Republican State Committee Preview: Between the electoral college fireworks, Senate candidates galore, and a possible Tea Party protest, this weekend’s state committee meeting promises to make serious headlines. Here are the major story lines, events and people who will be moving and shaking this weekend.

Electoral College Plan Backfired? Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi’s plan to distribute Pennsylvania’s electoral votes by congressional district has caused concern for some SEPA GOP congressmen  — perhaps unsurprisingly, considering what happened in Nebraska three years ago.

Corbett Backs Impact Fee: Governor Tom Corbett on Thursday told Philadelphia-based radio host Dom Giordano that his in-development Marcellus Shale legislation would include a call for a local impact fee, as recommended in a July report compiled by the governor’s Shale advisory commission.

Christian for Senate: David Christian, the Bucks County veterans’ advocate and former congressional candidate, has thrown his hat in the ring against the incumbent Senator.

Merit Selection for PA Judges: Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts and PMCAction strongly support the recent introduction of legislation in the House of Representatives formulated to implement a Merit Selection system for selecting appellate court judges, replacing the current system of partisan elections.

And definitely stay tuned for this week’s Ups & Downs – you won’t want to miss ‘em.

National
Salon: Supercommittee Under Lobbyist Assault
CBS News: Manufacturers Lobby Against Deeper Defense Cuts
Fox News: Sen. Toomey Appears On Fox News
The Hill: Rep. Pitts Criticizes Obamacare Regulations At Hearing
Fox News: Rep. Meehan Chairs Hearing On Secret Service Seeking Funding For 2012 Candidate Protection Despite Idle Budget Process
Huffington Post: Rep. Barletta Opposes E-Verify Bill
Centre Daily: House passes bill targeting Boeing labor case

Statewide
Capitol Ideas: The Electoral College Furor Builds
Patriot News: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Renew Threat to Take Control of Harrisburg After Council Vote
Patriot-News: Pennsylvania’s State GOP Lawmakers Seek Change in Electoral College Voting
Tribune-Review: Orie Attorney Seeks New Judge
Post Gazette: Nearly 6 in 10 Grads Not Ready for College
Patriot-News: State Auditor General Wagner Wants More Information About Welfare Access Cards
Captiol Ideas: Thurday Morning Coffee: Rendell Piles On Plan To Change Electoral College Process
Slate: College Prank
Post Gazette: Bills Seek to Make English Official Pa. Language
Erie Times: Pa. Opens 7 Centers for Flood Victims
witf: Pa Unemployment Ticked Up Since July
witf: Links: New Plan for Electoral Divvy Takes Heat From All Sides; Corbett Says He’ll Sign Harrisburg Over to State
PA Independent: Drivers Will Subsidize New Rail Line in 422 Tolling Plan
State Impact: “What’s Happening With That Solar Company Scandal? Here’s Our Guide on Solyndra”- ProPublica
State Impact: State Offering Energy Loans To Flood Victims
State Impact: Corbett Broadcasts His Impact Fee Plans
State Impact: Natural Gas Drillers Weren’t Required To Tell DEP Whether They Shut Down During Flooding
State Impact: Chesapeake Energy Helps With Flood Cleanup
State Impact: Drill Bits: Judge Will Listen to Referendum Challenge; WVa Gov Candidates Talk Drilling
Intelligencer: Corbett: Drilling Fee Should Aid Locals Cleanup
Patriot News: PA Lawmakers Renew Threat To Take Control Of Harrisburg After Council Vote
Fox News: Rendell PA Electoral Vote Change Idea ‘Shameful’
Philadelphia Inquirer: On the air, Corbett calls for impact fee
PhillyClout: Council gives preliminary approval to two redistricting maps
Fox Philadelphia: Rendell: Pa. electoral vote change idea ‘shameful’
Fox Philadelphia: Corbett favors plan to change Pa. electoral count
CBS Philly: Pennsylvania Auditor General: Welfare office won’t turn over records for benefit cards
CBS Philly: Pennsylvania opens 7 disaster recovery centers to help victims of Lee
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. electoral vote split could mean drastic campaign changes

