Good morning, politicos. Here’s the buzz.

Smith released a new ad comparing his job creation record to Casey’s, and the AFL-CIO released a study saying seniors are more likely to not have a valid ID to vote in November.

AFL-CIO Study: Seniors More Likely to Lack ID: A new study released yesterday by the AFL-CIO says that nearly a quarter of a million seniors 65 and older in the state registered to vote do not have a PennDOT ID and would be unlikely to have any of the other acceptable forms of ID before Election Day.

Third Party Candidate Decries Fattah For Ballot Blocking: Independent challenger for PA-2 Jim Foster was granted a spot on the ballot last week, but only after he was denied access because he wasn’t the first Independent to file. Now he’s calling foul on incumbent Rep. Chaka Fattah, who Foster says created a “stalking horse” to keep him off the ballot.

Update: GOP Congressmen Taking Flak on Defense Vote: U.S. Reps Tom Marino and Lou Barletta were scrutinized last week after their vote for the 2013 defense bill that would cut nearly $2 billion from one of the area’s largest employers, Tobyhanna Army Depot. After days without response, Marino finally answered questions about the vote.

Smith Ad: Casey Created Jobs…In China (Watch Video): Tom Smith’s campaign released a new ad today comparing his job-creation record as a businessman to his opponent Sen. Bob Casey – who the Smith campaign says created jobs in China.

RNC Attacks Obama for “War on Coal”: The RNC launched a research release today, attacking President Obama for killing coal jobs, saying his plan to bankrupt and block coal “is doing fine.” The release targets 8 states, including Pennsylvania.

VotesPA Website Gets Upgrade, Twitter and Facebook Accounts: Secretary of State Carol Aichele announced yesterday improvements to the state’s VotesPA.com website, designed to disseminate information about the new law and its requirements. In conjunction, the state has begun outreach through a Facebook and Twitter account.

Legislative Election Updates
HD-93: State Rep candidate Linda Small (D-York) called on the state government to achieve net zero energy use by 2020, creating jobs, lowering utility costs, cleaning the air and confronting global warming – which small said is the most significant issue of our lifetime, and one of the most expensive for PA taxpayers.  “America just started a spectacular mission to Mars with an engineering triumph.  We put a man on the moon within a decade. Pennsylvania can use clean renewable energy and efficiency to end our dependence on the dirty energy causing global warming, including oil and coal.  We’ll create good jobs, lower our energy costs, and clean the air as well.” Small said. She cited projects like SEPTA and renewed a call on the PA legislature to end subsidies to oil and coal corporations. She is running against GOP candidate Ron Miller.

National
Slate: Paul Ryan’s Budget Numbers Just Don’t Add Up
Slate: What Does Paul Ryan Know About Foreign Policy?
Slate: How Governments and Telecom Companies Work Together on Surveillance Laws
Slate: The New Deal
USA Today: Romney campaign raises $7.4M with Ryan on board
USA Today: Biden to crowd: Romney will ‘put you all back in chains’
USA Today: Democrats tie Ryan’s Medicare plan to GOP opponents
New York Times: Utility’s Backing of Convention Tests Obama Fund-Raising Pledge
The Caucus: New ad attacks Obama on Medicare
Politico: Death of the high-minded campaign
Politico: Now it’s Obama vs. GOP Congress
Politico: In the age of ‘Mediscare’ which side is right?
The Hill: Ryan: ‘It’s irrefutable’ that President Obama is damaging Medicare
The Hill: Team Romney raises $7.4M off Ryan pick
The Hill: Team Obama confident Biden can take on Ryan despite new gaffe
National Journal: The Battle for Ryan’s Image
National Journal Hotline: Dem Polling Shows Potency of Ryan Attack
Washington Post: Can Romney and Ryan get their message past the Democrats’ attacks?
Washington Post: Do Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney disagree on climate change?

Statewide
PA Independent: Pension bills only address future hires, not $40B liability
State House Sound Bites: Links: PSU’s academic status in doubt and a push to vote by mail
State House Sound Bites: Questions about voter ID? Facebook us, state officials say
State House Sound Bites: House lawmakers review pension reform proposals
Capitol Ideas: GOP State House candidate critically injured in car crash
State Impact PA: Drill Bits: Gas Prices Going Up; Chambersburg CNG Station Put On Hold
State Impact PA: Bloomberg Finds Holes In FracFocus’ Database
State Impact PA: New Sunoco Pipeline Will Transport “Wet Gas” Products To Philadelphia
Capitolwire: Off the floor: When voters and DeWeese failed to move on in 50th, kudos to McGinley
Capitolwire: Bills to switch public pensions to private accounts won’t address pension debt, official says

