Congressional Leadership fund launches a new TV ad in the PA-18 special election, a new LG poll finds the majority of voters are undecided on who to vote for, and Bartos completes the sweep of caucus straw polls.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

CLF Launches New Ad in PA-18: The Congressional Leadership Fund launched a new ad targeting Democrat Conor Lamb over his opposition to the tax reform law Republicans passed.

LG Poll: Majority of Voters Undecided in Democratic Lieutenant Gov Primary: In a poll conducted by Independence Communications & Campaigns 55% of likely Democratic primary voters are undecided on who they will vote for in the Lieutenant Governor’s primary.

GOP Caucus Meeting Straw Poll Results: Lieutenant Governor: Jeff Bartos completes the sweep of the six PA GOP Caucus straw polls.  

Legislative Election Update
Morning Call: Former Lehigh Co. executive backs Susan Wild in PA-15 race
SD-12 Correction: The Bucks County GOP vote was not the official endorsement of state Rep. Todd Stevens, the party’s executive committee will meet to finalize the vote and decide whether to endorse in the race.  

Statewide
StateImpact: Sunoco appeals DEP’s stop work order
Capitolwire: PA Supreme Court’s ‘opinion to follow’ finally issued more than 15 days after initial court order.

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Pa. Supreme Court releases gerrymandering opinion: 2011 map violates ‘free and equal’ elections
Inquirer: Pa. Gov. Wolf’s budget wish list: More money for schools, more money from drillers
Inquirer: Pa. Lt. Gov. Mike Stack’s legal bills top $100,000
WHYY: Pa. Supreme Court details violation of voter rights in full opinion striking down congressional map

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Senate committee to consider Erie federal judge nomination
Delco News Network: Governor’s budget proposal faces familiar GOP objections
Republican Herald: Schuylkill County legislators respond to budget proposal
Delco Times: Delco pipeline risk study committee reconfigures, tries to move ahead

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh City Council worries about financial impact of raising police retirement age
Tribune Review: Councilwoman urges Allegheny County Jail to end new inmate strip search policy
Tribune Review: Veterans across region, Pennsylvania support President Trump’s idea of a national military parade
KDKA: Pa. AG Opposes Trump Administration Proposal On Pooling Tips
WESA: Pennsylvania Redistricting Decision Gives Democrats A Boost
Post-Gazette: Pa. Supreme Court releases gerrymandering opinion, just two days ahead of legislative deadline
Post-Gazette: Out of office since October, Murphy still attracting controversy
Post-Gazette: Lt. governor’s legal bills eating into his campaign funds
Post-Gazette: Legislature passes bill addressing legal concerns about Pa. sex offender registration law
Post-Gazette: Neighbors use novel constitutional argument to try to cap shale gas drilling
Post-Gazette: Liberal groups push back on GOP tactics in special election

Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Morris Township officials worried about undermining at community center in Nineveh
Beaver County Times: Christiana loses two western Pa. caucus votes to Barletta
Altoona Mirror: Reade Township action may have violated state law
Altoona Mirror: Health insurance plans would save county money
Altoona Mirror: State Rep. Irvin announces re-election bid
Daily American: Local Republican lawmakers take issue with governor’s budget address

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Senators propose Eric’s Law to give prosecutors a second shot at death penalty sentence
Citizens Voice: Job seekers, students benefit from Wolf plan
Citizens Voice: Small business owners aren’t fans of proposed minimum wage increase
Citizens Voice: Pa. budget: What’s next?
WBRE: Governor Wolf Unveils Budget Plan: Will Severance Tax Pass This Year?
Times Leader: Local districts get nearly $3.5 million more in proposed state budget
Times Leader: Luzerne County election director monitoring redistricting impact on May primary
Standard-Speaker: The winners and losers in Wolf’s proposed budget
Standard-Speaker: NEPA school districts could see $7.7 million increase in education funding

South Central
Patriot News: A reluctant Pa. legislature settles in for a map-making cram session
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf bids to kill Hollywood Casino’s attempt to stop state from adding mini casinos
Patriot News: Pa. Supreme Court issues opinions in Congressional redistricting case
Patriot News: How about setting off a nuclear bomb to mine Pa.’s natural gas? It was considered
Patriot News: Harrisburg law firm acquires lobbying firm
WITF: Analysis of Wolf budget proposal
WITF: Pennsylvania redistricting decision gives Democrats a boost
York Dispatch: Effort to redraw Pa. congressional maps inches ahead in Harrisburg

Lehigh Valley
Express Times: Northampton County gets state support in fight against opioid abuse
WFMZ: Mayor Pawlowski: ‘I’m not a pay-to-play guy’
WFMZ: Eric’s Law to give justice for murder victims
Reading Eagle: Gov. Tom Wolf again goes for a natural gas tax
Reading Eagle: Gov. Tom Wolf backs away from merging four state agencies
Morning Call: Pennsylvania lawmakers working on congressional maps as clock ticks down
Morning Call: Day 12: Pawlowski trial to move to next witness after four days of campaign aide testimony
Morning Call: Cross exam highlights meager donations, promises unkept from Pawlowski co-defendant

North by Northwest
Bradford Era: Causer, Scarnati have concerns over proposed state budget
Erie Times-News: Deadline looms as Pa. lawmakers try to rework congressional districts
Erie Times-News: Erie County Council’s financial advisor ending service after 38 years
Centre Daily Times: Centre County posts lowest unemployment numbers in a decade

Opinion
Tribune Review: From our editorial board members: Reactions to Gov. Wolf’s address
Post-Gazette: Harrisburg harmony? Election looming, pols seek peaceful budget process
Altoona Mirror: Wolf not ‘kicking the can’
Inquirer: For Pa’s sake, Wolf and GOP must cooperate on budget | Editorial
Patriot News: Protests, politics, some school funding: 5 tweets that explain #PaBudget2018
Patriot News: Pa. Supreme Court should extend deadline for gerrymandering fix | Editorial