To those of you who thought Bonusgate ended with Harrisburg, we humbly present Bucks County. Several employees at the Register of Wills office turned themselves into police in March on charges of politicking in the office.  Now its come to light that one of those employees got a sweetheart deal on the way out, with the knowledge of one county commissioner. It’s spicing up the election in a county that’s already a tossup.

About a dozen of our friends in the PA GOP are out of state today, working (furiously, no doubt) to elect Republican Jane Corwin in tomorrow’s special election for New York’s 26th Congressional district (near Buffalo). The Dems are testing out their new Medicare messaging, and the race has taken on national implications.

In Philly, the GOP mayoral and D2 council primaries are still unresolved. And par for the course, things are getting nasty.

The PA House is scheduled to vote on a budget today, ending nearly a decade of reckless spending, or pulling the rug out from underneath schoolchildren and seniors, depending on where you sit. Dems have consistently out-PR’ed their Republican colleagues since Gov. Corbett unveiled his budget proposal, and are hoping to keep up the pressure. They held budget-themed press conferences in Allegheny and Montco last week with the hope of keeping up the pressure.

Speaking of Montco, in case you missed it, the GOP commissioner candidates introduced an unlikely issue into the race – the Israel-Palestine conflict. Bruce Castor and Jenny Brown blasted Obama for supposedly suggesting that Israel return to its pre-1967 borders, and slammed opponent Josh Shapiro for campaigning for Obama among the county’s sizable Jewish population.

Finally, we’re trying a bit of a new format with today’s buzz. We’ve broken down the headlines by region. I hope you’ll comment and tell us what you think.

PoliticsPA Reports

“Secretive” Agreement with Indicted Employee Complicates Bucks Elections
Ongoing investigations into corruption in the Bucks County courthouse could have a significant impact in the 2011 elections in one of Pennsylvania’s biggest swing counties – and threaten the current GOP majority on the Board of Commissioners.

Dems Aim to Steer the Conversation on PA House Budget Vote
In anticipation of Monday’s budget vote in the PA House, PA Democrats are working to steer the conversation. The party held individual press conferences to lay out the party’s preemptive response in Montgomery and Allegheny counties, two of PA’s biggest 2011 battlegrounds.

GOP Mayoral, D2 Council Primaries Still Unresolved in Philly
The May 17th primaries for the Republican mayoral candidate and Democratic City Council Second District seat will remain unresolved until next week after the absentee ballots are recorded and the official vote count is finished.

Pa. Health Secretary Gets Egg On His Face
“Do you know who I am? I am the secretary of health!” Eli Avila announced during an argument with the owner of Roxy’s Diner. Soon after the diner was paid a visit by the city health inspectors.

Pa. GOP On The Road to NY-26
PoliticsPA has learned that the PA GOP will send about a dozen staffers to help their New York counterparts in another sign that the hotly contested NY-26 special election has national implications.

Obama’s Middle East Speech Slammed By…Candidates for County Commissioner
It’s tough to say how often foreign policy issues decide a county commissioner race in PA, but Montgomery County Commissioner candidates Bruce Castor and Jenny Brown are giving it a try.

Statewide
Inquirer: Some Pa. State Workers Told To Toe The Line On Dress
Inquirer: PACs Fumo Started Are Still Functioning
AP: Pa. Papers Oppose New Legal-Ads Bill
Bucks County Courier Times: Auditor General Says Keep Legal Ads in Papers
Patriot-News:  Independent votes to help Pennsylvania keep its electoral clout in 2012

