Ames, Shmames. Rick Perry handily won a Luzerne GOP straw this weekend as a number of PA activists are gearing up to support the Texas Governor.

Bonusgate Update: Three of the ten Republican officials currently charged with using taxpayer resources to fund campaign efforts will plead guilty this week.

A week after targeting U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire for his vote against the Cut, Cap and Balance Act, the National Republican Campaign Committee will launch a robocall critical of U.S. Rep. Mark Critz’s support for economic policies the NRCC believes are “punishing middle class families.”

Corbett concluded his NEPA kayaking trip, but got a little static from the local and statewide press.    Over the three-day NEPA river tour, Corbett paddled the waters from Mehoopany, Wyoming County, through northeastern part of the state, into the Susquehanna River and ended up in Wilkes-Barre.

Former Sen. Specter is not optimistic about progress from the debt Supercommittee. WHYY Newsworks reports that the longest serving U.S. senator in Pennsylvania’s history isn’t impressed with the “super committee” assigned to reducing the national debt.

National
AP: Judge Won’t Move Pa. Party Bias Suit After Voting
WHYY Newsworks: NRC Accepts Limerick Nuclear License Renewal Application
CBS News: Ed Rendell – “It’s going to be Hillary” in 2016
Politico: Rick Santorum: Rick Perry sounds like John Conyers

Statewide
AP: Gov. Corbett Defends Energy Stance
AP: Website To Track Shifting Pa. Legislative Maps
Times-Tribune: State Sen. Blake’s Legislation Addresses Gas Mortgage Issue
Capitol Ideas: Quote of the day
Capitol Ideas: Three Aides To Plead Guilty In “Bonusgate” Probe
Capitol Ideas: Rendell Talks Transportation On “Maddow.”
Capitol Ideas: Tuesday Morning Coffee: Kiss Those Woods Goodbye, Bambi
State House Sound Bites: Perzel’s pension
StateImpactPA: PennFuture Responds To Walker’s Forest Comments
StateImpactPA: Ranges Resources Files Court Challenge Against Allegheny County Township’s Drilling Regulations
StateImpactPA: Pennsylvania Environmental Council “Dismayed” By Call For Increased Drilling in State Forests
StateImpactPA: Susquehanna River Basin Commission Joins Twitter
StateImpactPA: Corbett Official Wants To See More Drilling In State Forests
StateImpactPA: Corbett’s Commission Revives Push For Private Water Well Standards

Philly
Fox Philadelphia: Top Philly Official On Tax Delinquency List
Heard In The Hall: Council To Pass Redistricting By September 22nd

Philly Suburbs
Courier Times: Website To Track Shifting Pa. Legislative Maps
Philly Burbs: Range Resources Challenges Pa. Town’s Ordinance
Pottstown Mercury: Montco Commissioner Says County Is In Fine Fiscal Shape

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Range Resources challenging South Fayette drilling ordinance
Post-Gazette: Official suggests drilling under most Pa. forest land
Post-Gazette: Guilty pleas expected in Perzel corruption case
Post-Gazette: Marcellus driller sues South Fayette over limits
Early Returns: Top Dem: Shale Boom Spreading STDs
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: What Ron Paul Said
Early Returns: New Raja plan due Thursday
Early Returns: 1st Guilty Plea in Perzel case
Post-Gazette: 3 to plead guilty in Bonusgate

Southwest
WJAC: Website To Track Shifting Pa. Legislative Maps
Tribune Democrat: NEW – Range Resources challenges Pittsburgh suburb’s ordinance
Observer Reporter: Pennsylvania table games revenue in July highest to date
Observer Reporter: Range Resources files challenge to South Fayette ordinance

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Authority lifts warning, says manganese levels normal
Reading Eagle: Reading weighing purchase of Hillside Pool site
Express-Times: Bethlehem councilwoman alleges ‘political payback’ in cut to non-profit agency
Express-Times: GreenCycle recycling facility earns Hunterdon County approval
Express-Times: Williams Township Supervisor Fred Mebus withdraws from election

South Central
Patriot News: Steelton Students Walk To To Make Up $1.1 Million Cut In State Funding
Patriot-News: 3 Republicans To Plead Guilty In Pa. Legislative Corruption Case

NEPA
Times-Leader: Ciavarella Defense Wants Cash
Standard Speaker: Commonwealth Court Vacates Order Against Schuylkill County Controller
Daily Review: State Reps. Pickett and Baker Announce Local Arts Funding
Times Leader: House panel, in W-B, looks at drilling
Times Leader: Cordaro seeking new trial
Times Leader: Plea to cut Luzerne council nears ruling
Citizen’s Voice: Prosecutors file lien against Ciavarella
Citizen’s Voice: UGI will distribute Marcellus gas to customers
Citizen’s Voice: Unemployment group wants to talk to Barletta about job creation
Citizen’s Voice: Two candidates bow out of general election races

North By Northwest
Public Opinion: 3 charged in carjacking of N.E. Pa. mayor
Sentinel: Bloom sets ‘town hall’ meeting at Big Spring center
Patriot News: Iowa straw poll gives native-son Pennsylvanians Ron Paul, Rick Santorum traction for 2012 presidential election
Patriot-News : July best month ever for PA casinos
Patriot News: More Steelton students will walk to school this year to make up $1.1 million cut in state funding
York Daily Record: York council OKs renovations for new city hall
York Daily Record: Tobacco firms sue FDA over new graphic warnings

Opinions
PhillyNow: ‘Green’ Energy Programs Being Dismantled, Piece-By-Piece
Times-Tribune, Editorial: High Court Opening Its Digital Door
Baer Growls: Supercommittee Cash
PhillyNow: Is Tom Corbett the “Worst Governor ever”?