Good morning politicos, happy May Day. Here’s the Buzz. Rohrer backs Smith, and a national GOP group takes aim at Kane.

Come one, come all. The PA Business Council’s Education Foundation is having a political carnival today at the Radisson Penn Harris in Camp Hill, from 1pm-5pm. Check out their all-star panel of politicos and event details here. See you there.

Meanwhile at the Capitol, a wide array of liberal groups are having a rally in favor of green jobs, infrastructure investment and education funding at 1pm.

Reader Poll: Vice President Toomey? Now that Mitt Romney has the GOP nomination in the bag, the biggest national question is who will join his ticket. One name that’s stayed on the margins of the discussion – but still mentioned – is Senator Pat Toomey. Do you think he has a shot?

Rohrer Comes Around: Sam Rohrer, the former state lawmaker who rode his grassroots conservative support to a second place finish in Tuesday’s U.S. Senate primary, has thrown his support behind GOP nominee Tom Smith.

National GOP Group Targets Kane: The Republican Attorneys General Association wants to make sure it can continue to count Pennsylvania as a member. The group launched a new website that dings Democratic nominee Kathleen Kane.

You Called It: In the days leading up to Tuesday’s primary, PoliticsPA asked which race would turn out to be the closest in the state. A credit to the best politicos in the state, our readers got it right: Jason Altmire v. Mark Critz.

Legislative Election Updates

SD-39: Sen. Kim Ward looks like she’s just locked up another term. The Westmoreland County Republican appears to have received enough write-in votes for the Democratic ballot to have secured dual nomination (final, official count pending). She overcame an actual Democrat trying to make it on.

HD-54: Rep. Eli Evankovich (R-Westmoreland) on the other hand, didn’t. His Dem write-in bid failed to former Kiski Area School Board member Patrick Leyland.

HD-89: Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin) rejected Dem Susan Spicka’s invitation for a debate in the safe Republican district. “He says debates would detract from his efforts to represent the people,” and called the request “politically charged.” Bawk bawk. Our advice? Heed the cautionary tales of Rick Geist and Tim Holden, incumbents who refused to debate, got panned for it in the press, and went on to lose. H/t Keystone Politics.

National
AFL-CIO: PA-12 result showcased labor mobilization
Politico: Mitt Romney’s lukewarm endorsers
Politico: Burns & Haberman: Christie on VP: Romney ‘might be able to convince me’
Politico: Burns & Haberman: Florida shocked, shocked at RNC sanctions
Politico: Romney closes gap with Obama, poll shows
Roll Call: Senate revives lawmaking
Roll Call: Republican youth ready for campaign
National Journal: Decoded: ‘Forward’ starts in reverse; Obama campaign anchors 2012 message to economic deluge of 2008
National Journal Hotline: FEC complaint filed against Aaron Schock
Five Thirty Eight: What a death of small donations may mean for Romney
Washington Post: Obama calls on China to improve human rights as activist’s fate debated
Washington Post: Brennan speech is first Obama acknowledgment of use of armed drones
The Hill: Obama says he hasn’t spiked football to mark bin Laden death
The Hill: Federal judge halts Texas law against Planned Parenthood
New York Times: Obama campaign confronts Voter ID laws
The Caucus: Pro-Romney ‘Super PAC’ scrubs negative ads
The Caucus: In new video, Obama campaign reminds voters of 2008 job losses
Washington Examiner: Will Mitt and Rick exhale when passing the peace pipe?
NPR: Top five Vice-Presidential picks since 1960
Politico: Transportation staff earns its money

Statewide
AP: Strengthening Pa. revenues could ease budget cuts
Capitol Ideas: Lawmakers return to official start of budget season
State House Sound Bites: Food stamp test effective May 1st
PA Independent: $10 million-plus in stimulus funds went unreported in last quarter of 2011
StateImpact PA: DEP investigates potential methane migration
StateImpact PA: Residents fed up with bad water flee shale drilling areas
StateImpact PA: Mapping Pennsylvania’s impact fee revenue (this time, officially)
StateImpact PA: Drill Bits: Refineries, rock snot and budget deadlines
Patriot News: State municipalities relying on state police protection could lose thousands
Roll Call: Green voters go on the offensive

