Good morning politicos, and welcome to the buzz. Here’s hoping you had a nice, relaxing Labor Day weekend. In case you missed ‘em yesterday, check out this collection of our favorite union-themed videos.

John Vernon for Senate: If you’ve been to a local Republican picnic this summer, you might have heard one of the newest names in the GOP race to unseat Senator Bob Casey in 2012. Army vet John Vernon is giving it a go.

Getting out of Harrisburg: John Micek of the Morning Call profiles the PA lawmakers who are trying to get out of their current jobs for local elected gigs.

Joe Miller to PA: Marc Scaringi will host several campaign events with the former Alaska Senate candidate. The Tea Party-driven insurgent who defeated incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the GOP primary shares a campaign staffer with Scaringi.

Women power: Allegheny Controller candidate Chelsa Wagner and Montco Commish candidate Leslie Richards are among those who earned the endorsement of the Women’s Campaign Forum, which backs “qualified women candidates running for all levels of office, across the country, of any political party, who pledge to support reproductive health choices and options for all.”

Barletta for COLA: Rep. Lou Barletta is advocating a little extra government spending. He supports a change in the cost of living formula used to calculate Social Security payments that would ultimately yield more money for older folks – not exactly an unpopular proposition in his district.

AdultBasic Lawsuit: In an op-ed to the Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh attorneys William Caroselli and David Senoff explain why they’re suing to the Corbett administration to force the reinstatement of the state-funded health insurance.

And in case you missed our Ups & Downs…

National
Politico: Lawmakers head to 9/11 sites for 10th anniversary
Go Lackawanna: News Briefs: Santorum Seeks Support in Old Forge
Beaufort Gazette: Santorum Brings His “Grassroots Campaign” to the Lowcountry
The Augusta Chronicle: Religion Has Ruined Republican Party
Huff Post: Obama, Democrats Plot Out Follow
AP, Real Clear Politics: Santorum campaigning in South Carolina for holiday
Times Leader: U.S warns of small airplane terror threats
Salon: The DOJ’s Escalating Criminalization of Speech
Times Leader: Unpopular congress will return
Wayne Independent: President Obama changes date of jobs speech
Standard Speaker: Unemployed face tough competition: underemployed
WNEP Channel 16: Budget cuts could limit hurricane forecasting
CitizensVoice.com: Lou Barletta Nanticoke Seniors
The Daily Review: Casey Says Troop Withdrawal Needs Careful Evaluation
Indiana Gazette: Congress returns still unpopular, still divided
Wall Street Journal: The 2012 election will come down to seven states
Roll Call: Obama issues plea to pass transportation funds
Roll Call: Super Committe will meet next week
USA Today: Labor Day forum starts busy month for Republican candidates

Statewide
Patriot-News: Former Gov. Ridge Still Grateful For Call To Duty
Patriot-News: Pichini Leads State Higher Education Board With ‘True Love Of The System’
Patriot-News: Unlikely Natural Disasters In Central Pa. Make For Wild Summer For Insurance Industry
State House Sound Bites: Parsing Out Ineligibles In The Voter ID Numbers War
AP, Houston Chronicle: Time Ticks Down on Pa. Highway Funding in 2011
Philadelphia Inquirer: Gaming Board Cold to Foxwoods Moves to Regain License
State Watcher: Congressman Chaka Fattah Supports Gov. Corbett’s Request for PA Disaster Declaration
The Times Leader: FEMA Tours Hard Hit Areas in County
Patriot-News: With 8% Unemployment In Pa., Why Do So Many Jobs Remain Open?
Gant Daily: Corbett Announces State Investment to Improve Safety, Facilities at 18 Airports
Patriot- News: Solemn Unity at Ceremony Honoring Derry Township Hero
The Record Herald: Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett Will Visit Franklin County
AP, Philly Burbs: Report Points to Need for Transportation Funding
Patriot-News: Bitter Rift Divides Pa. Human Relations Commission
Standard Speaker: Gov. Picks Freeland’s Mayor for Center Board
Republican Herald: Extend Store Hours, State Auditor General Says
Courier Express: Gov. Corbett Signs Execution Warrant for Daniel Crispell
Tri-County Sunday: Sen. Toomey Lashes Out at Job-Killing Regulations
Centre Daily: PSECU To Add 30 Jobs Locally
Times Tribune: Major disaster declared in Pennsylvania
Times Tribune: Extend state store hours, auditor general says
Times Tribune: Poll shows Pennsylvanians backing same-sex marriage
Patriot-News: Bitter Rift Divides Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
Pocono Record: New gas driling dispute: fracking or fracing?
Philadelphia Inquirer: Awaiting Corbett on Highway Work
Tribune Review: So Far, Pennsylvania Senate Has Escaped House Cleaning
Lebanon Daily News: State unhappy with politicians
AP, Centre Daily: Drilling Resumes at Pa. Pad After Methane Stoppage
The Daily Review: Pennsylvania residents like gas industry, worry about environment
Times News: Grant funding will aid state health services
Patriot News: Onus is on Gov. Corbett to pay for Pennsylvania’s backlog of bridge, road repairs, lawmakers say
Times Tribune: School For Deaf Moves Into New Home
Times Leader: Barletta, Casey: WPA Not Answer
Indiana Gazette: Time ticks down on highway funding
AP, Washington Post: New video shows cloud of gray smoke just after Flight 93 crashed in Pa. on Sept. 11, 2001

