Remember when Bob Casey was accused of “lackluster fundraising?” Neither do we. The Senator posted another strong quarter – $1.3 million raised, $3.1 million cash on hand – his second in a row over a million. Republicans’ window is closing.

A Secret Service report indicates that two of the documents in question in the Orie trial were forged.

And Sen. Arlen Specter returned home to Russell, Kansas over the weekend with former colleague Sen. Bob Dole (h/t Tom Fitzgerald). If you ever drive through Kansas and you’re not sure which town is Russell, it’s the one with the big sign with Dole and Specters’ names on it.

PoliticsPA Reports

Sen. Casey Has Strong Second Quarter Fundraising
Senator Casey ended the second quarter with $3.1 million on hand. In addition, he raised $1.3 million.

Herman Cain Spent Part of July 4th In Phila.
Yesterday Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain made a campaign stop in Philadelphia to speak at a Tea Party rally.

Tribune-Review: Ravenstahl’s Eroded Base Of Support
Mike Wereschagin of the Trib has an interesting piece this morning that looks at Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s political future. Could the Pittsburgh wunderkind be facing an abbreviated career?

National
Politico (Santorum below 1%): Mitt Romney well ahead, Michelle Bachmann up, WMUR poll shows
Politico: Rick Santorum marches on in Iowa on July 4
Roll Call: Bob Casey raises $1.3 million in 2nd Quarter
USA Today: Sen. DeMint: Tea Party is ‘great awakening” for GOP
Times Leader: Many factors could impact Casey’s chances

Statewide
Post Gazette: Secret Service: Two Orie Docs Forged
Early Returns: Drillers: $3.5M In Pa. Lobbying
Morning Times: Area Rep Praises state budget deal
Daily Collegian: Budget cut still worrisome

Philly
NewsWorks: Good-government Advocate Expects Shale Tax in Pa.
Philly.com: Specter, Dole Bigger Than Anvil Toss in KS Hometown
Philly.com: Another Republican Passes On Casey Challenge
Philly.com: Council to Tackle Redrawing District Boundaries
Philly.com: Nutter to Relaunch PhillyStat
Office of the Mayor: Mayor Nutter’s July 4th Speech
Philly Now: Capozzi Still Challenging 2nd Council District Election Results
Philadelphia Now: Daily Grinder: Temple Tuition Hikes Because of Corbett Budget
Philly Inquirer: Keeping PA house on even keel

Philly Suburbs
Levittown Patch: How 3 people too over Bristol politics
Burlington County Times: Mount Holly Township Council reorganizes
Daily Times: Fourth of July festivities bring out patriotic colors (With Video)

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Corbett to approve Washington County reassessment delay
Tribune Review: New Allegheny County revaluation far behind schedule
Tribune Review: Casey’s war chest reported at $3.1 million
Tribune Review: Eroded base of support could leave Ravenstahl vulnerable
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh won’t change distribution of development funds
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh oversight board hires accounting firm
Early Returns: Who will run against Bob Casey?
Early Returns: Drillers: $3.5M in Pa lobbying

Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley Live: Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan signs human relations commission into law
Lehigh Valley Live: Fourth of July traffic in Bethlehem ‘unacceptable,’ Mayor John Callahan says
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Bethlehem Civil Rights Ordinance – the sequel
WFMZ: Unusual traffic parade serenades hundreds
Lehigh Valley Live: Kazoos lead the way in Nazareth’s Fourth of July parade

South Central
York Daily Record: Postal Service asks Platts for help
York Daily Record: Bill could give firefighters workers compensation for cancer
York Dispatch: Agency raises size, number of college grants

NEPA
Times Leader: Assessing the damage
Times Leader: Many factors could impact Casey’s chances
Citizens Voice: Mundy opposes state’s ‘Castle Doctrine’ expansion
Citizens Voice: Tax holiday is good idea if done right
Standard Speaker: Official: Long wait for Munchak, Cordaro sentencings not unusual
Standard Speaker: Gun rights supporter favors Castle Doctrine
Pocono Record: Update: Fire destroys home on Cardinal Drive in Stroud Township
Mt. Airy Patch: State Budget Roundup: How Local Legislators Reacted
Times-Tribune: Abington’s park still waiting on word about six-figure state grant

North by Northwest
Erie-Times News: Ex-secretary of Springfield Township pleads guilty to embezzlement
Centre Daily Times: ACLU: Policy change partially settles lawsuit against State College school district. UPDATED.
statecollege.com: Same-Gender Domestic-Partner Benefits Granted in State College Schools
statecollege.com: Spanier: Scores of Penn State Job Losses Projected from Funding Cut
Daily Item: Ohio taking more fracking wastewater from Pennsylvania

Opinions
Baer Growls: OMG! An Idea
The Caucus (Romney in Pennsylvania): Best political quotes of the Holiday weekend
Morning Call letter: State budget cuts will hurt education
Butler Eagle Letter to Editor: Don’t leave ‘door’ open
American Chronicle: The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa., Watchdog column
Centre Daily: Tax increase gift from Corbett
Pottstown Mercury: Shared sacrifice not spread equally in new Pa. budget
The Intelligencer: Conflict of interest in the Legislature