The IFO released its review of Governor Wolf’s proposed budget, the Ups & Downs from the week, and Pennsylvania Republicans push to counter the narrative of a Democratic wave in 2018.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

IFO Releases Review of Wolf’s Budget: The Independent Fiscal Office released its yearly analysis of Governor Tom Wolf’s budget proposal showing the potential impact of Wolf’s proposals over the short and long term.

4/20 Ups & Downs: The latest Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll brings good news for candidates, Metcalfe gets in the headlines again, and Lamb’s final primary challenger exits the race. See who made this week’s Ups & Downs!

Post-Gazette: Republicans in PA: Everything is fine: Look at polling, talk to Democrats or watch cable news and it sounds like a Democratic wave will undoubtedly wash away Republican strongholds in the government this November. But to Pennsylvania’s Republican party chairman — and to the two top GOP-endorsed candidates in the state — everything is A-OK. In their world of campaign messaging, the wave won’t be enough to flip chambers, their president is popular with voters and the only reason Democratic wunderkind Conor Lamb was able to pull off a Congressional upset in Trump territory last month was because he ran as a “Republican.”

Legislative Election Update
Pottstown Mercury: Forum for 4th Congressional District candidates set for April 29 in Pottstown

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: PA poll reinforces theory of Democrats’ 2018 wave
City & State: Political operative Bill Miller takes plea on tax evasion charges
City & State: Winners and Losers for the week ending April 20

Philadelphia
WHYY: Pa. poll reinforces theory of Democrats’ 2018 wave
WHYY: Amid licensing limbo, immigration advocates push to shut down Pa. detention center
WHYY: Amid Pa. opioid disaster, lacking ID still a barrier to treatment
Inquirer: Clinton stars as central villain in GOP’s midterm strategy
Inquirer: Eagles Super Bowl parade cost $2.27 million, with team and state chipping in
Inquirer: Ex-Allentown mayor asks judge to reverse conviction
Inquirer: Gun safety after Parkland: Here’s every idea the Pa. House has. Will any become reality?
Philly Mag: City Council Calls for Audit of Philly’s Skyrocketing Property Tax Assessments

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Group slams Gov. Wolf for supporting Mariner East 2 pipeline
Bucks County Courier Times: Gun control, public education major issues for 178th candidates
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks and Burlington environmentalists honored for protecting the Delaware River
Delco Times: Money flows into heated Dem 5th District Congress race

Pittsburgh
WESA: PA Poll Reinforces Theory Of Democrats’ 2018 Wave
WESA: GOP Plan To Impeach 4 Pennsylvania Justices Remains In Limbo
WESA: State Lawmaker Attacks Fellow Lawmaker As ‘Lying Homosexual’
WESA: State GOP Leader Contesting District Map, Urges Republicans To Stop Fighting Each Other
Tribune Review: Gun-toting crowd rallies in Greensburg for Rostraver officer, Second Amendment rights
Tribune Review: Western Pennsylvania municipalities see increase in salt use this winter
Tribune Review: $40K to $45K could be saved with sewage change, Harmar supervisor says
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Public Schools spending thousands on new marketing efforts
Post-Gazette: PWSA approves midyear budget increase as PUC oversight begins
KDKA: From ‘Touchy-Feely’ To ‘Lying Homosexual,’ Pa. State Rep Daryl Metcalfe’s Social Media Tirade

Southwest
Beaver County Times: State lawmaker attacks fellow lawmaker as ‘lying homosexual’
Beaver County Times: Christiana says 58 percent undecided in primary poll shows voters ‘looking for an alternative’
Altoona Mirror: Education bills near House vote

NEPA
Times Leader: Governor’s Cabinet in Your Community stops in Tunkhannock
Times Leader: Shapiro completes review of concealed carry reciprocity agreements
Wayne Independent: Rural broadband under debate
Times-Tribune: Scranton seeks grant for virtual reality police training
Standard-Speaker: Eviction city: Hazleton rates exceed region, state

South Central
York Dispatch: York GOP votes for work requirements, aims to fix ‘broken’ safety net system
LNP: Nearly 750 Lancaster County students have opted out of PSSAs this year
LNP: Federal agents ‘increasingly confident’ all dynamite stolen from Marietta pipeline site has been recovered
LNP: Peach Bottom Rep. Bryan Cutler could have a real shot at House majority leader
WITF: State Senate bill targets repeat drunk drivers
Patriot News: Mayor accused of soliciting prostitute says he was set up
Patriot News: GOP plan to impeach 4 Pennsylvania justices remains in limbo
Patriot News: Bloomsburg mayor arrested for patronizing prostitutes: police
Patriot News: State lawmaker attacks fellow lawmaker as ‘lying homosexual’

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Reading, West Reading nominated for business development funding
Reading Eagle: Paul Mango, GOP governor candidate, visits the Reading Eagle
Reading Eagle: State corrections secretary: Too many people in jail
Reading Eagle: Ron Southwick: Counties anxious about new voting machines
Morning Call: Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Wager stumps at Starlite Diner

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Roll Call: How our local representatives voted on key issues, past gun legislation
WICU: Parts of Erie Nominated for Opportunity Zone Designation
WJET: Governor Tom Wolf identifies eight areas of Erie as ‘opportunity zones’
Meadville Tribune: Workers comp prescribing rule change awaits governor’s decision

Opinion
Inquirer: Get the mud out; it’s past time to dredge the Schuylkill in Philly| Editorial
Inquirer: Public education shouldn’t have to rely on private money | Opinion
Tribune Review: Corporations can fill giving gap
Post-Gazette: A shot of racial awareness: Starbucks’ Philadelphia incident has opened eyes
Post-Gazette: A judge off track: McDaniel overreaches on rulings on sex offenders
Patriot News: In a truly epic rant, Pa. Rep. Daryl Metcalfe slams ‘liberal loser Democrat legislators’
Patriot News: Barbara Bush was a champion for literacy. Her example is worth emulating | Charlie Gerow
Patriot News: With Barbara Bush’s passing, a chance to think about America’s First Ladies | Kirstin Snow
Patriot News: The Pa. House should be ashamed of this cowardly end-run around the voters | Editorial
LNP: Pennsylvania’s appellate judges should be selected on merit, not by political party and not by geography