Did Somebody Say Malaise? A Frankin and Marshall poll out yesterday showed 53 percent of Pennsylvania adults believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, and just one-third of voters rate the job performance of President Obama or any given one of the state’s top elected officials as “excellent” or “good.” Meanwhile, voters broadly support both developing Marcellus shale, and taxing it.

Chief of Staff Spotlight: PoliticsPA is proud to present the 13th installment of our Chief of Staff Spotlight feature. This week, we talked to George McElwee, who has served as Rep. Charlie Dent’s COS since he was elected in 2004.

Mayoral challenger in Harrisburg: On the heels of Wednesday’s Harrisburg showdown, the city official who Linda Thompson once called, “that homosexual, evil little man” will challenge the Mayor in 2013, according to an email from his campaign committee.

Supercommittee Dealbroker: Politico has an interesting piece about how Senator Pat Toomey may end up playing a central role on the debt supercommittee – his willingness to reform the tax code could be key.

Marcellus Tax: The Pittsburgh Tribune Review published an article this week which offered a new explanation on why the Marcellus shale industry should not be subject to an extraction tax: citizens who have wells are paying more in income taxes.

And don’t forget to check back later for this week’s Ups & Downs.

National
Politico: Pat Toomey: supercommittee dealbroker?
The Atlantic: Super Committee Gets Ready For Its First Hearing
National Journal: Democrats, Including Rep. Altmire, Distancing Themselves From President Obama
ABC News: Democrats Release Video, Which Includes Rep. Barletta, Highlighting Angry Town Halls Or Lack Thereof
Stateline: Early Favorites Emerge For Next Race to the Top
Fox News: Palin, O’Donnell, Bachmann in Tea Party Tussle
Jewish Exponent: What Will Happen to Rep. Gerlach’s District In Redistricting?
Philadelphia Weekly: Rick Santorum Argues with College Students Over Stance on Gays; Calls ‘Time Out’
News Works: Toomey Looks for Change From Obama, Prepares for ‘Super Committee’ Work
WNEP Channel 16: Polls show lots of unhappiness with Obama’s performance
WNEP Channel 16: White House slashes 2011 deficit forecast

Statewide
Post Gazette: State economy struggling, report says
Post Gazette: Santorum calls Obama’s choice of speech date a “political trick”
Altoona Mirror: Illegal immigration could affect jobs
Altoona Mirror: Santorum hopes to rebuild middle class
Johnstown Tribune: Santorum upbeat: visiting candidate promotes jobs plan
Tribune Review: Governor announces grants for airport improvements
Beaver County Times: Corbett honors troops who serve in military
Beaver County Times: Corbett says he is waiting for action from capital
Philadelphia Daily News: Polls Show a Gay Embrace in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Daily News: Perzel Pension Peril?
Philadelphia Daily News: Poll: Voters Fed Up with Government
CBS Philly: Gov. Corbett Says Perzel’s Guilty Plea Speaks to His Own Integrity
CBS Philly: Support for Gay Marriage Reaches Half Way Point in Pennsylvania
News Works: One in 14 Pennsylvanians Carry Gun Permits
News Works: Pa. Lawmakers Mull Required Warning Lable on Cell Phones
Courier Times: State Residents Like Gas Industry, But Have Worries
PA Senate GOP News: Senate Panel to Hold Hearing in State College on Higher Education Issues
Capitol Ideas: What the numbers in the F&M poll say about voter sentiment
Capitol Ideas: Jobs, Economy top new Franklin & Marshall poll
The Morning Call: Toomey’s town hall meeting tame
State House Sound Bites: Sen. Piccola: City Council’s rejection of plan “reckless”
PA Independent: Annual utility reports will likely exclude Irene
State Impact: Alternate Shale Commission holds first meeting
State Impact: Schuylkill County Lawmakers Want to Boost Coal Production by Reducing Bonding Requirements
Times Tribune: Pennsylvanians down on political leaders
Times Tribune: Perzel plea bookends a mighty fall
Times Tribune: Poll shows Pennsylvanians backing same sex marriage
AP, Times Tribune: Some US immigration detainees win quicker hearings
Times Leader: Corbett honors troopers who serve in military
Times Leader: Irene victims about to face budget storm
Times Leader: Pashinski blasts Corbett on school cuts
AP, Standard Speaker: Corbett says he’s waiting for action from capital
AP, Standard Speaker: GOP: Orie document scanned in afternoon not late
Carlisle Sentinel: Court: Pa. judge violated state Constitution
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Corbett: No fresh aid for Harrisburg is imminent
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Corbett comments on John Perzel guilty plea
Patriot News: Pa. Sen. Jeffrey Piccola calls Harrisburg City Council’s rejection of a fiscal recovery plan ‘irresponsible and reckless’
Patriot News: John Perzel’s astonishing fall from grace
Patriot News: Pennsylvania lawmaker prepares legislation to take over Harrisburg

