Good morning politicos, here’s the buzz. Lots of Pittsburgh news today! The NRCC reserves $1.3M in fall airtime there; meanwhile, GOP candidates stopped in Steel City to make the pitch for coal industry deregulation; and, some Steelers threw their support and $$ behind Obama.

ICYMI – Harrisburg’s Smartest Staffers: Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans. Our lists of House staffers are coming next week, stay tuned!

GOP Hopefuls Burn Casey, Obama on Coal: GOP Senate candidate Tom Smith joined southwestern PA Republicans at a Wednesday news conference in Pittsburgh. They criticized President Obama for EPA regulations against the coal industry, which they say raised energy costs and destroyed jobs.

Smith Backs Off of Debt Ceiling Claim: Tom Smith’s heavy television campaign carried the former coal company owner to a wide victory in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate. But in two recent interviews, he backed off of one of his most direct assertions: that he’d never vote to raise the debt ceiling.

NRCC Reserves $1.3 Mil in Pittsburgh Market: The campaign committee charged with electing Republicans to Congress is targeting southwest PA, Roll Call reports this morning. They’ve reserved $1.3 million in post-Labor Day airtime.

Obama Talks Progress at Phila Fundraiser: After a week of criticism for his “private sector is doing fine” gaff and slipping poll numbers, Obama made a stop in the City of Brotherly Love Tuesday, looking to raise some cash and keep pushing his message of hope, change and progress.

Obama Gets Support From the Black and Gold: Pittsburgh Steelers’ former chairman Dan Rooney and the team’s head coach Mike Tomlin have made financial donations to the Obama campaign and will support the President in November’s election.

Dem Challengers Hit Incumbent Reps on Franking: Congressional challengers are criticizing House republicans for passing a Legislative budget that allows hundreds of thousands of dollars to be spent on campaign-style mailers.

National
Politico Playbook: “Obama camp drops $14M on TV”
The Morning Call: Casey and Toomey workin’ on the farm (bill)
National Journal: Romney Scaling the Blue Wall

Statewide
AP: House Oks overhaul of Pa. wiretapping law
AP: Pa. teachers rally amid budget talks, layoffs
State House Sound Bites: Corbett’s approval rating sinks, property reform stalls, & Melvin’s pay an open question
Capitol Ideas: Tea-Time Budget Update: They’re still talking
Capitol Ideas: PGH City Paper cover whacks Gov. Corbett’s relationship with big biz
Capitol Ideas: Senior House Republican makes the case for environmental funding
Capitol Ideas: Brother, can you spare $48 million?
StateImpactPA: Beaver County Residents and Township File Claims of Fraud Against Chesapeake
StateImpactPA: Federal Appeals Court Approves Major Pipeline Project for Northeast Pa.
StateImpactPA: Drill Bits: N.Y. to Limit Fracking to Just a Few Counties, Coal to Gas, and Less Waste to Landfills
StateImpactPA: An Updated ‘Dallas’ Takes on the Battle Between Fracking and Alternative Fuels
Capitolwire: Effort to fully restore Key ’93 Fund has a voice at the negotiating table in GOP chairman
Capitolwire: OFF THE FLOOR: How liquor privatization got stalled
Capitolwire: Budget negotiations continue as fiscal office predicts $48 million revenue drop
Capitolwire: Traffic safety advocates push for statewide expansion of red-light cameras

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Teachers, students protest proposed school cuts at Pa. Capitol
Inquirer: Nutter to take top post at U.S. conference of mayors
WHYY NewsWorks: House offers plan for changes in Pa. pension system
PhillyClout: Chamber of Commerce to Council: say no to business tax hike
PhillyClout: Where is Mayor Nutter as budget talks rage on?
Phillynow.com: Should Pa. prepare for a “voter purge” ?
Phillynow.com: At Franklin Institute, Obama plays up most vulnerable positions

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: GOP officials see signs of Pa. electoral vote shift
Post-Gazette: $4 billion bond sale to shore up Pennsylvania jobless aid
Tribune-Review: Alternative to petrochemical tax credit plan introduced
Tribune-Review: 3 municipalities may join pursuit of $5 million
Tribune-Review: Region sets pace for job recovery
Early Returns: Critz hits Rothfus for new endorsement
Early Returns: Before budget talks, teachers rally

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Christiana, Vogel reveal ethane tax credit plans

Lehigh Valley
The Morning Call: Obama, Romney campaigns hit early stride
WFMZ: Teachers crowd Pa. Capitol in protest of proposed education cuts
WFMZ: Corrections reform bill wins unanimous state House OK

NEPA
The Times Leader: Corbett approval rating just 36%
The Times Leader: Survey: Voters approve of Voter ID by 2- 1 margin
Times-Tribune: Act 47 fix-it bill on track to passage
Times-Tribune: Voters down, way down on Corbett
Times-Tribune: County sales tax bill draws interest in state Senate
The Daily Review: Pickett supports bill to allow communities to address flooding hazards from small waterways

South Central
York Dispatch: Rendell defines ‘wusses’ at book-signing stop in York
Harrisburg Patriot News: Need for more education funding brings hundreds to Pa. Capitol to protest

North by Northwest
The Sentinel: Still no action on future of prison
SunGazette: Council to hear college’s plan to flatten homes
SunGazette: Council hires interim police chief
SunGazette: Montoursville passes $26.4M budget
SunGazette: Wellsboro approves budget with 1.4 percent tax increase
SunGazette: Acess Denied: Standoff comes to peaceful conclusion
Centre Daily News: Rush Township receives water source grant
Sharon Herald: School district workers agree to wage freeze
Erie Times-News: North East residents complain of ‘self dealing’ in sewer construction
Courier Express: Commissioners satisfied with  new redistricting

Opinion
Times-Tribune Editorial: State big part of Scranton’s fiscal crisis
Times-Tribune Editorial: Answer on hold
Citizens Voice Editorial: Exotic pet bill is issue of safety
Wayne Independent Editorial: State should not pay out unemployment to Wayne Earley
The Daily Review Editorial: What are they waiting for?
Pocono Record Editorial: Don’t dump school taxes just yet
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Liquor sales pitch
Harrisburg Patriot News Editorial: School vouchers: Lawmakers need to find compromise
Philadelphia Inquirer: Editorial – Pa. too cool to solar energy
Philadelphia Weekly: How to spot a counterfeit piece of legislation
Post-Gazette: Defining moment: The house faces a historic choice on liquor sales
Post Gazette: Sabotaging Obama: The GOP’s job-killing political strategy is working just fine
Indiana Gazette: DIANNE TERLION: Let’s build upon what’s right with U.S.

Blogs
Keystone State Education Coalition: If you liked that $1 billion cut to PA public education here’s another $450 million for ya!
Commonwealth Foundation: Who is to Blame for Schools’ Fiscal Woes?
Commonwealth Foundation: What’s in the Property Tax Elimination Bill?
NEPArtisan: CISPA vote delayed!
The Pennsylvania Progressive: Splitting Hairs in a Multi-Cultural School
The Pennsylvania Progressive: News & Notes from June 13, 2012
Keystone Politics: Property Tax Reform Bill Just Kind of Craps Out
Keystone Politics: Occupational Licensing is a Barrier to Economic Opportunity