Stephen Colbert talks about Rick Santorum’s “google problem.”

Dems pounce on Senator Toomey, who couldn’t back up a claim that the health care law has resulted in employee benefits cuts.

Larry Medaglia, Republican for the State Senate special election in Reading, is courting the district’s sizable Latino population in this TV ad – ¡en espanol!

PA’s Republican delegation in DC is trying to thread the needle between cuts their base wants, and funding the needs of their districts (or in Toomey’s case, our state).

PoliticsPA gives you the rundown of City Council races in Philadelphia. Meanwhile Tom Knox has a big announcement today, in the same hotel at the same time as Rendell is slated to endorse Mayor Nutter. Sources indicate Knox will defer on a run for Philly Mayor.

And Governor Corbett may “Cut!” the state’s film credit.

Good morning politicos, and welcome to the buzz.

PoliticsPA Reports

Stephen Colbert Talks Santorum (With Video)
Former PA Senator and prospective GOP 2012 Presidential contender Rick Santorum got some national press last night, but suffice it to say it’s probably not the type of “Colbert bump” he was hoping for.

PoliticsPA’s Philly City Council Election Preview
PoliticsPA brings you this handy reference on the upcoming Philly City Council races: who’s ahead, and who needs to worry. The field of challengers looks to be pretty much set as it is with a few exceptions.

New Hampshire Journal: Santorum is ‘Mitt Romney with a soul’
Rick Santorum has been listed among big names like Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee in a New Hampshire Journal preview of possible 2012 Republican candidates in the 2012 presidential primaries.

Toomey Flubs on Health Care Law, Dems Pounce
Senator Pat Toomey is backing away from a previous claim that the recent health care reform law has resulted in employers cutting benefits. Democrats from DC to Harrisburg are eagerly pointing it out.

Video: ¡Es Larry Madaglia! SD-11’s First Spanish Language Ad
Larry Medaglia, the Republican seeking to fill the seat of late State Senator Mike O’Pake, is making a play for the district’s sizable Spanish-speaking population. It seems the basic language of politics is universal, as the ad focuses strongly on los trabajos (jobs).

Pennsylvania School Districts Brace for Severe Cutbacks
Nearly three of every four Pennsylvania school districts spend more than they take in, a problem likely to worsen next year when $1.4 billion in federal stimulus money ends, according to state data.

Commentary: Why Politicians Should Be More Like Professors
David Perimutter, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and a professor at the University of Iowa, has published an interesting commentary in the Journal of Higher Education. “…The truth is that contemplative, thoughtful, evidence-seeking research, conducted for the purpose of finding answers rather than scoring political points, would better serve our country than puffery, posturing, and cant,” Dr. Perimutter writes.

Headlines
Pennsylvania Ave: Lehigh Valley GOP Congressmen Voted for Cuts After Voting Against Them
Early Returns: NDIC funding is a Test For Toomey
Commonwealth Confidential: Corbett Nixes Rendell Drilling Policy on State Lands
Tribune-Review: Staffer: Orie’s Office ‘Frantic” After Whistleblower Talked to Authorities
Delaware County Times: Bryan Lentz, Former Democratic Congressional Candidate, Gets New Job On Gun Violence Task Force
Delaware County Times: Federal Budget Passed by Republicans in the House Would Cut Airport Construction Grants, Some of Which Were Headed to Philadelphia
Delaware County Times: Tinicum Group Takes Up Fight With the FAA
Fox Philadelphia: Bill To Be Introduced That Would Cap The Salaries of Superintendents in Pa.
Newsworks: Pa. Dept. of Drug & Alcohol Programs to debut in July
PhillyClout: Rendell to Endorse Nutter for Mayor Today
PhillyClout: Tom Knox to Announce Tommorrow If He’ll Run For Mayor
Heard in the Hall: Knox not likely to run for mayor
ABC Pittsburgh: Political Post On Mayor’s Spokeswoman’s Facebook Questioned
Early Returns: Caliguiri and New R in Council Race
Early Returns: Harris Challenger Announces
Early Returns: Weaver parts with campaign manager
Patriot-News: Group continues pressuring Harrisburg Mayor Thompson
Reuters: Economist: Pittsburgh is the most livable city in the country
Post-Gazette: The enforcement of gun laws
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: ‘Passion’ at core of state universities’ overseers
Citizens’ Voice: Juvenile justice system turnaround
ABC 27 WHTM: Newly-formed group voices concerns about Harrisburg mayor
Heard in the Hall: Knox not expected to run, but what else is he up to
Post-Gazette: State trooper faces another civil lawsuit
Post-Gazette: Hempfield  man to run for Westmoreland County commissioner
Centre Daily Times: Pa. Teachers Threaten Strike During State Tests
KDKA: Could the Film Tax Credit be Eliminated in Pennsylvania?

Opinions
John Baer, Daily News: Corruption? It’s practically a state hallmark
Buzz Bissinger, Daily News: Sen. Brown’s Abuse Claim a Best-Seller in the Making
Post Gazette:  No sweat: County Council has no cause to inspect businesses
Citizens’ Voice: Ex-Judge got what juveniles didn’t: a fair trial
Citizens’ Voice: Time to pay up and stop borrowing
Chris Kelly, Times-Tribune:  Ciaverella antics put new spin on Victorian gloom, doom
Tribune Review Editorial: Corbett was right to scuttle Fayette Co. prison…
Tribune Review Editorial: …but wrong to sink more tax dollars into the Philly shipyard deal