Good morning politicos, we hope you stayed cool this weekend. Here’s the buzz. The PAGOP kicks it up a notch, more on Obama’s visit to Pittsburgh – plus Jindal and T-Paw, and don’t miss Friday’s Ups & Downs.

PAGOP Kicks Off Field Push to Catch Up With Dems: The PAGOP and RNC are working to close the ground game gap. They opened field offices this weekend in West Chester, Johnstown and Harrisburg, which will boost both Mitt Romney and local Republican candidates.

Obama Blazes into Pittsburgh, Fires Up Crowd at CMU: President Obama made a campaign stop in Pittsburgh on a scorching Friday afternoon as a part of his “Betting on America” tour that ended at Carnegie Mellon. Obama highlighted his economic accomplishments during his first term and also laid out plans for a second term.

Republicans Criticize Obama Over Anemic June Jobs Report: Almost every Republican official and candidate reacted to the jobs report – a mere 80,000 added in June and unemployment unchanged at 8.2 percent – with criticism of President Obama.

7/6 Ups & Downs: It was a less than hectic week in politics, and here are those that stood out above (or below) the rest.

Jindal, Pawlenty Blast Obama Before Pittsburgh Stop: Republican Governors Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana blasted President Obama for what they called a string of broken promises regarding the U.S. economy during a preemptive rally in Pittsburgh Friday morning.

Legislative Election Updates

National
Politico: Five ways to kill Obamacare without repealing it
Roll Call: Boehner: voters need not love Romney
Roll Call: VP hopefuls include wealthiest, poorest members of Congress
National Journal: Foes of voter ID find ways to mute their impact
Five Thirty Eight: Three questions after the June jobs report
Washington Post: Obama then and now
The Hill: Health care mandate isn’t ‘largest tax,’ despite GOP claims
USA Today: Swing states poll: Amid barrage of ads, Obama has edge
USA Today: Obama eats his way through Ohio, Pennsylvania

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Links: Another redistricting challenge, privatization post-mortem, tsk-tsking the late-night budget
WITF: In light of Supreme Court ruling, PA health group urges state participation in Medicaid expansion
State Impact PA: Southeast Pa. Refineries Look to Marcellus Shale as a Savior
Capitolwire: DOC awards $292 million for prison health services, doesn’t privatize nursing services

Philadelphia
WHYY: Pa. businesses eligible for tax break to restore historic businesses
Inquirer: After city cries poor, arbitrators call foul
Inquirer: Civic groups urge delay in Pennsylvania’s Voter ID Bill
Philly Clout: Cyber school refutes state’s allegations
Daily News: Corbett signs bill to save city from property-tax appeals
City Paper: Gov. Corbett contracts with Romney fundraisers for PA Voter ID ad campaign
City Paper: A whiff of hot air when it comes to city cooling centers?
City Paper: This week in voting rights (or lack thereof)
City Paper: The five highlights – and low points – of Occupy National Gathering
Phillynow.com: Now, Pennsylvania Accoused of Violating Voter Registration law
Phillynow.com: Bill Intended to Discourage Hit-And-Runs Expected to Become Law After Push from Bicylce Activists
Phillynow.com: To ‘Occupy’ or to Patronize Cosi?
Phillynow.com: Daily Grinder: Nutter Calls Shooter ‘Asshole’ Again
Philly Tribune: Obama contributions down from 2008

SEPA
AP: Protesters lead to temporary shutdown of Pa. rig
Montgomery Media: Education component next likely step in Upper Salford’s sewage replacement plan
Montgomery Media: Rockledge council reconsiders signage ordinance
Pottstown Mercury: Juvenile killers could seek case reviews in wake of Supreme Court ruling
Pottstown Mercury: Officials: Majority of Pa. voters have valid photo ID
Pottstown Mercury: Phoenixville discussing plans to redraw borough’s four wards
Bucks Local News: Unemployment rate stays at 8.2 percent, 80,000 jobs added in June
Bucks Local News: Should Pa. sell its state stores?: Key Bucks lawmaker favors privatization, opposes bill to sell
Daily Local News: More than 5 percent of Chester County voters have no Penndot ID

Pittsburgh
Early Returns: WH eco advisor: no quick jobs fixes
Post-Gazette: U.S. unemployment rate unchanged; manufacturing, health care add jobs
Post-Gazette: Pa. state pension cost spike key in next budget
Tribune-Review: Despite weak jobs numbers, Obama touts his economic vision
Tribune-Review: Corbett skirts union skirmish
Tribune-Review: Pennsylvanians pay $131M a year for ‘unaccounted for’ natural gas
Tribune-Review: Southwest Pennsylvania Tea Party serves up warning: Get involved

Southwest
Daily Courier (Fayette County): Despite weak jobs numbers, Obama touts his economic vision
Daily Courier (Fayette County): Obama’s CMU stop to target W.Pa. youth
Observer-Reporter: Summer gas bill signed into law by Gov. Corbett
Observer-Reporter: Commissioners mulling appeal of PLRB ruling
Altoona Mirror: Tepid job statistics set tone for Romney, Obama
Altoona Mirror: Tax code changes to benefit area farms
AP: State accused of violating US voter registration law
AP: Evening News Brief; Judge: Scranton, must pay employees full wages
WTAE Lawrence County: Bethel Bakery ‘cookiegate’ returns with Obama visit

