Wolf is left to decide whether to sign the budget while McGinty gets help from a major Senator and we’re left to wonder if polls will be accurate in 2016. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!

PA-BGT: What Will Wolf Do?: A budget bill is on the Governor’s desk.

PA-Sen: Top Senator Makes Fundraising Pitch for McGinty: Washington Sen. Patty Murray seeks to aid Katie McGinty.

Are Polls Losing Their Power?: FiveThirtyEight asked Muhlenberg College and other polling firms if their reputation has suffered.

Mary Scranton Passes Away at Age 97: Governor Wolf has ordered flags at half-staff.

Statewide
StateImpactPA: Report revives debate over risks of radiation from drilling waste
StateImpactPA: Ten stories from 2015 worth hearing again

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Second shot for investigator suing Kane for defamation
Inquirer: About that DNC conspiracy talk …
Inquirer: A record of accomplishment for Phila. courts
Heard in the Hall: Kenney announces pick for Planning and Development director
Heard in the Hall: Nutter: Let’s make Connor Barwin NFL man of the year
WHYY Newsworks: Philly lawmaker calls on House colleagues to return for budget work
WHYY Newsworks: Philadelphia Eagle lends a hand to funding for playground makeover
WHYY Newsworks: Granny to granny, Philly group reaches out to Syria
WHYY Newsworks: Is sending porn illegal in Pennsylvania?

SEPA
Bucks County Courier-Times: Centennial plans $3.4M in renovations to administration building
Bucks County Courier-Times: Northampton Army lieutenant deployed to Afghanistan
Bucks County Courier-Times: A major investor in PennEast says project on track
Pottstown Mercury: West Pikeland Supervisors adopt a 2016 budget
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown Human Relations Commission getting re-energized

Pittsburgh
Early Returns: Perry on Politics: Expect the unexpected in New Hampshire
Post-Gazette: Wolf to make announcement Tuesday about Republican-passed budget
Post-Gazette: Death penalty laws have been surrounded by  new uncertainty in 2015
Post-Gazette: Huge decision for Wolf: To sign or to veto GOP budget bill in six-month stalemate
WESA: Republican Attorney General race is lonely
WESA: 2015 City Council preview: Harris, Burgess and Kraus on public safety and community confidence
WESA: Two bills aim to improve lives of PA’s foster children

Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Greene County Conservation District holds annual awards ceremony
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Wolf mum for now on fate of budget bill on his desk
Altoona Mirror: Blair County courts facing heavy workload

NEPA
Times Leader: Kaufer’s welfare reform legislation signed into law by Gov. Wolf
Times Leader: Interim Luzerne County manager choice still up in the air
Times Leader: Disaster money for state sought for demolition of dilapidated bridge over Susquehanna
Times Leader: Lawton trying to leave on positive note
Citizens Voice: Ex-VP likes greener kind of capitalism

South Central
York Daily Record: Gov. Wolf could line-item veto
York Daily Record: York County’s tax hike: What will it cost you?
York Daily Record: York City Council passes budget with lower tax
York Dispatch: Student presents legislation designed to help others
York Dispatch: York County $25M TRAN loan
Carlisle Sentinel: Roadblocks to Recovery: Treating addicts and punishing dealers
Patriot-News: Will Wolf’s decision on $30.3 billion budget bill be a ‘blue-line bonanza’?
Patriot-News: AG Kathleen Kane now faces investigation by State Ethics Commission

Lehigh Valley
Express Times: Plainfield Township employee goes from secretary to supervisor
Morning Call: Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s battle with the ‘old boys’ network’

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Pennsylvania State Police make pitch for female, minority cadets
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Loyalsock Township adopts spending plan for 2016

Opinion
Post-Gazette: Health tax: Raising cigarette prices could help babies live
Post-Gazette: PSA from NBA: The basketball league speaks out on gun violence
York Dispatch: After shootings, let there be peace in York
Citizens Voice: Aggressively audit Medicare Advantage plans
Carlisle Sentinel: DATA BLOG: Basic education funding lags behind inflation
Patriot-News: Wolf should sign #PaBudget, but use veto pen to force further talks
Patriot-News: Republican Pat Toomey is one of 2016’s most vulnerable U.S. Senators, new analysis finds
Lancaster Intelligencer: Bills for fire protection should not go to victims
Reading Eagle: Ron Southwick: These 15 public figures dropped the ball in 2015
Reading Eagle: Police should carry drug that can save overdose victims
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Intelligence analysts’ claims are much more than a political game
Inquirer: Don’t just listen, hear

Blogs
2 Political Junkies: The Anti-Science GOP – Dave Majernik, Allegheny County Republican Committee, Edition
Keystone Crossroads: No, not that budget: Cities hammer out their 2016 finances
Keystone Crossroads: Capital city corruption case heading back to court
Lulac Political Letter: Lulac 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW