Our dispatch from PA Society weekend, Eakin is in trouble and Terry Madonna tackles the upcoming 2016 election. Plus, last week’s Ups & Downs! Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!

12/11 Ups & Downs: Mutinies, coups and a call for resignation. See who made this week’s list!

Dispatches from PA Society: Here is the rundown of rumors, rumblings and news from Midtown Manhattan.

Eakin May Be Suspended: The State Supreme Court Justice will face a hearing on December 21st.

Politically Uncorrected: The Matters of 2016: Four fundamental political factors are emerging from this maelstrom of political chaos, factors that collectively will determine who wins in 2016 – not just the presidential race – but also virtually all Pennsylvania’s statewide races.

Restrepo Confirmation Date Set: The federal judicial nominee will have his hearing on Jan. 11th.

Sunday Show Preview: December 13, 2015: We take a look at the Sunday morning political talk shows that will air throughout the state.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Democrats Turn Their Fire on Turzai
Capitolwire: Senate approves wine sales expansion bill
Capitolwire: The Fiscal Code – everything you didn’t know you wanted to know
Capitolwire: Education code would implement hybrid funding formula, but will House approve?
PLSReporter: House to Senate: Show me the money
PLSReporter: Dermody on budget: “There are parts we like and there are parts we don’t like” (VIDEO)
PLSReporter: Speaker Turzai on budget: “There are open issues in each and every area”
PAIndependent: Free-market group targets ‘slush funds’ buried in state budget plan

Philadelphia
Inquirer: After mosque desecration, a thank-you cookout
Inquirer: Seth Williams defends retaining 3 but also says he needs more information
Inquirer: Rendell to pols, business leaders: Kick in for schools
WHYY Newsworks: Fetterman towers at Pa. Society
Philadelphia Business Journal: Local retailer debuts gear to capitalize on Trump-Nutter feud
Philadelphia Business Journal: Mayor-elect Jim Kenney names 3 more administration posts

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Crime Victims Center suffers from state budget failure
Pottstown Mercury: Toroney prepares for final meeting after 17 years on Pottstown council
Pottstown Mercury: Area legislators weigh in on gun violence, control
Bucks Local News: Liquor sales reforms authored by Bucks County lawmaker pass State Senate
Daily Local News: Sixth year of no raised taxes in West Goshen

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Zappala, Fawcett competing for hometown edge in attorney general race
Post-Gazette: Millennials and religion: The great disconnect
Post-Gazette: El Nino keeps air warm, and snow removal budgets cool
Post-Gazette: Airport officials will travel to China in search of new routes
Post-Gazette: Medicare penalizing 8 hospitals in region for infection, incident rates
Tribune-Review: Probe raises red flags on spending by IUP dean
Tribune-Review: Few political outsiders find success in Oval Office, experts say
Business Times: U.S. Steel’s stock mounting a comeback
Business Times: Exclusive: Cybersecurity firm to increase staff by 50 percent in 2016

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Budget crisis leads to layoffs
Altoona Mirror: Pipeline project causing concern
Altoona Mirror: Logan keeps taxes steady
Beaver County Times: School district mergers a long-discussed issue in Beaver County area
Beaver County Times: Center, Potter townships working to resolve boundary issue

NEPA
Times Leader: Public gets first view of new Bear Creek Charter School
Times Leader: Pittston Geisinger Health System wins Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Honor Award for design
Times Leader: Transition from Tom Leighton to Tony George somewhat bumpy
Times-Tribune: Taxpayers fund county solicitor position for nonexistent minority commissioner
Times-Tribune: Comcast fires up Wi-Fi hotspots in Lackawanna County

South Central
Harrisburg Patriot News: Could this be the week? Protracted Pa. state budget talks to center on final issues this week
Harrisburg Patriot News: What does it take to get Ed Rendell and Tom Ridge to agree? Donald Trump
Harrisburg Patriot News: Ex-Chief Justice Castille on Kane’s Porngate prosecutor: ‘There will be a challenge to everything this guy does’
Harrisburg Patriot News: House Speaker Mike Turzai pumps the brakes a bit on Pennsylvania budget optimism
Harrisburg Patriot News: Not so fast: Pa. House crafts its own liquor reform plan as part of budget
Harrisburg Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf nominates former executive from his cabinet company to state liquor board
Harrisburg Patriot News: Senate-passed education bill likely to face opposition in the House
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle’s mayor set to make his mark nationally
York Daily Record: Budget impasse: Dems turn fire on Turzai
York Daily Record: Why Rep. Scott Perry helped block ‘No-Fly, no buy’
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Locals weigh in on Trump’s Muslim plan, gun control debate
Roxbury News: Pa Speaker Turzai – Friday December 11, 2015

Lehigh Valley
Capitol Ideas: Kathleen Kane coming to a movie screen near you
Capitol Ideas: Joe Sestak slams lawmakers for leaving budgets unfinished
Reading Eagle: Centerport council approves budget with no tax increase
Reading Eagle: Is the death penalty a dying sentence?
Reading Eagle: Household income in Reading increasing, poverty rate also rising
Express Times: Easton mayor wants to expand ambassador program to West Ward

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Penn State trustees set meeting on Wolf-opposed projects
Erie Times-News: Erie City Council expected to review budget next week
Erie Times-News: Pa. online voter registration wins state tech award
Erie Times-News: Erie County could run out of money because of state budget impasse
Williamsport Sun Gazette: House GOP adding cuts to budget plan

Opinion
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Ride, hide, fight: How about preventing mass shootings in the first place?
York Dispatch: OPED: Trump will not triumph
Express Times: Don’t hold up Pa. budget over four bottles of wine
Post-Gazette: Eakin must resign: A justice’s raunchy emails are supremely offensive
Post-Gazette: On the House: Ex-speakers don’t need a taxpayer-funded office
Tribune-Review: Lebanon Valley College’s ‘lynch’ debate: A moronic demand
Pottstown Mercury: Pa. Supreme Court Justice Michael Eakin should resign
Bucks County Courier Times: Reform Lite: Weak wine bill
Bucks Local News: Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick: The U.S. must stand with Israel and remain committed to the security, stability of the region
Daily News: Harrisburg stalemate part of design for tea party adherents
Inquirer: Give Hite the ball

Blogs
Keystone Politics: Will Tom Wolf Veto Fiscal Code Amendments Derailing Oil and Gas Rules?
PA Budget & Policy Center: Maybe the Left Hand of Pew Trust Needs to Talk to the Right Hand
Above Average Jane: Gordon Releases Environmental Policy
2 Political Junkies: Chuck McCullough Update (Hint: He’s At It Again)
Citified: Richard Negrin’s Second Act