Toomey rejects the President’s SCOTUS nominee, Shapiro leads the AG cash race while Sestak and McGinty premiere new ads. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

PA-Sen: Toomey Reacts to Pres. Obama’s SCOTUS Nominee: Sen. Toomey might consider Merrick Garland, if another President picks him.

Shapiro Leading the Dems’ AG Money Race: The Montco Commissioner was given a huge boost by money left over from his 2015 re-election campaign.

PA-Sen: Sestak Premieres First TV Ad (VIDEO): The former Admiral goes back to military terminology in his premiere commercial in the 2016 contest.

PA-Sen: PA GOP Files FEC Complaint Against McGinty: The Republican Party continues to try get under the skin of Governor Wolf’s ex-Chief of Staff.

PA-Sen: McGinty Responds to Toomey SCOTUS Stance with TV Ad (VIDEO): The Democratic candidates are already blasting the Senator for opposing Pres. Obama’s nominee.

PA-BGT: Wolf to Veto $30B GOP Budget: Republican legislative leaders are hoping to put an end to the 9-month stalemate.

PA-2: Dwight Evans Gets Rendell’s Endorsement: The former Governor becomes the latest official to support the State Rep’s Congressional campaign.

PA-8: Santarsiero Releases First TV Ad (VIDEO): The Democratic Congressional candidate hits the airwaves.

United Mine Workers Back Zappala for AG: District 2 of the United Mine Workers of America are endorsing Stephen Zappala’s Attorney General campaign.

Legislative Elections Update

HD-20: A ballot challenge from State Rep. Adam Ravenstahl’s mother removed her son’s primary challenger.

The 20th district is located in Allegheny County.

HD-41: Democratic candidate Nick Selch has won the endorsement of Lancaster County Commissioner Craig Lehman and the Pennsylvania State Education Association Political Action Committee for Education (PSEA-PACE).

“Simply put, Harrisburg is broken,” Lehman said. “The State House appears unable or unwilling to put Pennsylvania first. Nick Selch will bring a citizen perspective to matters facing the Commonwealth. He understands that to address challenging issues requires commitment and compromise. You can count on Nick to focus on problem solving instead of partisan gridlock. For these reasons, I am pleased to support Nick Selch for the 41st House Legislative District.”

The 41st district is part of Lancaster County.

Statewide
Capitolwire: Wolf’s promised budget bill vetoes could run into problems
Capitolwire: Medical marijuana bill clears House, now back to the Senate
State House Sound Bites: Redistricting Reformers Steel Themselves For A Slog
PLSReporter: VIDEO: Dermody on budget: “Obviously this is wearing on everybody”
PLSReporter: VIDEO: Legislative work group focuses on redistricting reform
PLSReporter: Filling of PA high court vacancy in very early stages

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Kasich woos vote-rich Philly ‘burbs
Inquirer: Wolf vows to veto latest GOP budget bill
Inquirer: Toomey stands against Supreme Court pick
WHYY Newsworks: Debate bubbles up over Philly plan for sugary drink tax
WHYY Newsworks: Evans poses toughest challenge to Fattah’s re-election bid
KYW: Ed Rendell: John Kasich Is The Favorite To Win The PA Primary

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: House votes to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania
Bucks County Courier Times: School boards group seeks release of state funds while Wolf calls latest GOP-led budget ‘irresponsible’
Daily Local News: Hope dims in Phoenixville for $3M grant, PennDOT sets road work dates
Daily Local News: East Coventry school project has delay in bid schedule

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: State police commissioner wants new investigation of alleged cheating at academy
Post-Gazette: Kasich to remain on Pa. primary ballot
Early Returns: Wolfe withdraws challenges to Wheatley petitions
Tribune Review: Challenge to Kasich’s Pa. ballot withdrawn
Tribune Review: Mom’s challenge removes Ravenstahl challenger from primary ballot
Pittsburgh Business Times: The future of self-driving cars: 5 takeaways from a Senate hearing
Pittsburgh Business Times: Obama nominates Haywood to U.S. Court of Appeals
WESA: Before Flint, Lead-Contaminated Water Plagued Schools Across U.S.

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Tax bill sheds light on value
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Former Bishop McCort principal Salem: I was never told that Baker was a pedophile
Beaver County Times: House votes to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania
Beaver County Times: Beaver County layoffs a possibility if buyout program doesn’t succeed, officials say

NEPA
Standard Speaker: City council puts decision on mayor’s picks on hold
Citizens Voice: Disgraced former judge transferred to another prison
Citizens Voice: U.S. Senate candidate McGinty makes stop in Wilkes-Barre
Times Leader: More Luzerne County Democrats switching to Republican registration for the upcoming primary election
Times Leader: Democratic senatorial candidate Katie McGinty gets ‘real’ at Wilkes-Barre stop
Times Leader: Hazleton City administrative appointments at a stalemate because the council and mayor cannot agree on interpretation of law
Times-Tribune: Scranton 2014 audit finally completed
Times-Tribune: Medical marijuana gets OK in state House

South Central
Patriot News: Congressman Lou Barletta: “How many more Asher Potts are there?”
Patriot News: With growing Democratic support for Pa. budget closure bill, GOP leaders ponder veto override chances
Carlisle Sentinel: Wolf opens up door to ‘get some money’ to schools, universities
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle in March Madness bracket for “Strongest Towns”
York Daily Record: Local pro-Trump group wants to build network
Lancaster Intelligencer: Lancaster claims 7th annual health ranking in top 10 Pennsylvania counties
Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon Mayor Capello: State of City is improving

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Governments were forced to release a lot of interesting records last year
Reading Eagle: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission OKs 70mph speed limit
Reading Eagle: State Senate committee endorses plan for heroin task force
Express Times: House votes to legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Senate needs Sestak’s voice
Onward State: Pa House to vote on Penn State funding today
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Campaign turning point?
Erie Times News: Unemployment rate on the rise in Erie County

Opinion
Pocono Record: Harrop: Trump protesters should stay off his stage
Pocono Record: Make gun ownership society’s responsibility
Standard Speaker: A just end for a justice
Times Leader: Sound off to Harrisburg; tell lawmakers that school closures and other disruptions are unacceptable
Post-Gazette: Hostage standoff: Wolf and the Legislature harm the universities
Tribune Review: A scandal grows: Franciscan contempt
Daily News: Another GOPer not doing his job: Pat Toomey
WHYY Newsworks: Wolf, legislators, and school advocates must stand together for Pa. education
Patriot News: This is the one thing Bernie Sanders won’t be able to count on in Pa.
Patriot News: Booze privatization is a losing game for Pennsylvania
Morning Call: Candidates could learn from Michael Moore’s latest film

Blogs
Citified: Insider: How to Incentivize Development In Philly’s Overlooked Neighborhoods
Commonwealth Foundation: Wolf Threatens to Shut Schools with Budget Veto
2 Political Junkies: Donald Trump On Women