Union affiliated groups target southeast Republicans over tax reform, a Brady campaign aide pleads guilty as part of the federal probe into Brady’s 2012 campaign, and the ups & downs from the week.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Union Affiliated Groups Target Southeast Republicans in Ads: SEIU and Save My Care PAC are running ads targeting Congressmen Ryan Costello, Charlie Dent, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Pat Meehan over the Republican tax reform plan.

Brady Campaign Aide Pleads Guilty in Federal Probe: Donald “D.A.” Jones, a top consultant to Congressman Bob Brady plead guilty to lying to federal agents in the FBI’s probe into Brady’s campaign paying off a primary opponent in 2012.

12/8 Ups & Downs: Metcalfe becomes a national story, McNeill wins the 133rd special election, Toomey is named to the conference committee for the tax reform bill, Pennsylvania’s credit score gets a bit of good news, and southeast Republicans have an uphill battle for 2018. See who made this week’s Ups & Downs!

Legislative Election Update
Pottstown Mercury: State Sen. Mensch to seek reelection in 2018
Beaver County Times: New Brighton Area School Board member Amy Fazio running for the 14th Legislative District seat

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Pension forfeiture expansion garners wave of support
State House Sound Bites: Episode 34: Why we need to talk more about gerrymandering
StateImpact: Lawmakers consider breaks for oil, gas in tax bills
StateImpact: Trump administration coal plan could have big impact on Pennsylvania
City & State: Winners and Losers for the week ending December 8
City & State: Public defenders try to solve the fuzzy math determining their budgets

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Inside the gerrymandering data top Pa. Republicans fought to keep private
Inquirer: He quit the White House but he still backs Trump
Inquirer: What the gay wedding cake case means for Philly laws protecting LGBT people
Inquirer: Gov. Wolf: State police OK to investigate itself in officer-involved shootings  
Inquirer: Local colleges blast GOP endowment tax proposal
Inquirer: FBI probing Philadelphia Parking Authority, sources say
WHYY:  Compelling closing arguments bring federal trial over Pa. gerrymandering to an end
WHYY: Lawmakers consider breaks for oil, gas in tax bills
Philly Mag: Pa. Auditor: Poor PPA Management Cost Philly Schools $78 Million  
Philly Tribune: Details in PPA audit anger Pa. officials

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Judge Gadzicki to retire after 36 years on the bench
Delco Times: Swarthmore mayor kicks off campaign for Dem nod to run against Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26
Delco Times:  Price hikes push health insurance shoppers into hard choices
Bucks County Courier Times: Former Pa. Gov. Ridge expects to leave rehab center soon after heart attack
Bucks County Courier Times: Feds say homeless rate falling, Bucks and Montgomery county advocates not buying it

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Survey for Plum School District superintendent search available
Tribune Review: Fawn Township works to fill rarely used 3-member board of auditors
Post-Gazette: Inside the gerrymandering data top Pa. Republicans fought to keep private
Post-Gazette: The socialists vs. the Costas: Upstart hard-left candidates challenge iconic old-school Pittsburgh political family
Post-Gazette: Following Kevin Acklin’s resignation, Bill Peduto is facing a crucial hire as his second term begins
Post-Gazette: Obituary: Edward P. Zemprelli / Former state senator was a mainstay for his Mon Valley constituents
Post-Gazette: School boards throughout the region elect new board members, hold reorganization meetings
KDKA: First-Of-Its-Kind Medical Marijuana Certification Center Opens In Downtown Pittsburgh

Southwest
WJAC: Insurance funding for thousands of kids in state still not authorized
Beaver County Times: Commonwealth Court gets lawsuits on gerrymandering, unbalanced budgets
Beaver County Times: Tracking the opioid crisis a challenge
Altoona Mirror: Senate candidates discuss US security, opioid crisis

NEPA
Times Leader: Plymouth council moves ahead with plan to close fire station
Times Leader: Luzerne County Council debates use of remaining $2.1 million windfall
Times-Tribune: New Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell plans for the future  
Times-Tribune: Cemetery bill could impact Scott Twp dispute
Standard-Speaker: Final budget on the agenda for Luzerne County Council

South Central
WITF: Changes on the way for standardized testing in PA schools
York Dispatch: York County water cleanup projects bag $845K in state grants
LNP: Latest standardized test reforms get an A+ from Lancaster County educators
LNP: Why doesn’t Pennsylvania have tighter regulations on security at gun shops?
LNP: Lancaster County’s congressmen vote opposite ways on concealed weapon bill
Public Opinion: Rep. Kauffman’s bill promises to fix Pa.’s unemployment system in 4 years
WHTM: $245,000 yearly pension plus $1.3 million more for convicted former lawmaker
Patriot News: FBI reportedly investigating Philadelphia Parking Authority; audit shows agency shortchanged city
Patriot News: Former Pa. Gov. Tom Ridge expects to be home in time for Christmas
Patriot News: York County files lawsuit against the opioid industry: Report
Patriot News: Pa. school pension costs: Still exhorbitant, but leveling off
Patriot News: ‘I support the state police’: Gov. Tom Wolf on troopers investigating their own
Patriot News: Not in my backyard? If you don’t want a casino, it’s speak now or forever hold your peace

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Rundown: Wolf wants officials who have been convicted to forfeit their pensions
Reading Eagle: Ron Southwick: Daryl Metcalfe lacks a winning hand
Reading Eagle: Pennsylvania now outlaws tethering dogs too long in the cold
Reading Eagle: Berks County commissioners poised to vote on $520 million budget
Reading Eagle: How Ben Nevius won judge race
Morning Call: Are small manufacturers being squeezed out of the Lehigh Valley?
Morning Call: DNC bonus flap leads to new Pennsylvania rules on state grants

North by Northwest
Bradford Era: Wolf, Causer, Scarnati agree on supporting children’s education
Erie Times-News: Erie County Council considers separate blight funding proposals
WJET: Wolf lights up Harrisburg
Meadville Tribune: Move to require students to take citizenship test heading toward Senate vote
Centre Daily Times: Proposed 2018 College Township budget doesn’t call for tax increase

Opinion
Patriot News: Trump’s Jerusalem declaration was just recognizing reality | Charlie Gerow
Patriot News: Trump’s trade on Jerusalem – security for a campaign promise – isn’t worth the cost | Kirstin Snow
Patriot News: A Christmas wish for Gov. Wolf, Legislature: Political courage in an election year | Editorial
Express Times: Toomey pushes one-college earmark | Turkeys and Trophies
Express Times: Attorney general should investigate state police shootings | Editorial
Citizens Voice: Grow markets for hemp
LNP: Meeting behavior is a touchy subject indeed
Post-Gazette: Every penny counts: Following the (payback) money in state grants
Post-Gazette: Polluting politics: Evankovich’s petty idea for line item on gas bills
Post-Gazette: Protect our metadata: A Supreme Court privacy case for the digital age
Daily News: Report from Alabama: Can black voters sink Roy Moore?
Inquirer: GOP tax plan would cut jobs, increase tax burden, and raise insurance premiums for Philly | Mayor Kenney
Inquirer: Philly’s proposed bulletproof glass ban could get someone shot | Editorial
Inquirer: Parking Authority audits detail grand theft, education | Editorial
Inquirer: Let’s lower the barriers for young people with disabilities | Sen. Bob Casey
Tribune Review: Advance laws supporting sexual abuse victims