Good morning politicos, here’s the buzz. The latest PA Prez poll; AG candidates campaign on Sandusky, and Joe Pitts’ challenger works to prove she’s viable.

Quinnipiac Poll: Obama 46, Romney 39: The Presidential contest in PA has steadied according to the latest poll by Quinnipiac. Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney by 7 points, similar to the firm’s findings in mid-June (Obama 46, Romney 40) and May (Obama 47, Romney 39).

AG Candidates Zero in on Sandusky: With the Sandusky verdict fresh in everyone’s minds, the two Attorney General candidates have been swift in commending the jury, and also making their own promises to improve child-abuse case investigations.

Rendell Calls Stetler Prosecution a “Mistake”: Former Gov. Ed Rendell joined the ranks of individuals taking the stand as character witnesses for ex-legislator Stephen Stetler, who Rendell said has a reputation “as good as anyone could ever hope to have.”

National Progressive PAC Backs Strader Against Pitts: Blue America, a progressive PAC, will formally endorse challenger Aryanna Strader tomorrow against incumbent Rep. Joe Pitts in PA’s 16th district.  The group channels donors and grassroots supporters nationwide to help the candidates it supports.

Legislative election updates:

SD-40: 11 days later, Dem hopeful Sharon Brown blasted the GOP’s candidate in the special election for Jane Orie’s former seat. He camp wrote: “The taxpayers of Allegheny and Butler counties could face higher property tax bills because Representative Vulakovich voted against legislation (HB 1696) that would have frozen property tax assessments across the Commonwealth, while a bi-partisan evaluation was performed to make property taxes equitable across all of PA.”

SD-49: PA First Lady Susan Corbett was on hand for the kickoff of Women for Anderson, a coalition supporting Republican Janet Anderson for the seat of retiring Sen. Jane Earll (R-Erie). “From college students to CEO’s, women across the 49th District realize the importance of this race,” Anderson said. “I am excited to have them on my team and excited to have Susan Corbett here for the announcement.” The Erie Times News also has some details on the event, plus the activities of Dem Sean Wiley.

National
National Journal: Obama and Convention No-Shows: Divorce or Amicable Separation?
Politico: Dem says he’ll vote yes on Holder contempt
Pennsylvania Ave: Smith to make “substantial” contribution to Senate campaign this week

Statewide
Capitolwire: House Education panel hears testimony on bill to expand EITC and create EISC program
Capitolwire: Turzai tells state GOP that voter ID law boosts party in prez race
Capitolwire: Human services block grant disagreement holding up state budget
Capitolwire: Senate approves corrections reform, sends to governor
Capitolwire: Budget deal largely hews to Senate-passed budget
Capitolwire: Human Services block grant will be pilot program at most as 2012-13 DPW budget plan emerges
Capitolwire: House OKs bill to allow state system universities to collect royalties for natural gas drilling
State Impact: Location of deep injection wells in Pennsylvania
State Impact: Rural Pa. residents fight to keep Marcellus waste out of swamp
State Impact: Traveling back in time to an early boom town
State Impact: Mercer County hotels wait for drillers
State Impact: Septa to unveil new energy saving device on Market-Frankford line
State Impact: Mapping Shell’s impacted wells
State Impact: Mapping Shell’s Tioga County methane problem
PA Independent: Fiscal code amendment would require nonprofit providers to disclose pay of top execs
PA Independent: Budget Roundup: Corbett’s human services block grants for counties is budget season casualty
HPA Independent: Home heating assistance cuts possible this winter
Morning Call: Turzai’s Voter ID remarks gather steam
Morning Call: Basic Education Spreadsheets For FY 2012-13
Morning Call: General Fund Spreadsheets for FY 2012-13
Morning Call: Early Evening Budget Update: The Details Emerge

Philadelphia
Philadelphia Daily News: Big money behind the push for education tax credit program
Philadelphia Inquirer: In Pennsylvania, conflicting opinions on immigration ruling
Philadelphia Inquirer: Upper Darby undoes some school cuts, but many not satisfied
Philadelphia Inquirer: Voter ID is, well, IDed
Philadelphia Daily News: Amazingly, sometimes in politics the truth is uttered
Philly Clout: Committee of Seventy: share schools superintendent contract with the public
Philly Now: PA Democrats Ridicule Turzai, GOP Over Voter ID; Say “Your Ideas Suck’
Philly Now: At Philly COPS Grant Announcement, Support For Attorney General Holder
Philly Now: House Leadership In National News for Voter ID Truth Blunder
WHYY Newsworks: In wake of ruling on Arizona immigration law, revision likely for similar Pa. bill
WHYY Newsworks: $27.7 billion budget plan taking shape in Pa.

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown budget raises taxes 1.2% one day before state budget figures make it unnecessary
Delco Daily Times: Upper Darby School Board set for budget vote tonight
Delco Daily Times: Garnet Valley approves 2.45 percent tax increase

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: A state budget by Saturday
Pitts­burgh Post-Gazette: Con­sol Energy plans to test a solar pow­ered waste­water treat­ment tech­nol­ogy at frack­ing sites
Tribune Review: City fails to document minority, female participation contracts
Tribune Review: Corbett defends 10% cut to human services
Tribune Review: Council introduces legislation to track contracts for women and minorities
Tribune Review: Half of correction legislation ready for governor, other half in jeopardy
Early Returns: EITC expansion on the move
Early Returns: Another Critz Medicare dig at Rothfus
Early Returns: PA budget breakdown released
Early Returns: Tax exempt questions

