President Obama’s speech last night on Afghanistan has drawn tepid support from PA politicos (Republicans and Democrats alike). Check out what the delegation had to say about Obama’s timeline for withdrawal.

In this week’s Chief of Staff Spotlight, we present Jordan Clark of Rep. GT Thompson’s office.  Clark is a man who heeds his own advice – namely, “Don’t fill out questionnaires.”

Republicans legislative leaders met with Governor Corbett throughout the day yesterday, but no one let anything slip about a possible budget agreement. Senate Leader Dominic Pileggi said that tomorrow is the deadline for a “handshake agreement.”

Senator Jeff Piccola’s bill for a state takeover of Harrisburg’s finances is one step closer to law. Complaining that the City Council’s public process to deliberate on the Act 47 plan is taking too long, and considering the possibility that the City may pursue bankruptcy, Piccola aims to transfer operational control to Dauphin County and the state.

The editorial page of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review picked up our report on conservative murmurings about a challenge to Rep. Tim Murphy – and endorsed them. Never fond of unions, the Trib blasted Murphy’s “long history of coddling organized labor.”

PoliticsPA Reports

PA Politicos Respond to President’s Afghanistan Speech
President Barack Obama delivered a speech last night outlining his plan to withdraw armed forces from Afghanistan. Here is how the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation (and a few other PA politicos) responded.

PoliticsPA’s Chiefs of Staff Spotlight: Jordan Clark
We’ve chosen at random, and this week we present Jordan Clark, Chief of Staff for Rep. GT Thompson (R-Centre). Clark is a man who heeds his own advice – namely, “Don’t fill out questionnaires.”

Rep. Schwartz Guest Of Honor At US-Pakistan Friendship Day
Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz spoke at the 19th annual US-Pakistan Friendship Day in D.C. last night, hosted by the Pakistani American Congress. The group is an umbrella organization of several Pakistani-American organizations in the US.

Rep. Marino Pushes Bill for Pill Pushers
U.S. Rep. Tom Marino this week introduced legislation to change antitrust law in order to allow independent pharmacies to unite and negotiate better prices for prescription medicine.

Welcome to Twitter, @GovernorCorbett
Governor Corbett joins a group of Pennsylvania politicians to have joined Twitter in the past few months, but his history with the service is a bit more complicated than most.

Pa.’s Best Political Blogs
In case you missed them yesterday, here are Pennsylvania’s best political blogs.

National
Early Returns: Sen. Casey Pushes Afghan Pullout
Pennsylvania Ave.: Toomey and Others Up The Ante On Debt Limit
Pennsylvania Ave.: Toomey’s Rich, But Other Senators Are Much More Rich
Politico: Forty Groups Unite to Block Debt Ceiling Hike (Pat Toomey Signs On)
Roll Call: GOP Freshmen to Score NRCC’s Patriot Cash
Roll Call: Last-Minute Frenzy for Campaign Cash
Washington Post: Obama Drawing Down Afghan War (Casey Pressing For Shift In Mission)
Washington Post: Santorum Along With Other GOP Candidates Pay Dues for Utah’s First In-The-South Republican Primary Day
National Journal: The GOP Redistricting Advantage
Political News: Sens. Casey and Toomey Introduce Legislation to Honor Victims of 9/11
Media Newswire: Federal Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Prevent the Theft and Abuse of Pets

Statewide
AP via Patriot News: Budget talks go down to the wire
Commonwealth Confidential: Senate Dems Offer Impact Fee Proposal
Commonwealth Confidential: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Quorum
Carlisle Sentinel: Pa. lawmakers move to stop Harrisburg bankruptcy
Gettysburg Sun Gazette: New law makes it easier to shoot intruders
Tribune-Review: Judge Dismisses Day Care Death Lawsuit Against Pa. Regulators
Philly Inquirer: Corbett and legislators meet throughout day on budget

Philly
Heard in the Hall: What Will Mayor Nutter Do With The DROP and Sick Leave Proposals?
Philly Clout: Karen Brown Gets campaign advice from John Street
Philly Inquirer: Senate Dems offer shale impact fee proposal
Philly Inquirer: Cristie hears cheers and boos for his pension and benefits plan
Philly Inquirer: Two PICA members may reject Nutter’s spending plan because of the cost of the CROP program
Philly Inquirer: Sam Katz is doing strange things at PICA (updated with comment from Katz)
Philly Now: SEIU holds love park rally for state employees; trashes Corbett, American foreign policy
CBS Philly: Local politican reacts to Obama’s Afghanistan plan
WHYY Newsworks: Philly council set to pass budget with tax hikes for schools

Philly Suburbs
The Mercury: Pa. Supreme Court overturns county ethics policy
Philly Burbs: Pa. Supreme Court bats Montco ethics rules
Associated Press via Daily Times: Corbett joins budget meeting of GOP leaders
Daily Times: ‘No-Tax’ pledge at heart of state budget debate
Bucks Local News: Bucks County Commissioners working on settlement agreement policy
Manteca Bulletin: Pennsylvania’s former legislator calls for revenue

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Doctors: Highmark-UPMC Fight Imperils Public
Tribune-Review: Suspicious Vehicle Found Near Courthouse
Post-Gazette: Council Opposes Historic Designation for Civic Arena

Southwest
WJAC: Local Magistrate Pleads Guilty To Harassment, Back On The Bench
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Three Mile Island emergency sirens to be tested
Observer Reporter: Reassessment moratorium bill passes committee
Observer Reporter: Feds probing Allegheny County Jail, but mum on why

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Pennsylvania westerly wind blows toxins away (to New Jersey)

South Central
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Franklin County area residents share views on Obama’s plan to bring troops home from Afghanistan
Chambersburg Public Opinion: David S. Keller spent most in Franklin County commissioners’ Republican primary election campaign
Lebanon Daily News: Elco Oks property tax hike
Gettysburg Sun Gazette: Taxpayers’ bills in East Lycoming to go up too

NEPA
Times Leader: Munchak resigns via letter to commissioners
Times Leader: Officials nailed on 26 counts
Times Leader: DEP removing hazardous waste from abandoned Duryea factory
Citizen’s Voice: Parents, kids rally for full day kindergarten
The Times Tribune: Reaction: Voters can erase ‘black mark’ left by Cordaro and Munchak
Standard Speaker: Bill expands Sunday liquor sales
Standard Speaker: Federal mining office to close
Wayne Independent: WHSD adopts budget with 4.29% tax increase

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Museum asking townships for funds
Statecollege.com: WPSU Sees Seven Layoffs in Penn State Cuts; ‘Incredibly Painful,’ Manager Says
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: New law makes it easier to shoot intruders
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Montgomery raises millage rate by 0.92
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Taxpayers’ bills in East Lycoming to go up too

Opinions
Tribune Review Editorial: Targeting Rep. Tim Murphy
Baer Growls: Obama’s Wars
Dave Davies, WHYY Newsworks Column: Will Lines At Polling Places Be As Long As Airport Security?
Daily Times Editorial: Execs get bailout; women get dismissed
Journal Register News Service, The Trentonian, The Mercury: Comparing RomneyCare to ObamaCare
New York Times, Editorial: Medicare is back on the hustings: Rick Santorum at the debate
Johnathan Bernstein, Washington Post: Brace yourself for a round of anti-gay talk from 2012 GOPers
Gettysburg Sun Gazette: Assessing facts of state education spending
York Dispatch: Sometimes it has to be about the money
Natural Resource Defense Council Staff: House Committee Launches Most Significant Attack on the Clean Water Act in at Least 15 Years
Daily News Column: John Baer: Taking $$ from both sides