Good morning politicos, and welcome to the buzz.

Pat Toomey introduces a budget – who’d have thought he’d spend the next week fending off conservative criticism? Starting with Neil Cavuto saying of his budget, “Let it be known that this is the day America’s financial future died,” Toomey has gotten flak for not touching entitlements. Pat Toomey! Too liberal! What a country!

PoliticsPA gives you a look at the GOP judicial primaries and lays out what factors will play in Tuesday’s races. (Hint: not name ID). And here’s a teaser. We looked at the track records of each party’s state committee endorsements in the past decade to see once and for all who’s more effective: Dems or GOP. You’ll have to read the story to see which.

In case you missed the drama in Allegheny County yesterday, here’s a good recap. Basically, after weeks of Rich Fitzgerald slamming Mark Flaherty for being cozy with Marcellus drillers, the Flaherty camp released an email from Fitzgerald to Marcellus industry types. In it, Fitz pledges to be a friend to the industry and asks for financial support. Ouch.

In lesser statewide office news, the PA GOP has one candidate angling for Auditor General so far. Former PA-17 congressional candidate and accountant Frank Ryan is leaning toward a run. PoliticsPA has the exclusive.

And Roll Call’s Shira Toeplitz lists Rep. Bill Shuster among the nation’s ten most influential members of Congress vis-a-vis redistricting. It’s richly deserved – Shuster knows the numbers in and out, and is a primary actor in this year’s congressional map drawing in PA.

PoliticsPA Reports

GOP Judicial Primary Preview
The saying goes that Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line. There are a number of GOP insiders who hope that bears out in the upcoming primaries for Commonwealth and Superior Court.

Conservatives Hammer Toomey’s Budget
Senator Pat Toomey unveiled his much anticipated budget on Tuesday, offering to balance the budget in nine years, but leaving entitlement programs alone. Since then, Toomey has spent his time battling back against conservative, rather than liberal, criticism.

Bill Shuster: Redistricting Power Broker
Shira Toeplitz of Roll Call compiled this list of the top ten congressmen with the biggest impact in the process, and rightly lists Shuster among them.

Marcellus Exec Confirms Fitzgerald E-mails
After enduring weeks of Marcellus-themed criticism, Mark Flaherty’s campaign today released email correspondence from Fitzgerald soliciting Marcellus shale industry leaders for campaign contributions. The email has been corroborated by its recipient.

Exclusive: Frank Ryan Emerges As Lone GOP Hopeful for Auditor General
In the GOP race for Auditor General, former congressional candidate Frank Ryan of Lebanon County appears to be the lone man standing.

Headlines

Roll Call: Comcast Hires FCC Commissioner
National Review: Toomey’s budget is conservative
Times-Tribune: Grand Jury Hears Testimony From Ex-Mellow Staffers
Patriot-News: State Senate Committee Approves Gary Alexander for Welfare Secretary
Times-Tribune: DEP To Review Study Linking Shale Drilling To High Methane Concentrations
Philly Weekly: Milton Street: A Man of Conviction
PhillyClout: Did City Commissioner Omit Info In Campaign Finance Report?
PhillyClout: GOP Ward Leaders File Complaint on City Commissioners
WHYY Newsworks: SugarHouse Gets OK To Expand Table Games
ABC Philadelphia: Proposal To Lower Phila. Parking Tax Passes Committee
Post-Gazette: Candidate Ends Campaign For City School Board
Times-News: Candidates Vie For Five District Judge Slots
Times-Leader: Public Meeting on NRC’s Safety Assessment of PPL Nuclear Facility Is Set For May 19th
Delaware County Times: Supervisors’ Chairman in Newtown, Delaware County Is Among Four Charged With Misdeamenor Counts Of Theft
Capitol Ideas: Activists Rally for Weed & Seed Funding
The Morning Call: Barletta on immigration: Enforcement not reform
The Morning Call: Case chairs hearing on Iranian democracy
The Morning Call: Gracedale: Just the facts
WFMZ News: Lt. Governor Cawley Tours Moran Industries, Talks Job Creation
Lehigh Valley Live: Teacher layoffs for economic reasons gets approval by Pennsylvania senate
Altoona Mirror: Tentative $22.9M budget passes.
Centre Daily Times: Centre County Judge temporarily bans sale of “bath salts.”
Tribune-Democrat: State House panel approves GOP budget alternative.
Associated Press: Candy Maker Hershey says sheriff’s campaign signs are trademark violation.
Associated Press: Congressmen push federal ban on “bath salts.”
Associated Press: Reapportionment Panelists welcome chairman.
York Daily record: Five Democrats compete for three York County Council Seats
Associated Press: High Court Eyes Ethics nRules in Suburban Philly
Lebanon Daily News: Slots revenue to provide tax relief
Lebanon Daily News: Candidates File their Campaign Reports
Lebanon Daily News: Candidates Shell out for their own Campaigns
The Patriot-News: Oregon Firm will perform fire service study for Dauphin County
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Candidates Fitzgerald and Flaherty argue over plea to drill industry
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Twitter announcement: Former House Speaker Gingrich announces candidacy the Republican presidential nomination
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Boehner blasted by Catholic Professors
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Fayette Dems top campaign outlays
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Westmoreland Country Commissioner Chuck Anderson and Tyler Courtney are now running as a team
WTAE– Gingrich Jumps Into Presidential Race
WTAE– Corbett Promises ‘Commitment’ To State Workers Day After Asking For Pay Cut
WTAE– Switzerland Trip, Yacht Club Memberships Among Freebies For Pa. Lawmakers
WTAE– Santorum Admits Medicare ‘Mistake’
WTAE- Poll Shows Pa. Voters Divided Over Governor

Opinions
Baer Growls: Let’s ID what bill really is: Partisanship
Patriot News Editorial: Honorable vet, dishonorable lie
Patriot News Ediorials: Low-key primary has big impacts on daily life
Patriot News Editorial: Life’s as simple as we make it — sometimes at our peril
Patriot Editorial News: Republican for Cumberland Commissioner
Pottstown Mercury: Wednesday’s sound off
Pottstown Mercury: House GOP plan restores some school funding
Lehigh Valley Independent : Is Economic Development Really Better Off Under Legislative Control?
Dave Davies off Mic: Newt the environmentalist, and your questions for City Council
Morning Call: Activists Rally For Weed and Seed Money
Center Daily Times:Experience Counts for Centre County Judge.
Altoona Mirror: Tomassetti supported in Commissioner Race.
Patriot NewsGary Eichelberger – Republican for Cumberland Commissioner.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette- Early Returns blog: Fitzgerald campaign responds
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Opinions on both: Democrats should support Fitzgerald
The Morning Call:  Vote for David Bond in South Whitehall