We hope everyone survived yesterday’s quake no worse for the wear, and thanks to the York Daily Record for picking up our #earthquake tweet. We’re rededicating ourselves to writing every political story in PA like its our last.

No seismic shift here – Rep. Barletta made his re-election effort official this week, and Democrats showed that they’re ready to fight what is likely to be one of the biggest battles in 2012 (even after redistricting). Here’s the Times Leader article – about Barletta ditching town hall meetings – that started it all. Here’s an interview with his predecessor Paul Kanjorski taking about corporate power in government. And finally, here is neighboring NEPA Rep. Tom Marino practically offering a clinic on how to handle disruptive attendees.

Meanwhile, similar protests have followed Senator Toomey and several GOP Congressmen during recent event – and at their offices – around the state. Liberal groups from PA and DC are organizing handfuls of protesters, including many unemployed workers, against the freshmen Republicans.

It’s bad news for Vince Fumo. In a 2-1 vote, the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that U.S. District Judge Ronald Buckwalter failed to adequately explain why the former PA Senator’s 55-month sentence fell short of sentencing guidelines that prescribed at least ten years in prison.

Republicans are looking for a candidate, while Sen. Casey is looking for… interns. His fundraising office in Philly is seeking applicants. Looking to build your campaign resume without the hassle of an opponent?

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus is coming to the Harrisburg Hilton on September 16th to keynote the PA GOP’s $75/$100 per-plate fall dinner. He will headline a $250 per-person VIP reception immediately beforehand.

Some day soon, Rick Perry may be courting Republican voters in Pennsylvania. If so, he’ll probably be the only presidential candidate who has already lined up with PA conservatives on a definitive issue: antipathy toward the PA state legislature. We dug up his 2007 interview with Brad Bumstead of the Trib.

From the big surprise department, the state’s top election official came out yesterday in support of a GOP-backed effort to require voters to show photo identification every time they cast a ballot in Pennsylvania.

And finally, we note the passing of Joey Vento, 71. The founder of Geno’s Steaks, Vento became the subject of controversy when he mandated the use of English when ordering in his restaurant (on top of the controversy of Pat’s v. Geno’s). He died of a massive heart attack yesterday, while at work.

National
Stateline: Schools impose new immigration checks
Pennsylvania Senate Republicans News: Senate Education Committee Chair Comments on Resignation of Philadelphia Superintendent
Patriot News: State Department officials meet with host group’s delegates to mediate student labor in Hershey
Philadelphia Inquirer: PA Scientist Cleared of Climategate Accusations
UPI: Donations Roll In For Toomey and Supercommittee Members
Huffington Post: Interview with Paul Kanjorski re: corporate power in government
Citizen’s Voice: Barletta Keeps a Journal of His Time In DC
The Hill: Charlie Dent Co Sponsors Regulatory Relief Act
York Dispatch: Todd Platts Questions Obama on Israel Borders
AP, Tribune Review: Perry’s ideas for health care cloudy, beyond ‘Obamacare’ repeal
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: You broke my heart
Somerset Daily American: Rick Perry’s views on the Constitution get closer scrutiny
Beaver County Times: GOP using redistricting to shore up House majority
Early Returns: Governor, meet Marc

Statewide
Houston Chronicle: PA Students Now Required To Have Extra Vaccinations Before School
StateImpact: Corbett Remains Vague on Marcellus Shale Report
The Morning Call: Redistricting: Lawmakers set to redraw political map
Bucks County Courier Times: State Scraps Plan To Limit Health Care Program For Poor
WHYY Newsworks: Gov. Corbett Lauded For Funding Of Agriculture Fairs
Beaver County Times: Lt. Gov. Cawley Says PA Cyber Success Shows Need For School Choice
Pittsburgh Tribune- Review: PA Cyber meets standards under No Child Left Behind
Pittsburgh Business Journal: Mortgage Delinquencies Up In PA
Associated Press: Gov. Tom Corbett wants to borrow $500M from Treasury Department for state project
Philly Now: PA Rep.’s Hilarious Fracking and STD Statement May Be True
Tribune Review: Appeals court orders new sentencings for Fumo, Arnao
AP, Post-Gazette: Court throws out ex-Pa. senator Fumo’s sentence
Post-Gazette: Corbett administration backs voter ID requirement
Early Returns: Governor, meet Marc
Fox Philadelphia: Auditor General Looks At Ackerman Deal
AP, Johnston Tribune Democrat: Pa. congressman stops town halls, citing hecklers
PA Independent: Right-to-work Debate is a Numbers Game

