Suddenly that June 30 budget deadline doesn’t seem so far away. Legislators are hustling to make sure that the first state budget of the Corbett administration is on time, and hearings are picking up this week.

Also on the radar, the third in a series of public hearings about congressional redistricting will be held this week – tomorrow at 9am – in Harrisburg. So far the general public sentiment has favored contiguous districts, without splitting up towns.

If you think being a Republican in a swing district means that Rep. Jim Gerlach will back down from Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget – and its changes to Medicare – you’re way off. In an op-ed to the Pottstown Mercury yesterday, the Congressman reiterated the GOP’s message that Washington must either reform Medicare, or watch it go bankrupt.

Click here to watch Tom Ridge’s interview on the Colbert Report. The former Gov turned Marcellus shale advocate talked gas drilling – and water contamination – on the Comedy Central news program.

The Supreme Court sided with Hazleton and former Mayor Lou Barletta in a ruling on the city’s controversial immigration policy. They sent back the ruling of a lower federal court, meaning that the fight will go on for another day.

And in case you missed ‘em, here are last week’s Ups & Downs.

PoliticsPA Reports

Members of Pa. Congressional Delegation Start Summer By Working On Behalf of Returning Vets
Three members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation — Congressmen Mark Critz, Jason Altmire and Glenn Thompson — spent late May and early June working to ensure that the federal government continues to expand the services it provides to the returning service members’ seeking to transition back to civilian life.

Supreme Court Sides With Barletta, Hazelton Immigration Law
The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a favorable ruling on the issue that brought the Congressman to national fame when he was still the mayor of Hazleton. The Court issued a ruling in favor of Hazleton’s Illegal Immigration Relief Act Ordinance and ordered the Third Circuit Court of Appeals’ to reconsider the law, which it struck down in 2007.

“Don’t Smoke In Your Shower,” Ridge Jokes On Colbert (W/Video)
Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge got the Colbert treatment last night when he appeared on the Comedy Central news program to discuss Marcellus shale natural gas.

6/10 Ups & Downs
Lou Barletta makes the list for his third week in a row; Weinergate nets not one but two mentions; and three mentions of poor driving decisions.

National
NBC News: Rick Santorum Takes Part in “Meet The Candidate” on Meet the Press
Bucks County Courier Times: William B. Moyer, Congressional Candidate in Watergate Era, Died At The Age of 77

Statewide
AP via Inquirer: Pa. Health Agency Doesn’t Keep Marcellus Database
Inquirer: Abortion Suddenly A Hot Topic In Harrisburg
WHYY Newsworks: Contract Talks Continue Between Pa. and State Workers
WHYY Newsworks: Delaware: Happy Being Separate From Pa.
Capitol Ideas: The Sunday Brunch
Capitol Ideas: Friday Morning Coffee: The Weekend Warm-Up
PA Independent: Farmers highlight Pennsylvania gas industry’s positive impact
PA Independent: School pension system facing dire situation
PA Independent: After good quarter, SERS still needs higher contribution
State House Sound Bites: Corbett Administration continues union negotiations
State House Sound Bites: Ridge talks Shale on Colbert
The Beaver County Times: Pa. health agency doesn’t keep Marcellus database

Philly
WHYY Newsworks: Soda Tax Debate Bubbles Over
Inquirer: District Takes Teacher-Layoff Issue to Pa. Supreme Court
Fox Philadelphia: Philly Schools’ Funding Request Ever-Changing
Inquirer: Action plans sparse at many of Philadelphia’s most dangerous schools
Fox Philadelphia: Philly Shuts Down Alex’s Lemonade Stand

Philly Suburbs
The Mercury: Senator, Accountability could bring more funds for education
The Mercury: Pottstown council may seek accounting of Trees Inc.’s public monies
The Intelligencer: Planned Parenthood will close its Doylestown clinic
Montgomery News: Norristown Council agrees to parking kiosk demonstration
Bucks Local News: State Rep. Steve Santarsiero introduces bi-partisan bill aimed at school funding, teachers strikes
Bucks Local News: Projects in Langhorne, Chalfont and Warrington to receive PECO green grants
Bucks Local News: Pennsylvania senate approves Tomlinson Bill to ban texting, cell phone use while driving