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Romney to Bryn Mawr on Tuesday
Inquirer: Romney could ‘convince’ Christie to run for VP
Daily News: Homeowners sick at heart over possibly hugh property-tax increase
Daily News: All stalk and no action? Not Bill
PhillyClout: Who could get squeezed by property tax plan?
Phillynow.com: Philadelphia Green Party endorses Roseanne Barr for President
Phillynow.com: ACLU-PA to announce voter ID suit
Phillynow.com: Daily Grinder: Councilman holds Twitter humiliation beer summit
Philly Tribune: Officials protest assistance reductions
Fox Philadelphia: Romney says ‘Of Course’ he would have ordered Bin Laden killed
Fox Philadelphia: Lawmakers hope to ease Corbett’s proposed cuts
KYW Newsradio: Coveted youth vote up for grabs this election, says pollster
KYW Newsradio: New Pa. food stamp policy takes effect this week
KYW Newsradio: Pennsylvania lawmakers return to tackle budget, casino license
WHYY Newsworks: Pennsylvania starts asset tests for food stamp recipients
Philadelphia Inquirer: State Reps start petition for Lower Merion redistricting

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Senate OKs bill targeting superintendent buyouts
AP: Increase in Pa. tax revenues could impact budget cuts
AP: Back to work in Harrisburg: All eyes on budget, revenue up, come cuts may be restored
phillyburbs.com: Fitzpatrick seeks new gov’t web site to track spending
Bucks Local News: Former President George W. Bush speaks at Plumstead Christian School Founder’s Forum
Bucks Local News: Pentagon tells U.S. Senator Toomey: No Flight 93 remains sent to landfill
AP: Clinton, Bush, Boehner to host Flight 93 event

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Trial begins for Ross man’s First Amendment lawsuit
Early Returns: Ron Paul: 5 for 72 in delegate hunt
Early Returns: Santorum Tampa role a ‘logical benefit’
Tribune Review: Ward appears to lock up keeping state Senate seat
Tribune Review: Janine Orie trial set for Aug. 13 in dual cases
Tribune Review: Highmark pushes Harrisburg to step in

Southwest
Daily Courier: Fayette tourism projects get $490,000
Beaver County Times: Nativity issue renewed
Beaver County Times: Gas drillers expand presence in area

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Ex-state official to speak at hispanic center gala
Express Times: Washington Township mayor hopes eyesore fixed after foreclosure
Express Times: Phillipsburg budget vote may be delayed, state approval still required

NEPA
The Times Leader: DA wants juvenile victims funding restored
Times-Tribune: Pennsylvania tax revenue millions ahead of estimate
Times-Tribune: Scranton recovery plan won’t meet ‘soft’ deadline
Citizens Voice: Mellow plea scheduled for May 9
Standard Speaker: Officials struggle with detective pact
Standard Speaker: President’s ‘over-regulation’ has Barletta, others concerned
Standard Speaker: ‘Major’ firm prompts water study
The Daily Review: House plans vote on Delaware loophole bill
Times News: Lehighton Democrats meet Wednesday

Opinions
Inquirer: A different take on the school funding question
Inquirer: Point: Harassing Latinos doesn’t help
Inquirer: Counterpoint: Court will rule states within their rights
Daily News: Legislature’s busy getting plane owners off food-stamp role
Daily News: Divisive politics, bad economics
Daily News: Congress needs to fix the postal service
Philly.com: Regional spotlight: City schools need reform, not revolution
Times-Tribune: Op/Ed: Pass DATA Act for, um … data
Times-Tribune: Op/Ed: Commission strikes out in Mellow case
Citizens Voice: Op/Ed: No ‘options’ for unethical behavior
Tribune Review: America the dependent
Tribune Democrat: More cooperation, less confrontation
Observer Reporter: DeWeese should pull his name from the ballot

Blogs
John Hanger: DEP investigates possible new Dimock gas migration case
Keystone Politics: Do the lessons of Washington State’s liquor license apply to Pa?
Keystone Politics: $250 payday loans with $2000in fees/interest
Keystone Politics: Republican Rob Kauffman refuses to debate Democrat Susan Spicka in the 89th district
Keystone Politics: Why the blue dogs’ defeat matters
Keystone Politics: What Kathleen Kane would do about fracking
Keystone Politics: Couldn’t it be that the chronic underfunding is taking a toll on Philly Schools?
Keystone Politics: Voter ID Bill has hidden costs
Pa Budget and Policy Center: PA House Bill won’t close tax loopholes but will make major new business tax cuts