Casinos launch a new campaign against video gaming terminals, the House passed a poll-watcher bill, and Torsella reiterates no loans from the Treasury until the budget is passed..  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Pennsylvanians for Responsible Government Pushes Against VGTs in New Ad: Pennsylvanians for Responsible Government launched a new ad pushing for the House and Senate to not legalize video gaming terminals.

House Passes Poll-Watcher Bill in Response to Cheating Allegations: The state House passed a new poll-watcher bill allowing poll-watchers to cover polls across county lines.

Torsella: No Loans Until Complete Budget is Passed: State Treasurer Joe Torsella is maintaining his position that the state Treasury will not loan out money to the state until the full budget is passed.

Legislative Election Update
City & State: Skyscraper scion Rouse gearing up for run against PA Sen. McGarrigle
LNP: Dentist Gary Wegman to run for Congress again, becomes sixth potential challenger to Smucker

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Jobless workers worry Harrisburg’s forgotten their funding woes
State House Sound Bites: Could political strife hurt business prospects? Some say maybe.
State House Sound Bites: Dems short support to get severance tax to the House floor; will try again
StateImpact: Police say they don’t want to clash with pipeline protesters
StateImpact: Philadelphia plans to cut emissions from city buildings, buy all renewables
City & State: House lawmakers introduce bill to identify quality day care centers
Capitolwire: Ag Secretary Redding pitches dog license hike before House panel.
Capitolwire: Local gambling share solution elusive one year later.

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Paul Ryan to talk taxes at Delco factory Thursday
Inquirer: Test scores inch up in Philly, Pa. schools
Inquirer: At PHL, Puerto Rico-bound passengers pack medicines, fears
Inquirer: Testimony in payday-lending pioneer’s trial likely to start
Inquirer: GOP tax document reveals plan for massive tax cuts, preserves key deductions
WHYY: Lacking support to get Pa. severance tax to House floor, Dems will try again
WHYY: Pa. political strife could hurt business prospects
WHYY: $5.4 million in ads devoted to Philly soda tax battle this year
Philadelphia Tribune: Key senators prepare subpoena for Manafort to appear at hearing
Philly Mag: All Those Philly Soda Tax Ads Cost $5.4 Million This Year

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Students in Boyertown transgender lawsuit file appeal
Pottstown Mercury: Desperately needed supplies leave Philly for hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico
Pottstown Mercury: Congress at crossroads after another GOP health care failure
Bucks County Courier Times: Independence will remain in ACA marketplace, offer plans for Bucks, Montgomery residents
Bucks County Courier Times: Affordable Care Act survives; GOP concedes on last-gasp repeal try  
Delco Times: Middletown residents press council on pipelines issues
Delco Times: Spring City World War II veteran receives French Legion of Honor in Philadelphia

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Choice on Gateway equity director post defended
Tribune Review: Monroeville mayoral candidate claims politics behind VFD booting him
Post-Gazette: Improving struggling Pa. schools is education department’s ‘highest priority’ — but it will take time
Post-Gazette: Coming soon to a billboard near you: Marijuana ads
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania students score higher in math and English since last year
Post-Gazette: FBI data shows violent crime in Pittsburgh rose in 2016, echoing national trend
WESA: AG Shapiro Says Pennsylvania Equifax Fines Could Reach As High As $5B
KDKA: Pittsburgh Mayor ‘Taking Knee’ On Penguins’ White House Visit

Southwest
WTAJ: Local Korean War veterans honored
Beaver County Times: Beaver County awarded $300,000 federal grant to fight opioid crisis
Beaver County Times: Violent crime plateaus across state; increases reported by some local police
Altoona Mirror: McGinnis’ rant boosts recycling support

NEPA
Times Leader: County council members agonize over rec-funding recipients
Times-Tribune: Fourth DeNaples joins FNCB board
Times-Tribune: State releases PSSA scores
Standard-Speaker: One school district union approves new pact; second without a contract after tie vote
Standard-Speaker: Schuylkill to expand drug treatment court
Standard-Speaker: Barletta, energy head to tour mine

South Central
York Dispatch: Pennsylvania budget woes impacting school choice funding
Patriot News: Republicans do have an edge in Pa. elections. And Democrats are partly to blame
Patriot News: First two medical marijuana labs to provide ‘quality control’ approved by health department
Patriot News: Pa. liquor sales up in first year of wine at groceries and other customer convenience reforms
Patriot News: State exam scores show math continues to be a struggle for many students
Patriot News: Pa. state senator proposes resolution condemning National Football League anthem protests
WHTM: Department of Education releases 2017 Keystone Exam, PSSA scores
LNP: Pennsylvania Game Commission approves use of 4 electronic devices for waterfowl, dove and deer hunting
LNP: New program in Columbia aims to test every borough home, apartment for lead

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: 5 takeaways on the GOP’s tax reform plan
Morning Call: Lehigh County appoints new director of Children and Youth Services
Morning Call: Students in Lehigh Valley, state still struggle on rigorous standardized tests
Morning Call: New sentencing dates set for Fleck, Reading mayor’s aide in corruption cases
Reading Eagle: Berks lawmakers praise tax reform plan
WFMZ: GOP tax plan calls for sweeping cuts

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times:  Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited receives $160,700 grant
Centre Daily Times: Penn State professor murder trial scheduled  
Erie Times-News: Mayoral candidate wants to demolish, rehab 1,000 homes in 1,000 days

Opinion
Times-Tribune: Stop voter intimidation
Inquirer: From Ed Rendell to ‘Betsy Ross,’ we asked Philly luminaries to reimagine Independence Park
Inquirer: Why do we tolerate the mediocrity of Independence Park? | Editorial
Inquirer: Our editorial boards are meeting with Philly’s DA candidates. What should we ask them?
Tribune Review: Sessions & free speech: More clarity needed
Post-Gazette: Playing Plum: The school superintendent’s rich buyout is wrong
Post-Gazette: Discourse and distress: Sessions frankly addresses campus free speech
Patriot News: Sen. Mike Regan’s resolution condemning the NFL is a terrible idea | John L. Micek
Patriot News: In the fight against opioid abuse, forewarned is always forearmed | Editorial
Patriot News: Closing Three Mile Island would be a job-killer for the region – here’s why | Opinion
Patriot News: Want real tax fairness? Toss Pa.’s retirement income exemption | Opinion