Toomey endorses Rubio, PA will host a debate between Hillary and Bernie while Rendell backs Shapiro. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

BREAKING: PA-Sen: Toomey Endorses Rubio: Pennsylvania’s Junior Senator is backing his colleague from Florida.

PA to Host Debate Between Clinton and Sanders: Hillary and Bernie will face off in the Keystone State ahead of the April 26th primary.

Shapiro Hits Kane, Zappala in First TV Interview (VIDEO): The Democratic AG candidate sat down with KDKA’s Jon Delano.

PA-Sen: Fetterman Hits McGinty Over Contributions (VIDEO): The Braddock Mayor went after McGinty over her contributions from the oil and gas industry.

Rendell Endorses Shapiro for AG: The former Governor provides Shapiro his most high profile endorsement yet.

PA-7: Meehan Sitting on More than $2M, Golderer Has Strong First Showing: The third-term Congressman outspent Golderer by almost 9 times.

Zappala Secures First Union Endorsement: The Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades Council is supporting the Allegheny County DA’s campaign for Attorney General.

2016 PoliticsPA Iowa Caucus Pool Results: See who made the top 10.

Legislative Elections Update

SD-5: State Sen. John Sabatina unveiled a list of new endorsements yesterday: The Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters; The Teamsters Regional Council; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 21; AFSCME 47; AFSCME 88; UCFW 1776; Elevator Constructors Local 5; International Longshoreman’s Association Local 1291; Operating Engineers Local 542; Roofers & Waterproofers Local 30; Sheet Metal Workers Local 19; Philadelphia Federation of Teachers; and Bricklayers Local 1.

“I’m proud that my union friends recognize my commitment to labor and appreciate my almost ten years in the legislature defending their cause,” Sabatina said.

The 5th district consists of Northeast Philadelphia.

HD-163: Upper Darby Councilwoman Barabann Keffer won the unanimous of the Delaware County Democratic Committee.

“I am truly humbled and honored to have the unanimous support of the Democratic Committee,” said Keffer. “When I started Upper Darby Recycle! over 8 years ago to bring single stream recycling to our community, I never imagined that I would run for office. I have always been motivated by working to better our neighborhoods and improve our quality of life. As I have knocked on doors over these many years, I have never asked if people were Republicans or Democrats or Independents but rather, who wants to work together to build a better place to live. It is that attitude and work ethic that I will bring to the job of State Representative and that attitude that my neighbors feel is sorely lacking in Harrisburg. We need a real property tax relief, a serious extraction tax on Marcellus Shale, a full and fair funding formula for our public schools and more accountability and transparency in our State Government and those are the things you can always trust I will be fighting for.”

The 163rd district is located in Delaware County.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Straight Out of Drilling Country, a Severance Tax Proposal
State House Sound Bites: Governor Approves Delay for Keystone Exams
State House Sound Bites: For Budget Negotiators, Hope Springs Eternal
StateImpactPA: Board approves state’s new oil and gas regulations
Capitolwire: Minor petition snafu one of many problems for Kane campaign
Capitolwire: Despite obvious frustrations, state officials remain optimistic about budget situation
PLSReporter: Reed: Prospect of two budgets won’t put off rest of House GOP agenda

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Commissioners snub another attempt at accountability
Inquirer: Surprising no one, Mayor Kenney is a Bob Marley fan
Inquirer: Council’s criminal justice reform committee named
Inquirer: Gov. Wolf kills Pa. pension watchdog
Inquirer: Activist to lead city’s community school effort
WHYY Newsworks: Governor approves delay of Keystone Exams
KYW News Radio: Congressman Demands Answers About Temporary Housing Of Undocumented Children In NE Philly

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Bill Cosby loses bid to dismiss sex assault charges
Delco Daily Times: Concord wants new voting precinct
Delco Daily Times: Josh Shapiro, Stephen Zappala throw elbows in attorney general’s race
Montgomery Media: Telford Borough assesses fiscal situation
Bucks Local News: Bristol Borough waiting, hoping state comes through with funding for boat dock and pier project

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Rendell Endorsement Triggers Courtroom Experience Dispute in Pa. AG race
Post-Gazette: Wolf signs 2-year halt for Keystone exam requirement
Post-Gazette: Tomey ‘enthusiastically’ endorses Rubio for president
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf imposes limits filling vacant state jobs
WTAE: Zappala, Shapiro throw elbows in Pennsylvania attorney general’s race
WESA: Councilman Introduces Bill To Reform Property Assessment Appeals

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Beaver County officials looking to trim $6.8 million in expenses in budget
Beaver County Times: U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus has $1 million advantage over Democratic challengers
Beaver County Times: House aviation reform package would move air traffic controllers into nonprofit corporation
Altoona Mirror: Blair County allocates remainder of 2015 natural gas funds

NEPA
Times Leader: Tensions over Huber Breaker dominate Ashley Borough Council meeting
Times Leader: Hazleton moves toward police hires, controversial Earned Income Tax increase
Times-Tribune: Scranton has third-highest percentage of youngsters with elevated lead levels
Times-Tribune: Funds held up in budget impasse straining rural hospitals
Times-Tribune: Santorum ends White House bid, backs Rubio

South Central
York Daily Record: In York County judicial race, almost $340K spent
York Dispatch: Wolf signs bill to delay Keystone Exam grad requirement
York Dispatch: Phillips-Hill to hold re-election bid events
Patriot-News: Harrisburg can’t tax its way to financial recovery, council tells state
Patriot-News: Pa. Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s 2015 campaign spending shows how she is funding her defense
Lebanon Daily News: Houtz announces bid for 102nd

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: New Exeter board member all but official
Reading Eagle: Conrad Weiser schools budget update shows $1.4 million shortfall
Morning Call: Former Allentown councilman, mayoral candidate Michael Donovan dies

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: State College Borough Council considers modifications to project funding
Centre Daily Times: Ferguson Township to interview for vacant supervisor seat
Go Erie: Grant dollars bring more Pre-K seats to Erie

Opinion
Daily News: DA Seth Williams isn’t doing his job
Daily News: Illegal youths have no place in Northeast Philly
Bucks County Courier Times: Voters cheated by party meddling
Delco Daily Times: Delco politics starting to heat up again
Post-Gazette: Opening salvo: Iowa caucusers leave their mark on both parties
Post-Gazette: Next superintendent: Pittsburgh needs a results-driven school leader
Patriot-News: ‘Please clap,’ Jeb Bush begs a New Hampshire audience
Patriot-News: Is Donald Trump really ‘self-funding’ his presidential campaign?: 2016 Fact-Check

Blogs
Commonwealth Foundation: Groundhog Day: Wolf Demands Millions More for Education
Citified: Study: Philly Support for Public Schools Is On the Rise
Citified: Millennials Won – Mark Squilla’s “Promoters Bill” Is Dead
Citified: Urbanists, Rejoice: Philly Is Getting Its First Complete Streets Commissioner
2 Political Junkies: Lil Ricky Bows Out (Again)