Philly
Inquirer: Mariano Shares A Cautionary Tale
Daily News: Vallas Blasts Buyout
Philly Now: Redistricting Clock Ticking
Fox Philly: FEMA Aid To Go To Jersey
ABC Philly: Philadelphia Diocese Has Last Service With Cardinal
Philly Clout: David Oh Arrested
Courier Times: Garden of Reflection Services Open to the Public

Philly Burbs
Philly Burbs: Massive Tent City Going Up in Bristol Twp.
Inquirer: Burbs Are Essential to Republicans
Courier Times: New Swine Flu
Delco Times: Broker Pleads Guilty to Local Mortgage Fraud
Montgomery News: Local Meals on Wheels In Danger
Bucks Local News: Veterans Square Breaks Ground

Pittsburgh
News Busters: Pittsburgh Labor Unions Turn Monday Parade Into Pro-Obama ‘March for Labor,’ Exclude ‘Hostile Pols
Wopular: Raja Backs Innovations in County Government

South Central
Patriot-News: PennDOT Creates Plan To Complete Middletown Amtrak Station By 2013
The Patriot-News: Central Dauphin School District Will Cooperate with Audit of Superintendent
Luis Gonzalez’s Contract
Harrisburg Patriot News: Harrisburg city council to re-vote on mayor’s fiscal recovery plan
York Dispatch: York airport gets state aid for safety improvements
Lebanon Daily News: Chamber goes to Washington
Patriot-News: Major Bridges Over The Susquehanna River And Their Structural Ratings
Gettysburg Sun Gazette: Grant will aid railway upgrades
Gettysburg Sun Gazette: Toomey to Wellsboro crowd: Refrom Vital
York Daily Record: $5 Million Helps City Taxpayers

NEPA
Times Tribune:  Another spill at a natural gas pipeline site, but no environmental impact, DEP says
Times Leader: Area still benefits from jobs program created during depression
Standard Speaker: School furloughs provide economic woes
The Daily Review: Corbett visits Mountain Energy
Times News: Rte. 309 bridge project will begin in Tamaqua

Lehigh Valley
Bethlehem Patch: Dent Needs to Meet the Public More Often
Express Times:Your comments: Should ArtsQuest’s $2 million in state money be spent in another way?
Express Times: Warren, Hunterdon county leaders want review of JCP&L’s handling of Hurricane Irene power outages
Express Times: Warren County Division of Aging and Disability Services planning big changes in October
Morning Call: Politics as Usual
Morning Call: Northampton County eligible for FEMA funds
Morning Call: Tom Ridge to become first Homeland Security Secretary

North by Northwest
Erie Times: Ex-Springfield Township Secretary Wants Reduced Setence in Embezzlement
Erie Times: Irene Victims File 12,000 Claims with Erie Insurance
Courier Express: Curwensville Police Department Status Draws Debate at Meeting
The Leader Vindicator: Former Twp. Officials Charged
Sun Gazette: Will Levee Inspection Mean Tax Rate Hike?
Sun Gazette: Council Passes City Pawn Shop Law
Sun Gazette: Grant Will Aid Railway Upgrades
Sun Gazette: Citizen Group Forms to Examine Exploration of Macellus Shale
Erie Times: Former Erie County Red Cross worker, stricken with cancer, reflects on being 9/11 first-responder
The Voice: County School District Defy Trend
Centre Daily: Pa. Officials Hail Obama’s Disaster Declaration
Erie Times: Erie County Council Sets Hearing on Redistritcting
Erie Times: Erie, others work to upgrade RELCO System, But Money is Short

Opinion
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Intelligencer: Nation’s top priority is creating favorable climate for job creation
Times Tribune: Ban nepotism in Capitol
Patriot-News: Rep. Metcalfe’s Immigration Bills Go Too Far
Patriot-News: Public Welfare Secretary Alexander Must Show He Is Focused
Patriot-News: Voter ID: Is Fraud Really A Concern At The Ballot Box?
Standard Speaker: Private sector role could help Pa. state parks
2 Political Junkies: This years labor day parade in Pittsburgh is a ‘march for jobs’
The Daily Review: Governor’s actions are quite curious
Times News: Park Funds
Pittston Politics: Pittston area flips, again
Patriot News: The reality behind America’s labor numbers
Gettysburg Sun Gazette: Toomey’s ideas draw foes despite practicality

Blogs
John Hanger: Perry’s Perfect Start Finishes Bachmann
NEPArtisan: Deadbeat Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) Calls President “Idiotic”
NEPArtisan: Various Observations 9/2/11
NEPArtisan: News to Know
NEPArtisan: Rick Santorum Makes Me Dumber
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Stoffa Lauds Emergency Management During Hurricane Irene
Commonwealth Foundation: Pennsylvania Lost $5 Billion in Annual Income from Residents Movin’ Out
Lehigh Independent: Geoff Brace is the Only Serious Candidate for Lehigh County
Lehigh Independent: Toomey Definitely Not a Debt Dealmaker
PAWaterCooler: GOP choices for President and PA U.S. Senate are slim
Lez Get Real: Santorum Becoming A Bad Joke
Above Average Jane: Disaster Aid for PA
Penn Patriot: Obamacare: Constitutionally Infirm
Penn Patriot: Is there hope for Harrisburg?
Keystone Politics: With voters angry, politicians stop doing “town halls”
Keystone Politics: Legislature’s number one priority will be redistricting