Montco DA Risa Ferman is turning heads with her Q1 fundraising haul. She’s unopposed this year, so her $250K quarter has some saying she’s eying Attorney General in 2012. Sources close to Ferman suggest that’s not far off.

Rick Santorum wasn’t impressed with Mitt Romney’s health care speech. Like most other 2012 GOP hopefuls, Santorum ripped Romney a new one after the former governor gave a speech trying to distinguish “Obamacare” from his own universal health care plan in Massachusetts – upon which the Dems’ national plan was based.

The PA House passed a new bill regulating abortion clinics in the wake of the Kermit Gosnell case. The bill greatly increases the physical and personnel requirements for clinics, leading critics to suggest it will result in clinics closing. Supporters say that isn’t the bill’s aim, but we will have to wait and see how the vote is represented on their re-election literature to know for sure.

If it’s 10am, the Dems for Allegheny County Exec are just sitting down for an on-air radio debate on KDKA with Marty Griffin. Click here to listen.

And don’t forget to check PoliticsPA later for this week’s ups and downs.

PoliticsPA Reports

Santorum Rips “Romneycare”
Former Senator Rick Santorum is the latest presidential hopeful to comment on Romney’s health care speech. “Both Romneycare and Obamacare infringe upon individual freedom and exponentially increase the government’s health care cost burden.”

Pa. House GOP Releases New Budget, Dems Want Spend Surplus
Yesterday the PA House Republicans released a new budget plan. This budget looks like good news for university students, because it will repeal Tom Corbett’s unpopular cuts to PA higher education.

$250K Q1 Haul Has Some Saying Risa Ferman for Attorney General
Risa Ferman is unopposed for her re-election campaign. But according to sources close to the MontCo DA, she raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars in the first quarter.

Headlines
Politico: Rick Santorum Tipped Off John Ensign, Report Says
Early Returns: Murphy – Drill, Baby –  Then Build
Times-Leader: Gov. Corbett Approves Cash For Stadium
AP: Pa. House Passes Abortion Clinic Standards Bill
WHYY Newsworks: ‘Castle Doctrine’ Remains at a Standstill
Times-Tribune: House GOP Budget Advances
Centre Daily Times: At Rally in State College, Leaders Call for State to Spend Surplus and Tax Drilling
Patriot-News: House Bill Would Prevent Discrimination Against Gays
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. House Passes Amendment To Cell Phone Driving Bill
State House Sound Bites: Bradford County Residents Speak Out on Drilling
Early Returns: Shale Reaction Muted Thus Far
Heard in the Hall: State Rep. John Taylor Takes Sides in Philly GOP Fight
Inquirer: No campaign reports for 9 Philadelphia candidates
Inquirer: Could this be the golden age of City Council?
Inquirer: Philadelphia Council Will Miss May 31st Deadline
PhillyNow: Race Street Pier Opens; Nutter, Others Celebrate
CBS Pittsburgh: GOP Candidates Stump For County Executive
Early Returns: Fitz takedown
Early Returns: Pallus Gets More Mayoral Money
Gettysburg Times: Candidates meet public again
York Dispatch: Two battle for ballot spot in York County sheriff race
York Dispatch: Democrats discuss plans for York City Council
Lebanon Daily News: Students turn camera on Cornwall-Lebanon candidates
York Daily Record: Four Incumbents, Four challengers vying for Easter York Board
Intelligencer Journal: Raw milk advocates will head to D.C. to protest FDA prosecution of local farmer
The Patriot-News: Moderate turnout predicted for primary elections in Dauphin, Lebanon counties
The Morning Call:  Salisbury school board proposes tax hike
The Morning Call:  Feds may target helmet plant
The Morning Call:  Senate Republican: school tax credit program is DOA
The Morning Call:  Callahan visits Washington for candidate training session
The Morning Call:  Easton one vote from same-sex medical benefits
The Morning Call:  Thursday Morning Coffee: House Advances Abortion Clinic Bill.
The Express – Times:  Phillipsburg police Sgt. Richard Halley must take leave of absence during campaign, prosecutor says
Altoona Mirror: Glendale School District Lays out a pair of Options.
Altoona Mirror: New Court will focus on Code Violations.
Centre-Daily Times: State College Area School District Advisory Committee Resigns In Protest of Job Cuts.
Centre-Daily Times: GOP Centre County Commissioner In Their Own Words, Part 3.
Tribune-Democrat: Budget Cuts Hot Topic in School Board Races.
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Flaherty and Fitzgerald will debate today on KDKA-Radio with Marty Griffin at 10am
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Seven running for four seats on Derry Council
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Two Board of Commisioner seats up for grabs in Penn Twp
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Santorum tipped of Sen. John Ensign- decided that Ensign violated fed law by hiding sex scandal
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Fact checking Romney on health care
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: A guide to the election in Southwest PA

Opinions
Baer Growls: Republicans in Pa. Are Rollin’
PhillyNow: Excited About The Medical Marijuana Bill? This Video of Gov. Corbett May Ruin Your Buzz
The Patriot-News: Mike Pries – Republican for Dauphin Commissioner
The Lehigh Valley Political Blog: State Senator Bob Mensch ..Legislator behaving Badly
Patriot News Editorial : Improving education: Solanco School District’s plan should be supported
Pottstown Mercury: Pennsylvania photo ID bill targeting poor?
Pottstown Mercury: A penny saved is a penny burned
Centre Daily Times: Strong Endorsement from law enforcement for judge candidate.
Altoona Mirror: Senate, House Should Be Worried About Blizzard, Not About Credit for Resolution.
Dave Davies Off Mic: Candidates late on campaign finance filings
The Morning Call: Browning deserves to be re-elected
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Fitzgerald should be schooled in maturity