Santorum in PA: In Harrisburg, Santorum elaborated on the beat-the-odds narrative of his fourth-place finish at the Ames Iowa straw poll, discussed his three day swing through Pennsylvania, and gave a preview of what Texas Governor Rick Perry can expect to face when they cross paths during a debate. StateCollege.com has a thorough rundown of his visit to the PSU CRs.

Immigration Showdown: Yesterday and today, Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Majority Chairman Representative Daryl Metcalfe is holding two public hearings focusing on the “National Security Begins at Home” legislative package.

Be Careful What You Wish For: After pressure from left-leaning protesters, Senator Toomey has scheduled a public town hall in – drum roll – Coudersport!

Pressure Orie to Resign? KDKA’s Jon Delano has the scoop of the morning: GOP leaders are quietly weighing whether to ask embattled State Sen. Jane Orie to step down amid a new raft of legal charges.

Perzel to Plead Guilty: Former House Speaker John Perzel will plead guilty to charges of using taxpayer money for campaign purposes, reports Angela Couloumbis of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

National
Politifact: The Death Toll Attributable To IEDs In Afghanistan, As Presented By Sen. Casey
Politico (Influence Blog): Sen. Toomey Raising Cash While Simultaneously Serving On Supercommittee
Erie Times News: John Vernon campaigns for US Senate in Erie
Huffington Post: Rep. Van Hollen, Supercommittee Member, Hosting Fundraiser For Rep. Schwartz On Oct. 5th
Washington Post: Victory for Sen. Toomey As U.S. Government Backs Off Mandate For New Street Signs … See our story about Sen. Toomey’s fight to repeal the regulation
Fox News: Rep. Fattah Among House Appropriators Who Will Play Key Role In Hurricane Irene Recovery Funding
Talking Points Memo: Reps. Gerlach, Fitzpatrick, Barletta and Dent Among House GOP Targeted For Alleged Push To Weaken Unions On Threat Of FAA Shutdown
Washington Post: After Irene, FEMA Facing a Disaster of Its Own
Stateline: Schools Fill Budget Holes with Fracking Revenues
The Patriot-News: U.S. State Department Looking At Foreign Workers’ Host Agency in Hershey-Area Labor Dispute
Post Gazette: Feds cancel deadlines for better street signs
WNEP Channel 16: Left urges Obama to go big with jobs plan
Early Returns: Toomey Meets with Debt Caucus

Statewide
CBS Philly: Bankruptcy Rates With Cost Of Medical Care and Insurance
Stateline: Fajt back- Senate Democrats Return Experienced Member to Gaming Control Board
Phillyburbs: Former PA speaker John Perzel to Plead Guilty Wednesday
Daily News: A Peek Inside PECO’s “Storm Room”
Capitol Ideas: US Treasury Official Added To Fiscal Office
The Morning Call: State Store Revenues Up, Still Short
AP, Philly Burbs: Santorum Seeks Support, and Cash in Harrisburg
AP, Philly Burbs: Director Names for Pa. Government Fiscal Office
Times-Tribune: PA Study Shows More Modest Economic Impact From Shale Gas
AP, Erie-Times News: State Lifts Gambling Ban on Erie Real Estate Agent
Patriot-News Editorial Board: Irene Response in Pa. Commendable
Pittsburgh Tribune: Cameras at Construction Zones, Traffic Lights Touted For Safety
Tribune Review: Perzel to plead guilty in corruption case
Tribune Review: Sen. Orie hit with perjury, tampering, forgery
Tribune Review: Santorum seeks support, and cash, in Pa. visit
Tribune Review: Pressure on Pa. capital to develop a recovery plan
Beaver County Times: Director named for Pa. government fiscal office
State House Sound Bites: Perzel Plea Vindicates Corbett
Post Gazette: Metcalfe touts proposals to halt Pa’s illegal alien invasion
Capitol Ideas: Perzel to Plead Guilty on Corruption Charges
Capitol Ideas: House State Government Committee hearing bills aimed at halting illegal immigrants
StateHouseSoundBites: Political scientist says Perzel’s plea vindicated Corbett’s claim that corruption probe was fair
StateHouseSoundBites: Feds will pick up parts up storm tab, and other news clips from the capitol
StateImpact: PA schools fill budget cuts with drilling money
StateImpact: Corbett’s Commonwealth Secretary Praises Gas Drilling
AP, Citizens Voice: Pressure on Pa. capital to avoid takeover
Standard Speaker: Morresi scheduled to testify on state immigration bills
AP, Carlisle Sentinel: Pressure is on Harrisburg to develop a recovery plan
AP, Carlisle Sentinel: Director named for Pa. government fiscal office
Harrisburg Patriot News: Analysis: Perzel’s expected plea will add fuel to fire of voter skepticism
Harrisburg Patriot News: Harrisburg mayor: Hurricane Irene storm cleanup winding down

