The NRCC starts a two week ad buy on Houlahan as part of a national buy on single payer healthcare, and the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council endorses Judge Wade Kagarise.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

NRCC Targets Houlahan on Single Payer in Digital Ads: The NRCC is targeting Chrissy Houlahan as part of a national digital ad campaign on single payer healthcare.

Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council Endorses Kagarise: The Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council endorsed Republican Superior Court candidate Judge Wade Kagarise.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Wolf expresses confidence in stalled budget; House position hazy
State House Sound Bites: PA earned mixed scores in cancer treatment study
StateImpact: Bill could hurt thousands with old oil and gas leases, say advocates
StateImpact: Gov. Wolf: pipelines necessary to ‘live the life we want’
Capitolwire: PLCB’s ‘flexible pricing’ good for consumers, or cover to raise prices?

Philadelphia
WHYY: Gov. Wolf: pipelines necessary to ‘live the life we want’
WHYY: Pension costs dominate Pa. education conversation in Harrisburg, amid other competing priorities
WHYY: Pa. bill could hurt thousands with old oil and gas leases, say advocates
WHYY: Kenney endorses Krasner in race for Philly DA
WHYY: Pa.’s unfinished budget changes how it assesses revenue
WHYY: Protesters urge Pa. reps not to support immigration crackdown
WHYY: EPA caves the day after Pa. & other states sue over ozone
Inquirer: Gov. Wolf keeps low profile on Pa. budget
Inquirer: Dem Pa. treasurer extends $175M line of credit to pay state bills, urges GOP back to bargaining table
Inquirer: PUC rethinks license denial for Tuktuk sightseeing vehicle
Philadelphia Magazine: Mayor Kenney Endorses Larry Krasner in DA’s Race
Philadelphia Business Journal: Why Pennsylvania’s flawed property tax assessment system should be a legislative priority
Philadelphia Business Journal: Pennsylvania’s unfinished budget changes how it assesses revenue

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: U.S. Rep. Costello to hold Town Hall Aug. 7 at Pottstown High School
Pottstown Mercury: Pennsylvania state, local officials call for changes to DUI laws following medical marijuana legalization
Bucks County Courier Times: Date set for PA regulators to consider PFOA standard
Bucks County Courier Times: Following lawsuits, EPA moves ahead with smog rule

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Tax overhaul ‘ain’t going to happen’ if not by Thanksgiving, Meadows says
Tribune Review: Trump lawyer: No reason to think Trump’s under investigation
Tribune Review: AP: Mueller using grand jury in DC in Russia probe
Tribune Review: Netanyahu probe involves bribery, breach of trust, police say
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Treasurer, auditor general OK loan to stave off red ink
Post-Gazette: West Virginia governor switches from Democrat to Republican
Pittsburgh Business Journal: Jon Delano: Time for drawing line on gerrymandering
WESA: Wolf Expresses Confidence in Stalled Budget; House Position Hazy
KDKA: Governor Wolf: ‘Comfortable with Communications’ As Revenue Discussions Trundle On

Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Congress recessing, leaving much undone tensions with Trump
Altoona Mirror: Council approves federal HUD plan
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Trump talks coal, economy and health care at West Virginia rally

NEPA
Standard Speaker: Barletta rep denies ethics violation after Dems’ complaint
Standard Speaker: Ethics commission not behind conflict of interest law
Standard Speaker: Council inches toward Act 47
Times Leader: Democrats file ethics complaint against Barletta
Times Leader: Dupont man sworn in as new member of Pa. Game Commission
Times-Tribune: Exeter mayor denies accusation of racial profiling
Bradford Era: Pa. senators question nomination to Labor & Industry post

South Central
Patriot News: Barletta faces ethics complaint filed by state Democratic Party
Patriot News: GOP fires back at ethics complaint filed against Lou Barletta
Patriot News: Pa. plan for every student to succeed: Fewer standardized tests, more accountability
Patriot News: Pa. state treasurer calls short-term line of credit ‘extraordinary and without precedent’
Patriot News: Judge clears way for Atlantic Sunrise pipeline to begin in central Pa.
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf: ‘I believe that the House will support the Marcellus Shale tax’
LNP: PUC agrees to rethink its denial of Tuktuk Lancaster’s application to give city sightseeing tours
LNP: PUC suspends 17.8% Columbia Water Company rate increase, pending investigation

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Feds back in ‘Gasland’ town to test water, air
Morning Call: Long-awaited new Borough Hall opens in Catasauqua
Reading Eagle: Special Counsel Robert Mueller using grand jury in Washington in Russia probe
WFMZ: Cities baffled as Jeff Sessions targets them on immigration
Express Times: GOP congressman Lance tells town hall of standing up to Trump

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Pennsylvania state treasurer OKs short-term line of credit
Centre Daily Times: Ex-cop, councilman, mayoral candidate pleads to harassment
Centre Daily Times: Candidate’s paperwork rejected over photocopied signatures
Erie Times-News: 34 days without a complete state budget

Opinion
Times Leader: Our view: Wilkes Barre City borrowing only fixes half the problem
Citizens Voice: State needs comprehensive tax reform
Tribune Review: Retail-price cash grab: The ‘consumer-last’ Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
Post-Gazette: Pay for service: State budget needs local payment for state police
Post-Gazette: Title bout: Barletta vs. Casey
Observer-Reporter: Hidden taxes in Pennsylvania’s budget will hurt consumers
Inquirer: Philly’s course uncharted in journey to fight opioid epidemic
Bucks County Courier Times: Recipe for costly trouble
Patriot News: If Pa. Dems want to win – they have to solve their Philadelphia problem | Joel Mathis
Patriot News: Laurel Pipeline reversal is a rotten egg, not a golden goose for Pa: Opinion
LNP: Moonlighting lawmakers should be a concern to Pennsylvania taxpayers