Pittsburgh
Early Returns: Ravenstahl v Libraries Continues
Early Returns: Pirates Tix For Supporting Gas Industry? No, but free airfare
Post-Gazette: Fund Holds Boot Camp Here for Gay Politicians
Post-Gazette: Hearing On Congressional Redistricting Vexes and Confounds
Tribune-Review: Candidate Raja Repays Tax Breaks He Shouldn’t Have Gotten
Tribune-Review: Cherepko Won’t Face GOP Foe In The Fall
Tribune-Review: Council Runs Into Lack of Cash to Meet Paving, Vehicle Requests
Tribune-Review: Pittsburgh Hires New Chief Of ‘Green’ Initiatives

Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Senator makes local stop
Tribune Live: Hearing granted to decide on 60 Cupp write-in votes
Altoona Mirror: City finances on solid ground
Beaver County Times: Flood tax still taking in money, 75 years later
Beaver County Times: Dauphin Co. wins ruling in $35M incinerator case

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Deal keeps compost site open
Morning Call: 165 Allentown teachers to be laid off
Morning Call: Cost-saving measure a risk for Bethlehem Area
Morning Call: Bethlehem, Musikfest to renegotiate fees
WFMZ: Lawmakers take Aim at ‘Sidewalks to nowhere’

NEPA
Times Leader: Barletta seen as beatable by Dems
Citizens Voice: Hints of Defense emerge in Lackawanna corruption case
Citizens Voice: Pro-gas group offers all-expenses paid trip for local landowners to attend federal fracking hearing
Wayne Independent: Senator Toomey supports judicial nominees
Wayne Independent: Senate Passes Baker Bills to Bring Reforms to Juvenile Justice System
Go Lackawanna: Payment Plans Outlined
Go Lackawanna: Kane a candidate for Attorney General

South Central
Patriot News: Legislation would allow Pennsylvania teachers to wear religious insignias
Patriot News: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board riddled with culture of ‘noncriminal misconduct,’ grand jury report says
Patriot News: State Panel to hold public hearing on congressional restricting
Patriot News: Carlisle Borough Council rejects giving retired police officers cost-of-living increase

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Pa. health agency doesn’t keep Marcellus database
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Mansfield Council fills vacant seat
Centre Daily Times: County certifies commissioner results

Opinions
Jim Gerlach, Pottsown Mercury: Reform Medicare, or watch it go bankrupt
Steve Denton, Morning Call: Teachers are essential
Bill White, Morning Call: Voter ID – A way to waste $11 million
Ron Celentano, Morning Call: Pa. proposal would boost our solar business
Daily Times Editorial: Task Force ridding Delco of predators
William J. Mellon, Daily Times: Pa. Seniors no fan of Meehan
Richard Connor, Times Leader: Gov. Perry’s image far cry from reality
Kevin Blaum, Times Leader: GOP debate is a must-see televised event
Johnstown Tribune Democrat: Tom Lavis: Looking for a guy named Marcellus
Altoona Mirror: Practice what you preach, Gov.
Beaver County Times: Doomed to fail
Somerset Daily American: Pay for Play
Somerset Daily American: More user fees
Amity Shlaes, Tribune Review: Is ‘11 the new ‘37?
John Browne, Tribune-Review: Bored by the board
Post-Gazette Editorial: Economic hopefuls: Action, not rhetoric, will fix America’s troubles
Tri County Courier Express– It was ‘no new taxes’ pledge, not Marcellus tax, that was inappropriate
Tri County Courier Express– State should give voters a realistic chance to OK/veto school tax increases
Patriot News: Commentary: Will parties sign on to rescue Harrisburg in Act 47 plan?