Philly
Daily News: Ackerman Says No More Interviews Unless She Likes You
Philadelphia Inquirer: Phila. Tax Assessors Not Required To Get Standard Certification
Philly Clout: Nutter Goes on Bloomberg TV to talk Infrastructure and Jobs
Philly Clout: Residents to Council: Show Us What’s Going On with Redistricting
Philadelphia Weekly: Another City Rally for Jobs That Aren’t Coming
CBS Philly: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Hold Philadelphia Hearing On Cell Phone Safety Labels
CBS Philly: Committee Meets to Discuss Neglect of Mount Moriah Cemetery
The Notebook: Children’s First Fun Gave Thousands On Ackerman’s Way In, Too

Philly Burbs
Burlington County Times: Burlington left out of Irene Disaster Declaration
Philadelphia Inquirer: New Hope and Change?
Courier Times: Bensalem Schools Begin Difficult Conversation
The Intelligencer: New North Penn Candidate Chosen For School Board Race
Daily Times: Haverford Officials Troubled By PECO’s Communication During, After Irene
Montgomery Media: Montgomery Township Board Addresses Snow Removal Rules, Audio Upgrades

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Raja proposes new county “department of innovation”
Tribune Review: Typos result in errors in Orie trial
Tribune Review: Public input sought on Armstrong election proposals
Tribune Review: Jobs, Finances emerge as bigger worry to Pa. voters
Post Gazette: Pittsburgh City Council to revisit parking decisions
Post Gazette: Out of class: putting a face on teachers who are victims of budget cuts
Early Returns: Counci, Mayor fight. City suffers
Early Returns: Perzel post-mortem
Tribune Review: U.S education chief lauds city schools

Southwest
Indiana Gazette: Blairsville-Saltsburg: New board member named
Daily American: Somerset county hazmat team receives state certification
Observer Reporter: weighing pros, cons of drilling

South Central
Courier Times: Recovery Plan for Troubled Pa. Capital Rejected
PA Senate Republican News: Piccola Calls City Officials’ Latest Actions ‘Reckless’ & Urges Governor To Enforce Law and Plan for State Takeover
Wall Street Journal: Harrisburg’s Fate Now In The Hands Of Gov. Corbett
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Franklin County Commissioners meeting agenda: Thursday, Sept. 1
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Franklin county expects to spend $1.7 million to $1.2 million on renovations to add a courtroom
Harrisburg Patriot News: Labor rights groups seeks broader J-1 probe following Hershey- area protests
York Dispatch: York’s Green Party organizes free ‘EnergyStock’ concert
Gettysburg Sun Gazette: Toomey to Wellsboro crowd: Reform vital

Lehigh Valley
AP, ABC Action News: Court: Pa. Judge Violated State Court Constitution

NEPA
Times Tribune: Union rallies outside Barletta Hazelton’s office
The Times Leader: Barletta pours out plan for COLA change
The Times Leader: Marino: Job growth area’s biggest issue
The Times Leader: Group puts Barletta on notice
The Times Leader: Mullery hears about issues
Citizens Voice: Barletta discusses plan for Social Security changes
Standard Speaker: Protesters accuse Barletta of ‘anti-worker’ agenda
Times News: Jim Thorpe Democrats slate meeting
Pocono Record: Spano’s criminal case heads to county court

Opinion
Patriot News: Perzel Hurts Integrity of Legislature
Centre Daily: Postal Service Needs Congress To Deliver – brittanny f
Philly Inquirer: Use Perzel To Spur Action
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Race and Economics
Carlisle Sentinel: Predicting 2012
Times Tribune: State parks must stay so
Times Tribune: Socialized disaster relief
The Daily Review: The law’s not broken, so let’s unfix it
Carlisle Sentinel: Opinion:  Predicting the 2012 election

Blogs
Seattle Examiner: Rep. Critz Calls For Investigation Of ATF In Wake Of “Operation Fast And Furious”
Penn Patriot: Fuel Standards Impact PA Consumers
Above Average Jane: Chester County Candidates
Young Philly Politics: Stop Arizona-Like Policies On Immigration
CasablancaPA: Let’s Make A Deal
Jon Geeting: Support for Gay Marriage Reaches 50% in PA
Two Political Junkies: Debunking Jack Kelly of Post Gazette