PA becomes a “toss-up”, a budget deal nears and the PA-2 special election is scheduled. Plus, last week’s Ups & Downs! Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

7/1 Ups & Downs: Budgets, subpoenas and the Waldorf. See who made this week’s list!

NBC Moves PA to “Toss-Up”: The network originally had the commonwealth as a “Lean Dem” state.

PA-BGT: Wolf Will Sign $31.6 Billion Plan: The Governor is waiting for a revenue package to be agreed on before putting pen to paper.

PA-2: Special Election Scheduled for November 8th: Governor Wolf sets the special election to replace Chaka Fattah on the same date as the general election.

Politically Uncorrected: The Unpopular Vote: Does popularity really matter?

Sunday Show Preview: July 3, 2016: We take a look at the Sunday morning political talk shows that will air throughout the state.

Statewide
Capitolwire: 2016-17 PA budget hits wall over revenues
Capitolwire: PA General Assembly floor action wrap-up for June 30, 2016
PA Watchdog: Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia helps 10,000 families
PLS Reporter: PA Weekly
StateImpactPA: Bill would limit Pennsylvania’s ability to regulate methane
StateImpactPA: Federal court rules FERC doesn’t have to review upstream impacts of LNG
State House Sound Bites: House parties appear locked on budget funding
State House Sound Bites: House leaders tout compromise, but still no final budget post-deadline
State House Sound Bites: Right-leaning organization calls Senate budget report “misleading”         

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Ready for DNC? Philly PD’s social-media guru is
Inquirer: Meet the Philly women who want to make more women stars in politics
Inquirer: The D.A. and the GOP part ways
Inquirer: Uh-oh! Company’s coming. Get those Philly homeless out of sight
Daily News: Meet the Pa. guy who’s running on the Prohibition Party ticket against Hillary and Trump
WHYY Newsworks: Greens, Libertarians win easier ballot access in Pa.
WHYY Newsworks: House parties locked on Pa. budget funding
WHYY Newsworks: More bang for the buck may await under Pa. proposal to update fireworks law
WHYY Newsworks: Gallup polls Americans on patriotism; court rulings on abortion, race; and Brexit
WHYY Newsworks: Philly relaxes permit restrictions for DNC protesters

SEPA
Courier-Times: Aqua PA and Horsham at odds over safety of water
Courier-Times: Northampton Supervisor George Komelasky passes away
Courier-Times: Pa. House OKs Murt-Roebuck resolution pushing for ex-Phillie Dick Allen’s induction into Hall of Fame
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown High alum raising funds for indie movie in town
Pottstown Mercury: Republicans in Pa. and across country will skip GOP convention

Pittsburgh
KDKA: With Budget Passed, State Legislature Wrestles Over Taxes To Pay For It
KDKA: Wolf To Sign Bill Requiring Insurance Parity For Chemo Pills
Business Times: Dickie, McCamey opens Los Angeles office
Post-Gazette: Judge eases ballot requirements for third-party candidates
Post-Gazette: Pa. legislators leave Capitol for holiday with no deal on how to pay for budget
Post-Gazette: Casey: Report VA bonuses to Congress
Post-Gazette: Libertarian Gary Johnson, toughening rhetoric, says Donald Trump is ‘clearly’ racist

Southwest
Tribune-Democrat: Williams, Stanton clash with council colleagues over sewer project, state grants
Tribune-Democrat: Gautier receives $1.4 million grant for rail and pedestrian improvement project
Altoona Mirror: New Blair County tax values hitting home
Observer Reporter: Belle Vernon board OKs budget, raises taxes
Beaver County Times: Beaver County Controller releases report that confirms county’s dire fiscal straits

NEPA
Standard Speaker: On-time audit is step forward in Luzerne’s credit
Citizens’ Voice: Pa. taxpayers subsidize gun background checks
Citizens’ Voice: Audit of fish license fees spurs debate
Times Tribune: Scranton mayor confident city on road to financial recovery
Times Leader: Pittston City adopts ordinance to fight against abandoned properties
Times Leader: Luzerne County Courthouse to host potential grand jurors

South Central
Patriot News: Water company schedules work to replace two water mains in Lower Paxton
Patriot News: ‘Significant structural defect’ in SEPTA regional cars could cause major commuter delays
Carlisle Sentinel: Harrisburg businessman will donate Hogestown church to citizens group
York Daily Record: VFW donates $5K to Hellam Township Police
York Dispatch: Hundreds attend candlelight vigil for Appell
Lancaster Era: 190,000 Lancaster County property values to be reassessed for first time since 2005
Lancaster Era: Local GOP officials won’t go to Republican National Convention
Lancaster Era: Robin Felty becomes Manheim Township’s latest superintendent
Lebanon Daily News: Millcreek Township 8th safest to live in Pa.

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Moore Township supervisor pulling for board expansion, end to working supervisors
Morning Call: Grass-roots fight over rising water bills
Reading Eagle: Berks County Agricultural Preservation Board plans celebration for fall
Expess Times: Hackettstown hospital closing maternity ward, report says

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Local school districts keeping kids’ brains sharp this summer
Centre Daily Times: Union members speak out as talks continue
Centre Daily Times: As rents increase, home buying carves a niche in State College
Erie Times: Millcreek zoning change would streamline process for reuse

Opinion
Patriot News: Who will spark the GOP delegate revolt?
Express Times: Pa. budget on time, but far from complete
Sun Gazette: News distortions can’t change truth about Benghazi
Post-Gazette: Superintendent Hamlet: Let’s see how the new city school leader performs
Post-Gazette: Sotomayor’s wisdom: The Supreme Court justice on police power
Inquirer: All Shore beaches should be smoke-free
Inquirer: Brexit wasn’t ‘Independence Day’ for Brits
Inquirer: Sanders: Party platform still needs work

Blogs
Keystone State Education Coalition: Schhol Funding: What one hand gives another takes away Keystone State Education Coalition: HB 530: Hite speaks out against state bill
2 Political Junkies: Shame on Trump for Advocating Torture. Shame on His Supporters For Agreeing With Him
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Have We Strayed From Our Original Declaration of Independence?
Citified: State House and Senate Send Spending Bill to Wolf