Last week’s Ups & Downs, Fitzpatrick explains his vote to sue President Obama and our weekly round-up of gubernatorial news. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!

8/1 Ups & Downs: A great fundraising report, a mixed bag for the Toms and an omission of undetermined consequence. See who made this week’s list!

PA-Gov Round-Up: Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics: We take a look at the events of the last week in the state’s gubernatorial race.

PA-8: Fitzpatrick Defends Suing President on Party-line Vote: Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick explained the reasons why the Republicans in the House passed a resolution to sue President Obama.

Statewide
PA Independent: Week in Review: Governor’s race heats up summer months
PA Independent: Grand jury report adds extortion to list of Ironworkers alleged crimes
PA Independent: Pension reform, Philly school funding won’t derail lawmakers’ vacation
PA Independent: Philly schools to be ‘one-stop location’ for government handouts
State House Sound Bites: Corbett: “disappointed” cigarette tax vote postponed
Capitolwire:PLCB advertising sends ‘mixed messages,’ says Bloom.
Capitolwire:House calls off session next week; Philly cigarette tax bill officially stalled until September.
Capitolwire:Corbett ‘disappointed’ House canceled session. UPDATED
Capitolwire:Man gets prison for scamming $2.4 million from Comcast.

Philadelphia
The Inquirer: One toke over the line
The Inquirer: Outlook for 2015 mayoral race still hard to read
The inquirer: Corbett, legislators to meet on Phila. cigarette tax
Daily News: The hard truth about shrinking respect for the law
CapitolInq: Philadelphia-area Rs back GOP border bill
Phillynow: Green, Libertarian party hopefuls miss required signatures for ballot

SEPA
Courier Times: Financial experts: State pensions ‘unsustainable’
The Intelligencer: Having no pension a ‘significant disadvantage’ in retirement
AP: Self-described Robin Hood gets prison for scamming $2.4M from Comcast

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Clinton praises Trib publisher’s fight ‘for what he believed’
Tribune Review: Former President Clinton laments international crisis
Tribune Review: Pa. judges told to step away from cases involving campaign donors
Post-Gazette: Drillers did not report half of spills that led to fines
Post-Gazette: Complaints over electronic medical records increase
Pittsburgh Business Times: UPMC drops controversial surgical procedure

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Miners testify pollution could push coal jobs overseas
Beaver County Times: Vanport hosts Shell project meeting
Altoona Mirror: Audit: Van Zandt scheduling falsified
Altoona Mirror: Third-party hopefuls abandon bids to become state’s governor
Observer-Reporter: State appoints new court administrator for Washington County
Observer-Reporter: Pa. senator: Colo. trip included using marijuana

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Marino confronted by former House speaker who calls him ‘insignificant person’
Times Leader: Praying for the troops
Times Leader: Online security crucial for businesses of all sizes
Citizens Voice: Casey announces grant money for 2 fire companies
Citizens Voice: Stalled bill a mixed bag of apples, oranges

South Central
AP: Altoona VA workers say they falsified scheduling
The Sentinel: Department of Agriculture cracks down on seed libraries
Harrisburg Patriot News: Robert McAteer files as independent, will enter the fray in open representative seat in 102nd district
Harrisburg Patriot News: Corbett defends higher education adviser against ghost worker allegations with words and nameplate
Harrisburg Patriot News: Corbett is not switching horses in Pa.’s pension debate so far
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pa. Senate leadership looks to Treasurer Rob McCord for direction on Corbett vetoes
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pot, pensions, gerrymandering and Funyuns: Sen. Mike Folmer shares his thoughts with PennLive
York Daily Record: York mayor: City will not take homes in northeast neighborhood through eminent domain
York Dispatch: Report: As Pa. kids’ health rating slips, York strives to improve
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Pitts, Meehan back lawsuit against President Obama
Lebanon Daily News: Manan Trivedi courts Lebanon County voters

Lehigh Valley
Pennsylvania Ave: Meet the stars of Corbett & Wolf attack ads
Pennsylvania Ave: Rep. Charlie Dent: House should vote border bill before recess
WFMZ: Sen. Toomey wants faster road, bridge repairs after natural disasters

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Independent step closer to 3-way race
AP: Third-party hopefuls drop bids for governor

Opinion
The Sentinel: Our View: It’s time for a cyber truce
Harrisburg Patriot News: Here’s one good thing the Legislature can accomplish when it returns: Editorials
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Same old same old from Tom Wolf
Morning Call: VA still in no rush to provide benefits to veterans
The Inquirer: Enough stonewalling
The Intelligencer: State lawmakers leave work undone

Blogs
Keystone State Education Coalition: PA Ed Policy Roundup Aug 2: How about a “nameplate” for the School District of Philadelphia that says “Owned and operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania”?
Commonwealth Foundation: Philadelphia School Trends, 2002-03 to 2012-13
Pittston Politics: If Kelly runs, it’ll be independent & he’ll win
Pittston Politics: Cipriani doing all the right things
Bals Blog: Ethical? How About Responsibility
Lu-Lac Political Letter: The LuLac Edition #2707, August 3rd, 2014
2 Political Junkies: Jack Kelly Sunday
2 Political Junkies: Yep, We Did. We Tortured Some Folks