Philly (and suburbs)
Bucks County Courier Times: Rep. Fitzpatrick Visits Guantanamo
Inquirer: Like Nutter, like Fattah: Ex-Rivals Appear Together
WHYY Newsworks: Drilling Industry Asks Shale Commission For “Clarity and Consistency” In Local Regulations
WHYY Newsworks: Philadelphia Democratic Chair, Rep. Brady Says John Street For Mayor Chatter is ‘not a joke’
Inquirer: Bucks D.A. Hands Off Sheriff’s Office Probe
WHYY Newsworks: Phila. Mayor Nutter’s Chief Of Staff Reportedly Leaving City Hall
WHYY Newsworks: SEPTA Says No Plans for Fare Hike
Daily News: Council Looks To Amend DROP, Rather Than Lose It
Inquirer: Dissident GOP Members Hope To Elect New Chairman
Inquirer: Plan for Philly GOP Dissidents To Meet Scrapped
Daily News: 3 on State Sen. Stack Fired; One Points To Politics
PhillyClout: Votes are in and the 2nd District Race Gets Dirty
Heard in the Hall: Capozzi Raises Money For Legal Fight
Philly Weekly: Scenes From Sheriff Candidate Cheri Honkala’s Campaign Office
Bucks Local News: PA House republicans to tackle budget this week
Bucks Local News: Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick visits Guantanamo for inspections
Bucks Local News: County Commissioner Marseglia slams separation agreement with Register of Wills employee

Pittsburgh (and southwest PA)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Allegheny Count Executive Race: Raja and Fitzgerald come out swinging.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Joe Biden raises money for Obama, Clogs Traffic Here.
Tribune-Review: Westmoreland School Board Races Hard on Incumbents.
Tribune-Review: District Judge Candidates Pull In Close Nominations.
KDKA News: Rochester Student to Win School Board Seat.

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Osborne Claims GOP Primary Win in Last Undecided Lehigh Slot
Morning Call: Hozza Keeps Whitehall Mayor’s Job, incumbent defeats Daddonad
Morning Call: Lehigh Candidates Turn to November
Morning Call: South Whitehall OKs New Rules for Political Sign
Lehigh Valley Live: Northampton County Councilman Mike Dowd wins Republican Primary, Setting up November Challenge
Express Times: Forks Township Election Winners Focus on Recreation
Express Times: Pohatcong Township Mayor-Elect James Kern II’s Youth Gives Some Pause, While Others See Promise
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Democrat Mann and Republican Dent Take Aim at Synthetic Drugs

NEPA
Go Lackawanna: Incumbent city councilman top ballots
Times Tribune: Voters put Wansacz, O’Brien together, but how they’ll vote in the fall remains to be seen
Go Lackawanna: Federal grants aid heritage trail
Times Leader: Four-day school gaining traction
Times Tribune: Wansacz, O’Brien will seek truce
Times Tribune: With agreement in place for tainted water, residents wonder what’s the fix
Pocono Record: De we have enough state police coverage in the Poconos?

South Central
York Daily Record:  Chronister, Saylor pushing change for city schools; Bracey working on a plan, too
York Daily Record:  County commissioners: Incumbent Republicans win in primary
Lebanon Daily News:  State cuts dual enrollment funds
Patriot-News:  Vote count shows Jackson-Dowe edging Papenfuse for Democratic Dauphin County commissioner

North by Northwest
Altoona Mirror: Results of Tuesday primary show Nardelli strong in city
Altoona Mirror: Democrats accuse GOP of shorting health care
Tri County Courier Express: Political signs and where they can be placed is causing controversy in the City of DuBois.
WJAC: Legal Holdup Prevents Incumbent Commissioner From Campaigning
WJAC: Santorum Announces Presidential Fundraising Effort
StateCollege.com: Conklin to pursue statewide hotline for gas drilling violations
Tribune Democrat: Cambria GOP aims to win Commissioners majority

Opinions
Tom Fitzgerald, Inquirer: Out Of Tune With The GOP?
Bucks County Courier Times, Column: Another low turnout
Dave Davies, WHYY Newsworks: John Street’s Threat, and Prospects for Change
Will Bunch, Daily News: John Street Redux: Are You Kidding?
Patriot News Editorial: Gov. Corbett: Poor need education escape route
Express Times Editorial: There’s still times for governors to thwart Delaware River bridge toll increase – Caroline
Post-Gazette Opinion: Younger O’Connor likes the idea of father’s role.
Post-Gazette Opinion: Republicans are off to a slow start.
Bucks Local News: Should seniors be prevented from voting?
Andy Dlinn, Tribune Review: PLC was right to endorse McCullough
Centre Daily Times Editorial: Photo ID law a waste of time