Philly
ABC Philadelphia: Philly Officials Consider Earlier Citywide Curfew
Inquirer: Phila. Area Rocked By Va. Quake
Fox News: Nutter to Veto Council’s DROP bill
Action News: Geno’s Steals Owner Joey Vento Dies

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Judge wants Allegheny County to finish reassessments without delays
Post-Gazette: More drugs added to state’s banned list
Post-Gazette: Corbett administration backs voter ID requirement
Post-Gazette: Congress urged to adopt stricter emissions rules

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Zahorchak buyout to be audited
Reading Eagle: City’s pauper petition incomplete, judge says
WFMZ: Municipalities seeing cuts in community development funding

South Central
The Patriot News: Harrisburg School District teachers, staff are ‘nervous’ about changes as school year approaches
Patriot News: Harrisburg mayor’s final fiscal plan still threatens commuter tax
Patriot News: Harrisburg commuter tax protest to proceed tomorrow at city hall
Gettysburg Sun-Gazette: Congressman: Housing shortage needs action, not talk
Lebanon Daily News: Republicans plan trip to D.C.
Lebanon Daily News: Bath salts ban now in effect
York Dispatch: Platts praises Israeli missile defense, questions Obama stance on borders
York Dispatch: Platts expects ‘super committee’ to meet deadline

NEPA
Times Tribune: Supreme Court justice sympathetic to Nealon
Citizen’s Voice: Commissioners vote to fire deputy sheriff
The Times Leader: Pa. House panel plans area visit
Wayne Independent: Court nixes ex-Pa. Senator’s short prison sentence
Citizen’s Voice: Barletta speaks with Hazleton seniors
Pocano Record: Pike commissioner candidate says she’s cleared in investigation
Go Lackawanna: As town halls grow raucous, Barletta turns to roundtables
Times Tribune: Former judge Conahan will be sentenced Sept. 23

North By Northwest
The (Scranton) Times-Tribune: Pennsylvania Lottery surviving competition from casinos
Sun Gazette: Congressman: Housing shortage needs action, not talk

Opinions
John Dougherty, Philly.com: Local projects could restart the recovery
Patriot-News Editorial Board: LIHEAP program must clean up its act
Penn Patriot Blog: Cutting taxes can boost US economy
Pa Town Hall: What Obama Need to Say: I Was Wrong
Pa Town Hall: Out of Touch on the Economy
Investor’s Business Daily: Editorial: As Failures Grow, Obama Blames Others
Keystone Politics: “Slow Reader” Corbett Unlikely to Make Early GOP Endorsement
Lu Lac Political Letter: Barletta In
State House Sound Bites: Treasury loans sate construction money, Corbett says little on Marcellus report, federal officials involved in Hershey workers dispute
Centre Square, WHYY Newsworks: Imagine What Ackerman’s Buyout Could Have Bought For Kids
Philadelphia Inquirer Letter to the Editor: In defense of Ackerman
Philadelphia Daily News Editorial: Who paid for Ackerman to go?
Keystone Politics: Proposal to Close 7 Pittsburgh Schools Met with Yawns
Keystone Politics: Bi-County Health Department May Be Dead on Arrival
Philadelphia Daily News: Next: The college bubble?
Tribune Review: ObamaCare doldrums?
Tribune Review: Obama’s immigration policy gamble
Altoona Mirror: Officials escape penalties
Courier Express: This time, Specter makes sense
Sun Gazette: The Legislature: Can less result in more
Sun Gazette: Redistricting: Hopefully, the product is fair