The PA GOP is treating Allyson Schwartz like a front-runner while Rep. Barletta retracts his support of a clean CR to end the shutdown. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.

Barletta Backs Off Clean CR; Dent Says No to Discharge Petition: Rep. Lou Barletta says he no longer supports a ‘clean’ bill to reopen the federal government. Rep. Charlie Dent says he won’t try to force a vote on the issue.

PAGOP Web Video Goes After Schwartz: The PA GOP called Rep. Schwartz a “radical liberal” because of her support of a tax on natural gas drilling.

McCord and Schwartz Each Pick Up Endorsement: The Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers backed Allyson Schwartz and the Pa. State Corrections Officers Association backed Rob McCord in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Reader Poll: How Many House Seats will Change Parties in 2014?: We ask readers whether, given the makeup of congressional districts, any House seats will change parties next year.

Reader Poll: Readers Think This Shutdown is Going To Last Awhile: According to our latest poll, readers think the shutdown won’t end until after we hit the debt ceiling.

After 2012 results, PA GOP brings Hispanic Inclusion Director on Board: As the 2014 election cycle approaches, the Pa. Republican Party has hired Antori Miranda to lead efforts to engage Hispanic voters.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: House bill would expand cyber ed throughout PA
State House Sound Bites: PA’s struggling schools identified for further help
PA Independent: Proposal would quash PA regulation preventing Sunday pheasant hunting
StateImpactPA: Winter heating costs expected to rise
StateImpactPA: Complaints prompt DEP to study air quality near Western Pa. landfill
StateImpactPA: Obama’s energy, climate change advisor is leaving the administration
Capitolwire: Corbett, GOP take a cue from Obama’s 2012 ad strategy
Capitolwire: House Dems await unions mulling wage giveback in transportation bill talks

Philadelphia
Commonwealth Confidential: Poll: Voters support “any Dem” over Corbett
PhillyClout: Poll: Philadelphians do not like AVI, taxes in general
phillydotcom: Polls, gaffes hobble Gov. Corbett’s second term chances

SEPA
Courier-Times: Bucks offers guidance on Medicare plan options
Courier-Times: Health Care Awareness Day in Middletown
Courier-Times: More hearings on Bristol Twp new schools plan
Courier-Times: Bristol councilman suggests hiring police consultant
Intelligencer: Bucks County to process passports amid gov’t shutdown
Intelligencer: Chalfont hears from county commissioner chairman

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Fitzgerald proposes no-tax-increase budget for Allegheny County
Post-Gazette: New Pennsylvania school profile scores draw interest
Post-Gazette: Mental health training urged for police, district judges in Pa.
Post-Gazette: Pgh teachers endorse Schwartz
Tribune-Review: Fitzgerald proposes $817.3 million county budget for Allegheny County
Tribune-Review: Containment wall degradation discovered at Beaver County nuclear reactor
UrbanMediaToday: Citizens Help Hill CDC Redevelopment Efforts through Grant Program, Partnership

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: McGinnis: Schools need to pay fair price for pensions
Altoona Mirror: Ex-PSU president asks to be given pretrial records
Observer-Reporter: Power plant employees rally; last day of work Oct. 18
Observer-Reporter: Mt. Pleasant supervisors table agreement with Range Resources
Observer-Reporter: Cecil supervisors accept parks and rec resignations

NEPA
Times Leader: 4 county council candidates join forces
Times Leader: Bear Creek Twp. OKs key part charter school plan
Times Leader: All 5 area congressmen refusing pay until shutdown ends
Times Tribune: Barletta, Cartwright, Casey, Marino, Toomey give up pay during shutdown
Times Tribune: Kavulich eyes one school health benefit plan
Citizens Voice: Fairview Township supervisors approve development projects
News Item: Controller, commissioners agree all raises should require salary board meeting
News Item: Local congressmen, senators not accepting pay during shutdown
Wayne Independent: BREAKING NEWS: Honesdale Council members found guilty
Standard Speaker: Municipalities could pool insurance coverage to save

South Central
AP: Heating bills are going to go up this winter, government warns
AP: Corbett: No more to say about gay marriage remark
AP: Corbett, Kane seek release from gay-marriage suit
AP: Lawyer: Corbett can’t be sued on gay-marriage ban
AP: Pa. to identify lowest performing schools
Sentinel: Legislation may change shutdown’s effect on ‘death gratuity’
Sentinel: Pa. Secretary of State visits local high school students
PennLive: Penn State defenders applaud reports that Kane is looking at high school’s handling of 2008 Jerry Sandusky allegation
PennLive: Gas goes below $3 a gallon in 18 states, could Pennsylvania be next?
PennLive: Two candidates’ nights set in Carlisle
PennLive: Former city spokesman Philbin confirmed as Harrisburg COO
PennLive: The Campaign Bubble: one month to go until the Harrisburg mayoral election
PennLive: GOP questions poll suggesting two Pa. congressmen could lose their seats
PennLive: Gov. Tom Corbett gets a high-five for his comments likening gay marriage to incest
York Daily Record: Gov. Tom Corbett visits York’s Caterpillar plant
York Daily Record: York budget talks: Lost grant means less money for lead screenings
Lancaster Intelligencer: Meehan splits with Pitts, GOP on shutdown
Lancaster Intelligencer: Revitalized Lancaster stakes claim in Pa. economic-revitalization program
Lebanon Daily News: Age Wave hits Lebanon County as baby boomers reach retirement
Public Opinion: Franklin County asked to reconsider tax break to help lure Nordstrom

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Consultants give qualified endorsement to proposal for land-value tax in Reading
Reading Eagle: Former Pennsylvania secretary of state urges Reading students to strive for excellence
Reading Eagle: Government shutdown keeps farmers guessing
Reading Eagle: Kutztown University to host journalist on National Coming Out Day
Morning Call: U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey willing to call White House bluff on catastrophic federal default
Morning Call: ‘Pawlowski for Governor’ website avoids politics, extols flab-fighting cream
Morning Call: Top openly gay official blasts Gov. Corbett’s remarks

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch calls for House action on transportation bill during CBICC luncheon

Opinions
Post-Gazette: Mad Hatter time: The government shutdown becomes more absurd
PennLive: Pa. pols are wrong; coal is not the way to keep the lights on
PennLive: Obamacare animosity is hard to fathom
PennLive: Latest flap won’t hurt Corbett campaign, but his legacy may be another story
York Daily Record: The government shutdown is no honeymoon
Reading Eagle: Lawmakers must address deteriorating roads, bridges
Erie Times-News: Call Kelly and Thompson out on shutdown

Blogs
Keystone Politics: Rick Santorum would be a better gubernatorial candidate than Tom Corbett
Keystone Politics: Put Up or Shut Up Time in #PA8: Shaughnessy Naughton Calls on Mike Fitzpatrick to Sign Discharge Petition
Keystone Politics: #PAGov: Anonymous GOP Backbiters Savage Corbett
Keystone Politics: Everybody Knows the Shutdown is the Republican Party’s Fault
Keystone Politics: #PA15: Charlie Dent’s Fake “Compromise” Plan Goes Nowhere. Time to Vote for the Discharge Petition.
Lu-Lac Political Letter: The LuLac Edition #2533, October 8th, 2013
John Hanger: Surprise Facts: Large Majorities Favor Both Carbon Limits And XL Pipeline