Philly
Philadelphia City Paper: Ackerman Message Machine Uncovered
Philly.com: Joseph Conti, One Great Idea
Philadelphia Inquirer: In Praise of Being Ready
Fox Philly: Fox 29 Looks Into Waiting For Ackerman
Fox Philly: Fox 29 Investigates PECO Meters
CBS Philly: Mayor Nutter Says It Was All About Safety When Asked If the Media Overhyped the Hurricane
Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau: Audit: Wine Kiosks Cost Taxpayers $1 Million
Philadelphia Inquirer: Hurricane Irene and the City Fund Balance
Philadelphia Daily News: Polls Survey the Damage, & Spin
Philly Clout: Irene Shut Down City Controller’s Office Monday

Philly Suburbs
Philadelphia Inquirer: Neshaminy Teachers Start Fourth Year Without Contract
AP, The Mercury: Montco, Chesco On List For Federal Assistance After Hurricane
Daily Times: Sixty-Six Years Later, A Military Funeral For Upper Darby
Montgomery Media: Congressmen Review Local Area In Irene’s Wake
Montgomery Media: Study Shows Questions Remain About Economic Benefits of Macellus Shale
Philadelphia Inquirer: Rafferty To Make 2012 AG Run

Southwest
Indiana Gazette: July jobless rate up to 7.6 percent in county
Altoona Mirror: Unemployment edges up in 5 counties
Tribune Democrat: Ballot measure on Pa. school consolidation tossed
Tribune Review(Fayette County): Tea party reflects nations health
Observer Reporter: City expected to vote on $1000 payment of legal bill

Allegheny News Outlets
Tribune Review: Marcellus Shale boom brings jobs, but how many?
Post Gazette: Orie’s attorney calls new charges vindicative maneuver
Early Returns: Raja event Thursday
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: Day 2 of Pa swing

South Central
Chambersburg Public Opinion: U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster makes a federal case of Fayetteville boy’s abduction in Egypt
Lebanon Daily News: State Rep schedules town meeting
Gettysburg Sun Gazette: Toomey gets feedback
Gettysburg Sun Gazette: Group barred from Toomey event

NEPA
Times Tribune: Governor sees NEPA devastation
Times Tribune: Presidential candidate Rick Santorum visits Old Forge
The Times Leader: Irene’s fickle ways surprise Barletta
Citizens Voice: Mundy urges governor to include county on list

Leigh Valley
The Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Unemployment Rate Creeps Up
Times News: Lehighton Council of the CCCC set meeting

North By Northwest
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Toomey gets feed back on job growth
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Unfunded flood protection study causing uproar

Opinion
Big Tent: Bachmann Downplays God
Commonwealth Confidential: Jack Wagner Disapproves of Wine Kiosks
Harrisburg Patriot News: Is there no better option than ending Congressional page program?
Shanin Specter, Inquirer: In matters of religion, they take it on faith

Blogs
Commonwealth Foundation: PA Students Score Comparably To France
Philadelphia Progressive Examiner: Congressman Bill Shuster’s Town Hall Sound And Fury
PA Progressive: Non Profits Form Citizen’s Marcellus Shale Group
PA Town Hall: Preserve Penn’s Woods with Public and Private Support
Lu Lac Political Letter: Cancer Survivor on Health Care Reform