Lehigh Valley
AP: Pennsylvania accused of violating voter registration law
Morning Call: Obama talks middle-class jobs in Pennsylvania
WFMZ: How to gain a voter ID
WFMZ: Romney son to campaign for dad in Berks County

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Natural gas drilling impacting affordable housing
Citizens Voice: Budget signing not exactly on time
Citizens Voice: Drunken driving bill coincides with fatal hit and run
Citizens Voice: Lawmakers provide for salary/benefit hike in budget
Citizens Voice: New law curbs superintendent contracts
Pittston Politics: Setting the record straight on PA auditor

South Central
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Your share of county debt: $500
Patriot News: Voters like business sense but it has limits in governing
Patriot News: Support grows for easing Pennsylvania’s rules on selling beer

North by Northwest
Sun Gazette: Legislator fears plan for I-80 tolls may return
Lewistown Sentinel: Pittsburgh-area transit deal hinges on union pact
Lewistown Sentinel:Pa. township official pleads in ethics violations
Lewistown Sentinel: Pa. firefighter claims TV remarks cost him pay
Erie Times-News Campaign ‘12 Blog: 6.3 percent of Erie County voters don’t have photo ID
Erie Times-News Campaign ‘12 Blog: Pa. accused of violating US voter registration law
Erie Times-New Campaign ‘12 Blog: Eaton raises $83K for 3rd District race
Erie Times-News Campaign ‘12 Blog: Romney HQ opens in Erie
Erie Time-News Campaign ‘12 Blog: Erie’s English: Time for a change in White House
Erie Time-News Campaign ‘12 Blog: Two takes on today’s jobs report

Opinion
Wall Street Journal: Op-ed: America is already is Europe
Times-Tribune Editorial: Good for thee, but not for me
News Item Editorial: How much will Pennsylvania ‘pay’ for drilling success
News Item Editorial: Late-night votes mean legislature broke law, ran its own red light
News Item Editorial: Education tax credit benefits Lourdes
Daily Review: Expanding opportunities for children
Daily Review Op-ed: State budget with an asterisk
Pocono Record Editorial: Voter ID’s true agenda not so secret now
Express Times Editorial: Truth about Pa. voter ID law keeps getting uglier and uglier
Reading Eagle Editorial: Budget holds line on most taxes as well as expenditures
Tribune-Review:The Countrywide report: Discount dishonor
Tribune-Review: After the ObamaCare ruling: Tallying up the losers
Post-Gazette: Lost art: A partisan Congress does little on transportation
Chambersburg Public Opinion: PO EDITORIAL: Farming out responsibility, hard choices on Pa. roads
Patriot News: Criticism of Pennsylvania’s pro-competition policies rings hollow
Patriot News: State budget delivers 1-2 punch to Pa. Seniors
Patriot News: Voter ID numbers cause more questions
Patriot News: Nation has lost its principles under President Obama
Inquirer: Must head off election debacle
Inquirer: The Republicans’ really, really big lie
Inquirer: For Phila.’s next mayor, think outside the usual canvases
Philly Tribune: Beware of lies in health care debate
Philly Tribune: On facts, lies and Sarah Palin
Pottstown Mercury: Obama’s realpolitik drone strategy
Pottstown Mercury: Economy can’t survive any more tax hikes
Pottstown Mercury: The court’s message
Pottstown Mercury: Roberts’ dodge at heart of Obamacare decision
Pottstown Mercury: Towns should pay fair share for state police coverage
Observer-Reporter: Editorial: Here’s your budget, chipped in stone

Blogs
Keystone Politics: VoterID Ads and the Digital Divide
Keystone Politics: Corbett Awards State Contract for VoterID Ad Campaign to Romney Fundraiser
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: NorCo Council Sez NO to Easton Commuter Tax
Young Philly Politics: A Big Win on Payday Lending, at Least for Now
Keystone State Education Coalition: Will PA Students First PAC Pick Philly’s Next Mayor?
Keystone State Education Coalition: COMMENTARY: Shameless; just (expletive deleted) shameless
Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center: New Data Suggests Hundreds of Thousands Could Be Disenfranchised by Pennsylvania’s Voter ID law
NEPArtisan: Scranton: Become a Sponsored City
Lu Lac Political Letter: Jobs a factor
Lu Lac Political Letter: The Other Supreme Court Decision
Pennsylvania Progressive: News and Notes July 7, 2012
Keystone Progressive: Analysis: Opponents Of Health Reform Spent More On Ads Trashing The Law Than Obama Spent On Ads For President In 07/08
PennPatriot: Chief Justice Roberts’ rationale fatally flawed
2 Political Junkies: Obama CMU Rally Coverage…Until the Networks Got Bored
2 Political Junkies: On the way to Pittsburgh: Obama Campaign buys cookies from bakery that Romney dissed
2 Political Junkies: In Case You Missed It…
2 Political Junkies: Contrasts
Citizens Call: PA Reveals 9% of Voters Lack Most Common Required ID; Montco Election Board Announces Forum for Public Education
John Hanger: Powering America: The Top 5 Energy Producing States Deserve A Thank You