Greg Edwards enters the race for Dent’s open seat, the House returns to Harrisburg to work on the budget, and our readers think Danny Savage should be the Democratic nominee to replace Republican John Taylor. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Minister Enters Race for Open 15th District Seat: Democrat Greg Edwards, a minister in Allentown, announced his candidacy for the 15th Congressional district seat that Congressman Charlie Dent is retiring from next year.

Reader Poll: Savage Should Be the Democratic Nominee in the 177th State House District: A plurality of our readers think that Danny Savage should be the Democratic party’s nominee in the 177th state House district.

House Returns to Work on Budget: The state House returns to session, in part to try to finish the state’s budget by closing the $2.2 billion gap.

Legislative Election Updates
Post-Gazette: Austin Davis, top aide to Rich Fitzgerald, launches run for Marc Gergely’s State House seat
WHYY: Former reporter Fiedler running for Pa. State House, hoping to unseat Keller in South Philly

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Ralliers try to convince lawmakers to act on gerrymandering
State House Sound Bites: House skips expected budget vote; talks could drag into weekend
StateImpact: Landowners: Wolf suggested opening Delaware River Basin to gas drilling in 2015
City & State: House returns to session to begin budget balancing act
City & State: Fumo-connected nonprofit hoards millions skimmed from PECO customers
Capitolwire: House GOP lawmakers drop revenue plan vote, at least for now.

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Pa. agency leaders protest GOP plan to divert environmental funds
Inquirer: Protesters in Philly demand to see ICE plans for raids
Inquirer: Who speaks for Black Lives Matter?
Inquirer: Another deadline looms as Pa. House adjourns without budget-balancing plan
Inquirer: Report: Pa. towns hurting, ill-equipped to meet residents’ needs
Philly Voice: Sen. Toomey among handful of politicians meeting with Trump Tuesday to discuss tax reform
WHYY: New report on Pa. charter school growth finds “stranded costs” linger five years later
WHYY: Municipal distress getting worse in Pennsylvania, new data show

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County set to open virtual health clinic for veterans
Bucks County Courier Times: DRBC to consider potential gas drilling ban at Wednesday meeting in Newtown
Daily Local: West Chester plans ‘green curb’ extension plan

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Pa. lawmakers may have to work overtime on budget-funding plan
Post-Gazette: Pat Toomey among the senators to talk tax reform over meal with Donald Trump
Post-Gazette: Study: Pittsburgh and its universities aren’t leveraging full economic potential
Tribune Review: 5 state-run facilities for disabled adults could close if bill passes
Tribune Review: Daylin Leach says ReLeaf lawsuit could hurt medical marijuana program

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Event to mark end of Act 47 for city
Altoona Mirror: Cambria County Farm Bureau schedules annual meeting
Beaver County Times: Marshall to host Senior Expo in Chippewa

NEPA
Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre council discusses senior housing, Irem temple tax forgiveness
Standard Speaker: Luzerne council to consider bond refi, energy project
Standard Speaker: Bernie Sanders’ health care plan puts Democrats on the spot
Standard Speaker: Trump nominates Freed as new U.S. attorney
Times Tribune: GCMC to deliver babies again  

South Central
Carlisle Sentinel: Pennsylvania House GOP delays vote on budget-balancing plan
Carlisle Sentinel: Pennsylvania Legislature weighing changes to sex offender registry
Carlisle Sentinel: Stack to hold pathways to pardon events in Carlisle tonight
LNP: Left out of health debate, Appalachian poor seek free care
LNP: Judge tosses charges against Amtrak engineer in deadly Philadelphia wreck  
LNP: Edith Windsor who helped end gay marriage ban, dies at 88
Patriot News: As Pa. budget noose tightens, House Republicans report progress on deficit closure plan
Patriot News: Guess who’s coming to dinner? Pa’s Toomey among six senators set to dine with Donald Trump on Tuesday
Patriot News: Fiscal decay has accelerated in Pa municipalities: report
Patriot News: Moms Demand Action urge action on bill to bar gun possession by domestic abusers
WHTM: Toomey optimistic about tax reform post bipartisan meeting at the White House

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Federal judge dismisses lawsuit over Allentown’s PPL Plaza
Morning Call: Pennsylvania lacks money to pay bills due Friday, officials warn
Morning Call: Pat Toomey among senators expected at White House tonight to talk tax reform
Morning Call: After White House dinner, Pat Toomey hopeful on passing tax reform this year
Reading Eagle: Report: Pa. municipalities ailing in financial health
Reading Eagle: Pennsylvania agency claims some odd redactions
Reading Eagle: Manny Guzman off November ballot for Reading City Council
Reading Eagle: Pennsylvania House GOP delays vote on budget-balancing plan
Reading Eagle: Pennsylvania’s natural gas impact fee is renamed

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Budget deadlock drags on as Erie schools wait
Sun-Gazette: Pennsylvania House returns, with fight over $2.2 billion unresolved
Centre Daily Times: Centre County United Way kicks off 2017 fundraising campaign

Opinion
Inquirer: Gerrymandering and Pennsylvania’s democratic deficit
Inquirer: Lobbyists’ cozy relationship with Pa. pols often trumps public good
Inquirer: Pa. budget crisis created by a lack of leadership
Daily News: Meet the ‘Philly Central High grad’ who was really a Russian troll helping Trump win
Tribune Review: The DACA debacle: A better solution
Tribune Review: Marijuana myth busted
Post-Gazette: Bad bus deja vu: Port Authority cuts from state? Not this again
Patriot News: Pa’s budget stalemate is just getting more stale | Opinion