A boxer enters the political ring, we break down the fundraising battle between Naughton and Santarsiero while the DNC Convention team announces new hires. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

HD-38: Professional Boxer Enters Political Arena: Rod Salka will challenge Democratic State Rep. William Kortz.

PA-8: Q4: Naughton vs. Santarsiero Fundraising Breakdown: A deep dive on the fourth round of the Democratic battle.

2016 Democratic Convention Team Announces New Hires: The DNC added a handful of new staffers to their convention squad.

PA-8: Santarsiero Gains Bucks County Dems Endorsement: The State Rep. won the backing of the county party during their annual endorsement.

Zappala Starts 2016 with $500K COH: The Democratic Attorney General candidate releases his first fundraising report.

Shapiro Touts SEPA County Endorsements: The Democratic Committees of Chester, Delaware and Montgomery all recently voted to back Shapiro’s campaign for Attorney General.

PA-Sen: McGinty Wins Endorsement From SEIU: Services Employees International Union endorses Katie McGinty for U.S. Senate.

Legislative Elections Update

HD-51: Businessman Matthew Dowling will be attempting to defeat State Rep. Tim Mahoney and flip the seat for the GOP.

“Here at home, I have a proven record of helping to create jobs, developing a budget and controlling costs, and working to make our community stronger,” Dowling said. “I will bring these common sense, conservative skills to Harrisburg to address the challenges we face on vital issues like controlling taxes, attracting jobs, strengthening education, and more.”

The 51st district is in Fayette County.

HD-101: Republican Frank Ryan is entering the race to replace retiring State Rep. Mauree Gingrich.

“We are in a real fiscal crisis,” Ryan said of Harrisburg. “With the waste, fraud and abuse, and the pension crisis, the state, in my mind, is functionally insolvent now.”

The 101st district is located in Lebanon County.

Statewide
PLSReporter: Legislative leaders agree on potential revenue sources?
PLSReporter: Legislators seek to restore rural-area funding vetoed by Gov. Wolf
PLSReporter: Stilp creates “Fire Kane” PAC (VIDEO)
StateImpactPA: Low gas price cuts impact-fee revenue for Pa. counties and municipalities
StateImpactPA: Fracking in the forests: environmental groups ask for more public input
State House Sound Bites: Sidelined Official Was Subject of Anonymous Sexual Harassment Complaint

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Philly councilman yanks his much-derided music-licensing bill
Inquirer: CNN hires Nutter as commentator
Inquirer: Hello Iowa, this is Bob Casey calling for Hillary Clinton
Inquirer: GOP Rep. Petri drops out of Bucks County congressional race
WHYY Newsworks: US Rep. Chaka Fattah still trailing badly in money race
WHYY Newsworks: How you can connect to the Democratic National Convention
Philadelphia Business Journal: 4 takeaways on how business is bankrolling the 2016 election

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Natural gas income from Pennsylvania forests take big fall
Bucks County Courier Times: Lower Southampton board reaches consensus on public safety director
Delco Daily Times: Parkside eyes reducing the size of borough council
Daily Local News: Chester County Democratic Committee endorses Mike Parrish over Lindy Li

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Governor Wolf’s budget options limited
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh initiative wants city to own its role as birthplace of cybersecurity
Tribune Review: Former Pa. Gov. Ridge says he can’t vote for Trump as GOP nominee
KDKA: Steelworkers Union Ratifies 3-Year Pact With U.S. Steel
WESA: With Senate Candidate Close On Policy, Voters Look At Electability
Post-Gazette: Activist mounts campaign to stop Kane’s re-election
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh police arrest most wanted graffiti tagger

Southwest
Beaver County Times: State Sen. Guy Reschenthaler, state Rep. Mark Musito co-hosting open house
Beaver County Times: Suit to spur reassessment of Beaver County property moves forward; county files objections Monday
Observer-Reporter: Peters Township school District, teachers to exchange contract proposals

NEPA
Times Leader: Former state Rep. and Hughestown resident Tom Tigue remembered as ‘one of a kind’
Times Leader: State restores funding to WB Twp. volunteer fire department after internal changes made
Times-Tribune: Kane ouster not being done in vacuum
Times-Tribune: Scranton council tables contract with firm to review business tax collections
Pocono Record: Campaign cash: Toomey with edge; AG hopefuls accumulate cash
Pocono Record: Former Reading council president sentenced to 2 years

South Central
York Dispatch: ‘Paycheck protection’ bill moves past House committee
York Dispatch: Newberry Twp. man seeks 92nd House seat
York Daily Record: York County candidates file final 2015 reports
Patriot-News: Harrisburg council mulls $750K tab for snow removal; doesn’t object to LST hike
Patriot-News: Date set for AG Kathleen Kane’s criminal trial: Read order here
Patriot-News: ‘No misdeeds’ found in DA’s look at Manheim Township School Board practices, board says
Lebanon Daily News: City Council approves Business Improvement District

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Former Reading City Council president sentenced to prison on bribery charges
Reading Eagle: Reading City Council responds to mayor’s address
Reading Eagle: Reading City Councilwoman removed from Democratic Committee post
Morning Call: GOP attacks Katie McGinty on donors tied to energy, utility firms
Morning Call: Allentown controller vacancy goes to Councilman Jeff Glazier

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Ferguson Township considers ‘legacy’ affordable housing program
Go Erie: State budget stuck in ‘restart mode’
Go Erie: Public airs concerns about Unified Erie

Opinion
Observer-Reporter: Pennsylvania needs to increase pre-K funding
Times Leader: Let’s hear money-saving ideas for state government
Post-Gazette: Tough on cruelty: Pa. must stiffen the law on animal abusers
Patriot-News: State, federal efforts needed to bridge yawning gender gap
Inquirer: Philly Democrats’ family business
Daily News: Kenney’s Learning Curve

Blogs
Above Average Jane: Two Endorsement Notes
Lu-Lac Political Letter: Before the Voting Starts…..
Commonwealth Foundation: The Trouble with Medicaid Expansion
PA Budget & Policy Center: Understanding the Numbers in a Budget Crisis
Citified: Nutter Scores Another Job, As a CNN Commentator
Citified: Kenney Appoints NYC Soda Fighter to Lead Health Department