earned him an endorsement from the Post-Gazette.
Bundler of Fun: There was a bit of confusion over an NYT report that Sen. Casey has been helping President Obama raise money. At first it appeared to be a mistake, but Casey’s office now says yes it was the Senator.
Occupy Pittsburgh: It was the third day of protesting Monday, and the people involved in Occupy Pittsburgh said they don’t plan on leaving until they see a change in what they describe as government complicity in corporate corruption.
America’s Poorest City: Reading, the fifth-largest city in PA, now tops the list of poorest cities in the United States according to the 2010 U.S. Census.
Casey Jobs Bill: Sen. Casey joined with Sens. Harry Reid and Bob Menendez to push one piece of President Obama’s American Jobs Act.
Allegheny Exec: Republican Raja and Democrat Rich Fitzgerald continued their back-and-forth this week, this time about Raja’s proposal to eliminate the drink tax. Watch the ad here.
Bob Brady Profile: The Inky takes a look at how Bob Brady so effectively maintains his perch atop Philadelphia’s Democratic establishment.
National
Washington Post: Rick Santorum continues to attack in GOP debates
Politico: Voter: Barletta treats us like ‘dogs’
The Caucus: Spin Recycle: What the post-debate debate might be
Statewide
Commonwealth Confidential: Perzel Testifies In Pa. Corruption Trial
Commonwealth Confidential: Senate Sends Harrisburg Takeover Bill To The House
Early Returns: Former Ed. Secretary: School Choice Inevitable
Early Returns: Senate Dems Call For Shale Training $$
Post-Gazette: Legislative Panel Approves Red Light Cameras
WFMZ: National Guard personnel may get more pay
WFMZ: Democratic state lawmakers pitch jobs plan
WFMZ: Pa. Agricultural Secretary encourages people to plant
Times Tribune: New bills seek ot speed flood aid
Times Tribune: With election looming, Casey tries to separate from President
Times Tribune: Corbett targets crime, blight
Times Leader: Pa. Senate passes Harrisburg takeover bill
Tribune Review: Perzel testifies knowledge of corruption reached top of state house
Go Erie: U.S. Senate candidate Welch campaigns in Erie
Early Returns: PPA: Smith makes money splash
Standard Speaker: Grants aid fight against underage drinking
Daily Review: Governor Corbett proclaims teen driver safety week
The Daily Times: Educator’s oppose guv’s voucher plan
Pennsylvania Independent: Inheritance Tax A Burden To Small Businesses And Family Farms, Unmarried People
Philly
WHYY Newsworks: GOP Candidate For Mayor Karen Brown Jumps To Lead Of Ad Wars
PhillyClout: Brown Says Nutter Uses Cops/Firefighters To Balance Budget
Heard In The Hall: Beers To You, St. Louis
Daily News: Man charged with interstate communication of threats on Facebook
Daily News: Group of vets rip Oh on Army record
Inquirer: Philly commissioner candidates liven up sleepy debate
Inquirer: Montco commissioners plea for gaming changes
Daily News: 11 schools off ‘danger list’
Philly Now: Occupy Eric Cantor
Inquirer: Rep. Bob Brady’s winning ways
The Hill: Rendell: Occupy Wall Street can get ‘big money out of politics’
Philly Burbs
Intelligencer: It’s no secret: Montco faces a difficult budget process
Pottstown Mercury: Keep PA Beautiful investigates illegal dumping in Chesco
Delco Daily Times: Thelma and Louise burglars waive hearings
Montgomery News: Judge seizes property of Upper Gwynedd woman
Intelligencer: Montco party leaders predict victory in row office races
Diniverse: Casto vs. Shapiro for Montgomery County Commissioner
Phillyburbs.com: Fitzpatrick, Schwartz raising campaign cash
Pittsburgh
Boston Globe: Pittsburgh to buy 4 natural gas garbage haulers
StateImpactPA: Pittsburgh’s mayor pushes for natural gas-powered vehicles
Post Gazette: Allegheny County defender’s office problems violate rights of accused, ACLU says
NEPA
Times Tribune: Commissioners propose placeholder budget
Citizens Voice: Commissioners to invest $ 2 million in Market Street Square
Citizens Voice: County Council Candidates address manager question at forum
Standard Speaker: Barletta takes heat at home
Daily Review: White Cane days coming to Towanda
Daily Review: Athens township supervisors approve FEMA mobile home community
The Times Leader: Crowd gets rough at Barletta forum
