Senate moves a pension bill to the House, Trump’s state director joins the Bartos campaign, and DeFelice joins the Trump administration.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Pension Reform Bill Passes Senate, Moves to House for Likely Vote Thursday: The state Senate Appropriations Committee held a session Sunday night to vote on a new pension reform bill that then passed the Senate today. The bill is expected to be voted on by the House Thursday and be signed by the Governor.

Trump State Director Joins Bartos Campaign: Ted Christian, who worked as Donald Trump’s State Director in 2016, is joining businessman Jeff Bartos’ Senate campaign.

DeFelice Joins Trump Administration as HUD Regional Administrator: Former Philadelphia GOP Chair Joe DeFelice was named Housing and Urban Development’s Regional Administrator for the Mid-Atlantic region by the Trump administration.

Legislative Election Updates

HD-20: Michael Devine, aka DJ Zombo, who was recently a DJ on WRCT in Pittsburgh announced he is jumping into the race to challenge Rep. Adam Ravenstahl (D-Allegheny) in next year’s primary.

Statewide
PLSReporter: GOP Appropriations chairmen optimistic about on-time budget
PLSReporter: Senate Bill 1 begins advance through House
PLSReporter: Bill to put PWSA under PUC control pushes forward while the water authority temporarily halts its partial lead line replacement program
PLSReporter: State legislation preempting municipal plastic bag regulation, taxation clears Senate committee
PLSReporter: Health and Human Services consolidation proposal examined by House Democrats
City and State: Before clinic scandal, Tartaglione gained from halfway house contract
City and State: Senate looks to clamp down on drug ‘recovery houses’
StateImpactPA: PA DEP approved 11th underground injection well for oil and gas waste
State House Sound Bites: For some lawmakers, latest pension bill isn’t great, but it’s good enough
State House Sound Bites: Lawmakers spar with state officials over UC spending
State House Sound Bites: Senate moves a new (but familiar) pension overhaul

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Pa. legislators move to overhaul public employee pensions
Inquirer: Report suggests Russia hackers breached voting software firm
Inquirer: Top-ranking US diplomat in China resigns
Inquirer: Post-ABC poll: Nearly 6 in 10 oppose Trump scrapping Paris agreement
Inquirer: Who will succeed Christie? NJ voters take first step Tuesday
Philadelphia Magazine: Former Head of Philly GOP Joins Trump Administration
WHYY: Struggle against cyberterrorism must transcend politics, U.S. lawmakers say
WHYY: Thousand of Pa. voters disenfranchised?
Philadelphia Business Journal: Auditor General: It’ll cost $160M to fix Pa. unemployment compensation system

SEPA
The Mercury News: Bill to overhaul Pennsylvania pension benefits on fast track
Delco Daily Times: Trump criticizes London’s mayor, again
Montgomery News: Energy has powered Pennsylvania’s economy for centuries; what’s next for the industry
Bucks Local News: State lawmakers join leaders in the fight against hunger to push ‘lunch shaming’ ban in Pennsylvania schools

Pittsburgh
KDKA: Pa. Senate Poised To Vote On Pension Overhaul
KDKA: Pa. Officials Introduce Legislation To End Lunch Shaming
WESA: Bill To Rein In Pennsylvania Pension Benefits On Fast Track
Pittsburgh Business Times: Peduto submits legislation to revamp tax abatement programs
Pittsburgh Business Times: Unfilled roles in federal government put businesses in limbo
Post-Gazette: Proposal advances for state oversight at PWSA
Post-Gazette: Lawmakers skeptical over unemployment compensation funding
Post-Gazette: Trump makes push to privatize air traffic control
Tribune Review: Healthy living can save health care system, says Mango, GOP candidate for governor
Tribune Review: Penn Hills School District to get state-assigned financial consultant

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Southwestern Pennsylvania lawmakers back pension reform bill approved by State Senate
Observer-Reporter: Snyder supports Mon-Fayette extension
Altoona Mirror: Holidaysburg Borough Council to discuss trash bids
Altoona Mirror: Pipeline construction underway
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Trump not expected to attend Acosta Mine opening, but he will have ‘a presence,’ source says
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: National parks provide boost to local economy, report finds

NEPA
Pocono Record: Township to expand sewer system
Standard Speaker: Sen. Argall unveils online resource ‘Network of Care’ for military, families
Times-Tribune: Scranton waiting on bank plan for Castle House
Times-Tribune: Duffy says he’ll quit Scranton School Board

South Central
Patriot News: Senate passes pension reform bill described as ‘the medicine that will move us forward’
Patriot News: John Oliver skewers Rep. State Sen. Scott Wagner in “Last Week Tonight” bit
Patriot News: Five tweets that explain Sunday’s pension reform vote
Patriot News: Pennsylvania’s public sector unions have called a strategic retreat on pension bill
Patriot News: Cumberland County commissioners reprimand clerk of courts, approve new policy on use of county time, resources
Lancaster Online: Reports: Pennsylvania native David Urban could be President Trump’s next chief of staff
Lancaster Online: Privatizing air traffic control? At Lancaster Airport, it’s been that way since 1999

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Budget-crunch carnival sounds fill Pennsylvania Capitol rotunda
Morning Call: Sands Bethlehem casino waging ad war against tavern gambling
Morning Call: Trump pushes air traffic control privatization championed by Pa. congressman
Reading Eagle: Kutztown schools budget expected to hold line on taxes
Reading Eagle: If Exeter Township sells sewer plant, how the money could be spent

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Proposed SCASD budget includes smallest real estate tax increase in 10 years
Centre Daily Times: Fair Districts PA promotes eliminating gerrymandering
Sun-Gazette: Transportation committee updated on progress
Sun-Gazette: Bill to rein in Pa. pension benefits on the fast track

Opinion
Inquirer: Pennsylvania public officials take gifts because they can
Inquirer: Give Philly libraries the resources they deserve
Inquirer: Former Pa. governors: Time for merit selection of judges
Daily News: Pennsylvania’s gambling addiction needs intervention
WHYY: Trump pulls out of Paris, but can’t cancel the future
WHYY: Crazed in a crisis: Trump’s preposterous and panicky tweets
The Mercury News: Making excuses for Islamic terrorism
Altoona Mirror: Gov’t shouldn’t touch our Social Security
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: White House sends a ho-hum message to haters
Patriot News: This is what states can do to fight climate change: Editorial
Reading Eagle: Editorial: Aim for productive response to climate deal decision
Tribune Review: Trump & the Paris climate accord: A cooler perspective
Post-Gazette: Decals for none: Scrap all city police ‘community support decals’