Philadelphia
Daily News: Katz: City has money to pay for part of firefighters award
Daily News: State ramps up Voter-ID outreach
Inquirer: Romney campaign and related super PAC plans big TV ad drive in Pa. and 10 other states
Inquirer: Head of Pa. GOP applauds pro-voter ID finding
Inquirer: Area Democrats try to use Ryan against congressional incumbents
Inquirer: Many states’ Voter ID laws, including Pennsylvania’s, appear to have tie to same U.S. group
PhillyClout: Today’s DN: The Paul Ryan budget battle visits Philly
Phillynow.com: Green Party stays on ballot in Pennsylvania while Constitution, Libertarian Parties challenged
Phillynow.com: Daily Grinder: Almost 30 percent of Pennsylvanians are ‘obese’ and this is bad
Philadelphia Tribune: City leaders push for voter registration
Philadelphia Tribune: Local small business owners laud Obama
Philadelphia Tribune: Healthcare law making a difference to women
WHYY Newsworks: Voting ‘reform’ across ages

SEPA
AP: Casey, Smith tangle over sending jobs overseas
Delco Daily Times: Democratic candidate links Meehan to ‘Prosperity’ plan

Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review: Justice Joan Orie Melvin will wait up to 2 weeks for ruling on salary
Post-Gazette: Allegheny county judge to decide ‘shortly’ on separation of Orie Melvin, sister trials
Post-Gazette: Attorneys argue whether suspended Supreme Court justice Orie Melvin should be paid
Early Returns: Smith ad hits Casey on stimulus
Early Returns: On Ryan, Critz & Rothfus
Early Returns: DCCC robos Murphy on Ryan Budget
Early Returns: Today in Voter ID
Early Returns: Cross-border coal debate
KDKA:Defense Moves To Suppress Evidence In Case Against City Officer
KDKA:Pittsburgh Firefighters File Lawsuit Against City

Southwest
AP: Foes: Corbett order hurts environment
WJAC: Business as usual at Central Cambria School Board meeting
Observer-Reporter: Waynesburg sewage project moves ahead
Observer-Reporter: Former officer arrested
Somerset Daily American:Somerset County no longer has a Republican commissioner
Somerset Daily American: Somerset to start cyberschool

Lehigh Valley
Express Times: Easton hires firm to manage real estate in City Hall
Pennsylvania Ave: Meet the OTHER Smith challenging Casey
Morning Call: Senior voters know Medicare reform won’t hit them
Reading Eagle: Pitts calls Latinos essential to Reading’s future
Reading Eagle: Trivedi’s focus on improving health care

NEPA
Citizens Voice: County manager slashes funding amid $2.1M deficit
Citizens Voice: Going right with Ryan
The Times-Tribune: Pa. US Senate opponents tangle over overseas jobs
The Times-Tribune: Scranton Councilman Jack Loscombe’s fight against city in lawsuit toughens
Wayne Independent: Mayor frustrated by finances
Pocono Record: Biden’s ‘chains’ remark at campaign stop sparks controversy

South Central
York Daily Record: Fact the facts: election is a high-stakes bridge game
York Dispatch: State Rep. Perry announces town hall meetings
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Harrisburg debt: In some cases, taxpayers are paying to sue themselves
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Pennsylvania House of Representatives considering pension reform
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Cumberland County housing voucher program for low-income families to re-open waiting list after two years
Chambersburg Public Opinion: County office delivers millions to veterans
Carlisle Sentinel: Mechanicsburg students could be using new environmental classroom this fall

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Gov. Corbett to skip annual Ag Progress Days lunch
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Politician sentenced to special probation

Opinion
Tribune-Review: The furor over Fast and Furious
Post-Gazette: Romney’s choice: Rep. Ryan will bring a high-contrast campaign
Philadelphia Daily News Editorial: State Supreme Court has been downsized. That’s a problem
Philadelphia Inquirer Op-ed: On city budget, let’s get serious
The Courier Express: Keep voter ID law; effective date can be negotiable
Pottstown Mercury Editorial: Local U.S. legislators vote to support farmer drought aid bill
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Editorial: Government push back vs. transparency intensifies
York Dispatch Editorial: Hot enough for ya? Global warming is real

Blogs
The Liberty Blog: Sen. Pat Toomey: The Vileness of Philadelphia Leftists
Keystone State Education Coalition: “Middle-class American students who attend well-funded schools rank at the top of the world on international test.”
Lehigh Valley Independent: West Nile and the Bi-County Public Health Department
Lehigh Valley Independent: Paul Ryan’s Budget Increases Debt by $6 Trillion Over Next Decade Alone
Lehigh Valley Independent: What do we want to see from the county executive candidate?
Lehigh Valley Independent: Americans Agree: This is the Worst Congress Ever
NEPArtisan: Rmoneyan Set to Destroy America
2 Political Junkies: Voter ID of Last Resort News (& Just Say “No” to PA Voter ID Laws March)
2 Political Junkies: Yea, Facts Be Darned
The Lu Lac Political Letter: Marino and Health Care
Above Average Jane: Badey, Boockvar, and Trivedi on the Ryan Budget
Above Average Jane: Ice, Fire, and Voter ID
Keystone Progress: How the Ryan/Romney Budget Hurts Pennsylvania
Keystone Politics: Proposed Allegheny Air Toxics Overhaul Isn’t Strong Enough
Keystone Politics: Franklin County Dems Make Endorsements
Keystone Politics: Richard Trumka and AFL-CIO Slam Romney on Mine Safety and Black Lung
John Hanger: China Gets Cracking on Fracking: Good News for the World