Philly
Philadelphia Inquirer: Council keeps DROP, overrides Nutter
Philadelphia Daily News: Zoning hearing a 7-plus hour marathon
Philadelphia Inquirer: After a six-hour hearing, city council takes no action on zoning overhaul
Philadelphia Inquirer: DHS overhaul structure to set clear line of accountability
PhillyClout: Nutter sounds warning alarm about lagging city tax revenues
PhillyClout: Nutter sends email to supporters, asking them to back anti-DROP petition
PhillyClout: Council lacks votes to override Nutter’s veto of paid sick-leave legislation
PhillyClout: Council overrides Mayor, passes bill to amend DROP
PhillyClout: Mayor opposes Councilman’s efforts to lower city’s parking tax
PhillyClout: Thursday — there will be zoning
Phillynow.com: Local organizations determined to recapture energy of million man march in philadelphia
Phillynow.com: Daily Grinder: Making English the official state language would make Joey Vento’s ghost smile
CBS Philly: Philadelphia City Council Overrides Mayor Nutter’s veto of ‘DROP’ pension program
CBS Philly: City Council fails to resurrect mandatory sick leave measure
WHYY Newsworks: More maneuvering on Philly redistricting plans
WHYY Newsworks: City Council cuts parking tax; will parking rates go down?
WHYY Newsworks: Mayor Nutter joins YESPhilly students on Phila U. tour
WHYY Newsworks: Overriding Nutter veto, Philly council preserves DROP
AP, Phillyburbs.com: Corbett to unveil drilling fee proposal this month

Philly Burbs
Intelligencer: Montco Dem Commissioner candidates pledge no tax increases

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette:County to Reassess Pittsburgh Values First
Post Gazette: Bills seek to make English official PA language
Post Gazette: Raja proposals would boost community college
Early Returns: NRCC – Don’t change election rules
Early Returns: Raja on education
Tribune Review: Judge orders county to put all available hands on city reassessments

Southwest
Indiana Gazette: Caution urged on gas drilling
WJAC: Federal government cuts funding for food banks
WJAC: EPA hearing on gas drilling pollution in W. PA
Tribune Democrat: Suitcase briefly closes fed court in Pittsburgh

South Central
Public Opinion: PA Turnkpike Workers Could Strike
Carlisle Sentinel: Authorities Warn Residents of Flood Related Scams
Patriot News: FEMA Opens Recovery Center
York Dispatch: Postal Services Announces 3 Possible Locations in York For New Office

NEPA
Times Tribune: Bloomsburg Fair Cancelled For First Time in 156 Years
Times Leader: Flood Victims Line Up For FEMA Aid
Citizen’s Voice: Rep Marino Continues To Look For Aid
Standard Speaker: City Salary Creates 3 Jobs
Go Lackawanna: PennDot Announces Road Restrictions

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: U.S Senate candidate Vernon to officially announce today in Erie area
Erie Times-News: Pa. electoral vote proposal sparks controversy
Centre Daily: Contract presented to library board
Sun Gazette: FEMA opens Montoursville disaster recovery office
Sun Gazette: Authority authorizes railroad bridge removal
Sun Gazette: State agency insists sightseers away
Sun Gazette: Tioga County native opposes Bob Casey
Sun Gazette: Young Democrats hosting 2 candidate debates

Opinion
Patriot-News: Flood Crisis a Reminder of Importance of Local Government
Courier Express: What Obama should have said about jobs
Sun Gazette: President Obama is a wuss
Philadelphia Inquirer: Council Shouldn’t Stall Passage of New Zoning Code
Daily News: Don’t Shred the Safety Net
Philadelphia Inquirer: It Isn’t Just Unemployment
Phildalephia Inquirer: GOP Attack on Pa. Democracy-Ali
Philadelphia Inquirer: Support Small Businesses
Philadelphia Inquirer: Cleaner Environment Creates Good Jobs
Daily News: Letters: Is the Natural-Gas Boon Overrated in Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia Inquirer: Council shouldn’t stall passing new zoning code
Philadelphia Daily News: Don’t shred the safety net
Philly.com: GOP attack on Pa. democracy
Pottstown Mercury: Santorum keeps it real on GOP debate
AP, Phillyburbs.com: Debating debate truth telling
Post Gazette: US should abstain on Palestine vote in UN
Post Gazette: Callous political sentiments read in the tea leaves
Tribune Review: Jobs & deficits — the moral equation
Tribune Review: All in the federal family
Indiana Gazette: GOP facing its own embarrassments

Blogs
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Energy savings plan at Gracedale detailed
John Hanger: USA loses 16% of drinking water daily
Keystone Politics: Are southeastern GOPers going to sign a suicide pact?
Penn Patriot: Obama hostage crisis
Keystone Progress: Poverty worst in decade by several measures
2 Political Junkies: They haven’t won Pa since 1988- So now they change the rules
Lu Lac Political Letter: Biden to visit