Times Tribune: Scranton officials cool to council’s suggestions for 2012 budget
North by Northwest
Erie Times: Representative Evans announces he won’t seek re-election
Erie Times: Erie Port Authority looks to grants to repair floating docks
Erie Times: DiNicola mulls run for Congress vs. incumbent Kelly
Erie Times: Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority elects officers
Erie Times: Erie Community Foundation distributes more than $1M
Erie Times: Residents respond to Occupy Erie on Twitter
Courier Express: Frac well near DuBois dominates Sandy Twp. supervisors meeting
Centre Daily Times: Chamber gives boost to local businesses, communities
Centre Daily Times: Mailing a letter to cost a penny more next year
Centre Daily Times: Demonstrations against Social Security and Medicare cuts set for Shuster’s offices
Sun Gazette: Commissioner concerned about impact fee regulation
Sun Gazette: Candidates forums set this week
Voices of Central PA: Please don’t scare away my campaign donations with meaningful impact fees
Daily Collegian: Wall Street movement spreads to PSU
Lehigh Valley
WFMZ: Judge permanently removed from bench
WFMZ: Senate passes pipeline safety bill
WFMZ: LANta gets federal aid for two projects
South Central
Public Opinion: Pennsylvania Supreme Court to ‘tweet’ rulings
Public Opinion: Analysis finds falling public schools racked by violence
Public Opinion: Group plans to demonstrate outside of Rep. Bill Shuster’s office Tuesday
Public Opinion: Chambersburg gets recommendation for fire department
Sentinel: Gas company asks to resume drilling in Pa. town
Sentenil: House OKs HIV tests for sex-assault defendants in Pa.
Patriot-News: Ex-House speaker John Perzel says ‘we all crossed the line’ during Pennsylvania corruption trial
AP, Patriot-News: $269 stun gun verdict to cost Pittsburgh $62,000 in attorney fees
Patriot-News: Pennsylvania Senate passes Harrisburg takeover bill with a 37-13 vote
AP, Patriot-News: Vice President Joe Biden tells parents, educators in York that American Jobs Act would put teachers back to work
York Daily Record: Joe Biden during visit to York: ‘These kids are the future’
York Daily Record: York County to federal government: Hands off Social Security
York Daily Record: Congressman Todd Platts to face competition in primary
York Dispatch: York educators enthusiastic about Obama-Biden plan
York Dispatch: FEMA to help York County with storm damage
York Dispatch: Concerns about traffic, students delay Stewartstown developmentl
Lancaster Era: Pitts: Leave natural gas drilling regs to states
Lancaster Era: Penn Manor board hears health care committee update
Lancaster Era: Penn Twp. officials oppose business request- Ail
Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon district passes EIT repayment
Opinion
Public Opinion: A flat tax for whom, exactly?
Sentinel: Help our children succeed
York Daily Record: EPA map makes mistakes
York Daily Record: Common ground for protest groups?
York Daily Record: Grading Gov. Corbett’s school reforms
Erie Times: Editorial Cartoon: Occupy Wall St.
Times Tribune: Fully fund food safety
Citizens Voice: Corbett doesnt want to walk the walk on the environment
Daily Review: Cleaner air is worth the costs
Blogs
Commonwealth Foundation: Truth about failing schools is scary
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: John Stoffa, doorman
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Brace, Hamm, Pearson & Waitkus stand for Cedarbrook
NEPArtisan: Jokes that are not ha-ha funny
NEPArtisan: Lackawanna County Commissioners Dysfunction Continues
2 Political Junkies: Occupy Pittsburgh, One Pittsburgh and Senator Toomey
PA Watercooler: GOP party boss tries to ensure democratic victories for judge
Lu Lac Political Letter: LuLac Edition Oct. 18
PA Progressive: Biden stumps for teacher
PA Progressive: Obama, Biden barnstorm for AJA
PA Progressive: If we treated gun rights like abortion rights
Keystone Politics: Regulate radioactive waste as municipal garbage
Keystone Politics: Ackerman pens fake editorial on school change
Keystone Politics: Occupy Philadelphia protesters talk hardship and unease
Keystone Politics: Santorum says gay marriage is like slavery
Keystone Politics: Warnings from Hershey “Exchange Students” were ignored