Southwest
AP: Pa. legislature hurdles toward Saturday deadline
Indiana Gazette: County jobless rate down in May

Lehigh Valley
The Morning Call: Corbett wants human services funding rolled into block grants
The Morning Call: Politics as usual
Reading Eagle: City Council OKs Reading Phils’ bid to refinance loan
Reading Eagle: Antietam approves budget with tax hike, staff cuts
Reading Eagle: School Board approves budget with no tax increase
WFMZ: Dems pounce on Pa. voter ID law link to Romney win
WFMZ: Some Easton residents want Bill of Rights for city
Express Times: Easton bill of rights receives heavy criticism from some council members
Express Times: Lehigh Valley unemployment remains unchanged at 8.1 percent in May
South WhiteHall Patch: Romney’s visit made Wawa a winner
South WhiteHall Patch: South WhiteHall begins to map its infrastructure

NEPA
Scran­ton Times-Tribune: A local defense con­trac­tor diver­si­fies to pro­vide equip­ment for the gas industry
Daily Review: County human services programs at center of budget finale
Daily Review: Sayre school board approves 2012-13 budget
Standard Speaker: Court employees reject county contract offer
Standard Speaker: County human services programs at center of budget finale
Wayne Independent: New group seeks relief from ever-increasing school taxes
Standard Speaker: Barletta, ACLU lawyer disagree on impact of Arizona immigration ruling
Standard Speaker: A case for Hazleton county
Times-Leader: A State budget by Saturday?
Times-Leader: Barletta praises decision
AP: As jail population grows, Pa. nears reform program
Citizens Voice: Ethics commission may decide on complaint against county council
Citizens Voice: Insurance companies, hospitals, health advocates await court ruling
Citizens Voice: County union overwhelmingly rejects new contract
Citizens Voice: Lake-Lehman meeting may have violated Sunshine Act
Citizens Voice: County human services programs at center of budget finale
Citizens Voice: Barletta, ACLU lawyer disagree on impact of Arizona immigration ruling
Times-Tribune: Teacher evaluations may look at student test scores
Times-Tribune: Valley View employees accept wage freeze, but taxes still rising
Times-Tribune: Area jobless at 8.7 for third straight month
Times-Tribune: Barletta, ACLU lawyer disagree on impact of Arizona immigration ruling
Times-Tribune: County human services programs at center of budget finale
Times-Tribune: Districts to see mostly flat funding under negotiated budget deal
Pocono Record: Pa. Legislature hurtles toward Saturday budget deadline
Pocono Record: Pa. Game Commission buys land in Monroe County
Pocono Record: Pa. universities get failing grade from new report

South Central
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Chambersburg Borough Council postpones fire dept. cuts
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Franklin County underfunded in human services compared to others
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Quick verdict eludes jury in Pa. corruption trial
Carlisle Sentinel: Takeover of troubled Harrisburg gets 2nd lawsuit
Carlisle Sentinel: Senate approves Vance legislation to require child abuse training for school personnel
AP: Dems pounce on Pennsylvania voter ID law link to Romney win
AP: Tax credit touted as aid for Pennsylvania’s failing schools
AP: AP: Rendell will testify for ex-Rep. Stetler
AP: Legislature hurtles toward budget deadline
York Dispatch: Corbett defends cuts to human services
York Daily Record: Deliberations will go into second day in Stetler trial
York Daily Record: Jury in Stetler case to resume deliberations Wednesday
York Daily Record: Video: Rendell talks about testimony in support of Stetler
Harrisburg Patriot News Editorial: Title IX legislation was the start of a revolution

North by Northwest
Times-News: Senate race heats up in 49th district

Opinion
The Morning Call: Pennsylvania Voter ID
The Morning Call: Amnesty International report documents human rights abuse
Express Times: The Morning Note: Fast and Furious was stupid, but contempt citation of Eric Holder will go nowhere
Express Times: EDITORIAL: Sunlight Foundation fighting to improve federal government
Altoona Mirror Editorial: Allow experts to testify
Observer-Reporter Editorial: States still stuck with liquor stores
Post-Gazette Editorial: It’s 2012—File online: Campaign finance reports shouldn’t be on paper
Post-Gazette Editorial: Easy money: System for state college loans needs tighter rules
The Hill: Hopeless about the economy?

Blogs
Bill Lawrence Online: Will Mr. Smith Go to Washington?
Keystone State Education Coalition: Big money behind push for education tax credit program
NEPArtisan: Dear Council, Try this Recovery Plan
Young Philly Politics: These are the Philly State Senators who May Bring Payday Lending Back to PA
PA Budget and Policy Center: Budget Update: Despite House Opposition, Governor Holding Firm on County Block Grant
CasablancaPA: We had a shortage of investigators
Speaking Freely (ACLU-PA): Title IX Turns 40
John Hanger: Stunning Fact: Solar In USA Will Exceed 17,000 Megawatts In 3 Years & Reshape Power Markets
John Hanger: Key Fact: Marcellus Shale Production Caused National Gas Prices To Plunge
John Hanger: Low Gas Prices Boost CHP: Montclair University Showcases $90 Million CHP Energy Project
The Keystone Conservative: The Tom Borthwick Recovery Plan for Scranton
The Keystone Conservative: Report: Bucks and MontCo Have 3rd Largest Gas Reserves on the East Coast
Keystone Progress: The Supreme Court Just Struck Down Montana’s Law Banning Corporate Political Spending
2 Political Junkies: And, this isn’t about political suppression either
2 Political Junkies: Turzai Admits PA Voter ID Law Passed to Give Win to Romney