Good morning politicos, and welcome to the buzz.

This just in – Manan Trivedi announced he will seek a re-match against Rep. Jim Gerlach (assuming they still share a district). The doctor and Iraq vet was highly touted by progressives nationally last cycle, but fell to Gerlach by about 14 points.

Most people talking about endorsements and Mike Vick this week are referring to the Eagles QB’s renewed deal with Nike. But this morning, the All Star is in DC, endorsing a bill by lead sponsor Rep. Tom Marino. Marino’s bill will further crack down on dogfighting, so this is PR symbiosis.

NRCC Chair Pete Sessions told SWPA Republican leaders that the party is content with 2010 gains in PA, and aim to redistrict so as to firm up those new seats. Check out this and other bits of 2012 intel from yesterday’s closed-door meeting with Sessions and Rep. Tim Murphy.

Charlie Thompson over at the Patriot News took a break from bugging Linda Thompson’s office to check in on the 2012 Attorney General race. Cumberland County DA Dave Freed is inclined toward a run, he reports, while Dauphin DA Ed Marsico is not.

An interesting complication in PA-15. A new Democrat has revealed that he intends to challenge Rep. Charlie Dent, regardless of what last year’s nominee and heavily-sought recruit John Callahan decides to do. Lehigh County Dems Chairman Rick Daugherty will persist in a race against Dent no matter what the Bethlehem Mayor decides to do.

And the eco-group Greenpeace is going after Reps. Jason Altmire, Mark Critz and Tim Murphy for their support of, and from, the coal industry. Good luck guys… criticizing a pol in SWPA for being coal-friendly is about as effective as knocking elected officials in Maine for catering to lobstermen.

PoliticsPA Reports

Vick To Back Marino Dogfighting Bill
Eagles QB Michael Vick supports Rep. Tom Marino’s legislation to penalize those who organize or attend dogfighting events more strictly. The NFL All Star who went to jail for 18 months over charges of dogfighting will speak at a press conference Tuesday morning in support of Marino’s bill.

Intel From The Sessions-Murphy Round Table
A morning meeting with Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Allegheny) and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Rep. Pete Sessions offered a few clues about 2012 GOP plans.

Shale Commission Unanimously Approves Reccomendations, Final Report To Come On Friday
These recommendations include broad policy initiatives regarding zoning, modernizing the regulatory structure, and most notably, suggestions on impact fees and forced pooling.

Morning Call: Rick Daugherty To Challenge Charlie Dent
Colby Itkowitz over at the Morning Call has a nice scoop this afternoon – Lehigh County Democratic Chairman Rick Daugherty will challenge Rep. Charlie Dent in 2012.

Patriot-News: Cumberland County DA David Freed Mulling Run For Attorney General
Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed is leaning towards a run for the Republican nomination for Attorney General in 2012, according to a report published over the weekend by the Patriot News’ Charles Thompson.

National
AP: Santorum Asks NH Voters To Sacrifice For Campaign
AP: Santorum’s Latest NH Trip Spans State
Bloomberg: Republicans Pressing for a Balanced Budget Fail to Deliver Details on How
Inquirer: Penn Relays Are An Illegal Route To The U.S. For Some Jamaican Runners
PhillyClout: Sen. Toomey On Debt Limit
POLITICO: McCaskill: McConnell ‘Lost His Mind’
POLITICO: Senate Fundraising Flashback to ‘05
POLITICO: Rick Santorum Picks A Fight With Michele Bachmann
Roll Call: When One Meeting Matters, and You Are Not in It
Roll Call: Debt Deal Moving On To Plan B

Statewide
Capitol Ideas: A quick warm-up
WITF: Governor Corbett’s communication skills and transportation funding
AP: New Pennsylvania website to list all revenue, expenditures
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania wind turbines deadly to bats, costly to farmers
PA Independent: Commission recommends higher vehicle and driver fees, gas tax increase
State Impact – NPR: John Hanger Vs. The New York Times
State Impact – NPR: Pa. Gas Drillers Ask NJ Governor to Veto Anti-Fracking Bill
State Impact – NPR: Drill Bits – Drilling boom or bust?
AP: Gov. Corbett’s Transportation Panel Sees Mix To Fund Highways And Bridges
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Expense reports offer insight into 2012 candidates
CBS News: Poll: Most Americans think debt deal should include spending cuts and tax increases

Philly
WHYY Newsworks: City Says Haddonfield, NJ Firm Submitted Fraudulent Invoices
Inquirer: Facial-Hair Rules Troubling To Philadelphia School Police
Bucks County Times: Solar panels set to generate power
Lehigh Valley Live: Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem collects more than $8 million from table games in June

Pittsburgh
Early Returns: Greenpeace hits Altimire, Critz, Murphy
Early Returns: Pgh laywer a top Obama fundraiser
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: Tree in the forest
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Ward chairman: Taking credit for paving ‘blew up in my face’

South Central
Patiriot News: Dauphin County Democrats have voter registration advantage, but not necessarily more at the polls
Patriot News: Parents welcome state law that recognizes stillborn babies with special birth certificates
WRTA: Will Shuster Vote to increase Debt ceiling?

NEPA
Times Leader: Santorum asks voters to sacrifice for campaign
Times Leader:  District seeking alternatives
Times Leader: A timeline highlighting Steve Flood’s political career
Citizen’s Voice: County watchdog was a true public servant
Citizen’s Voice: Issues confront Pa. same-sex couples who decide to marry
Citizen’s Voice: Community projects feel pinch in grant funds
Wayne Independent: Santorum’s latest NH trip spans state
Standard Speaker: State, federal agencies sharply divided on drilling oversight

North by Northwest
Eerie Times-News: Roll call: How Erie-area members of Congress voted
Go Eerie Campaign Blog: Santorum keeps on campaigning
Sun Gazette: Thompson, Marino split over lightbulbs
Sun Gazette: Wellsboro man wants stronger state oversight of gas industry

Opinions
Baer Growls: State Store Workers Bite Back
Commonwealth Foundation, Editorial: Government Transparency in Pennsylvania Becomes a Reality
Inquirer, Editorial: More than just a free ride
Courier Express, Editorial: State should sell its liquor stores; Legislature should work out details
Daily News, Editorial: The mystery of the superintendent’s contract
Bucks Local News, Editorial: ERG Salutes Governor for signing firefighter cancer presumption bill
Lehigh Valley Independent: A Contested Primary Will Be Good for LV Democrats
Lehigh Valley Independent: Charlie Dent’s Fuel Cell Pork
Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Editorial: Dems decry Obamacare?
Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Editoral: Another Obama tale exposed
Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Editorial: Vote with your feet
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Welfare disconnect
Philadelphia Inquirer: Specter: Room to negotiate in Syria, Libya