A federal judge has rejected Republican requests that the upcoming election not be based on 2001 state House and Senate district lines.  The first-ever Marcellus Shale impact fee heads to the governor’s desk.  And horse breeders blast the governor's proposal to siphon money from the state’s racehorse fund for Ag extension and veterinary activities.

Counties say proposed cuts in state funding for Department of Public Welfare programs will hurt a little bit less if they have more control over how they spend their state money.  “We would still be accountable.  We would still have to come in and show what we’re doing with the money.  But it would just be a lot simpler,” said Jo…

Throughout his budget address to a joint session of the state General Assembly, Gov. Corbett reminded lawmakers of what Budget Secretary Charles Zogby called the “historical” economic circumstances in which the state finds itself: with low revenues and ballooning unavoidable expenses together acting like a “pincer,” driving out the rest of the state’s budget items.  More after the jump.

Governor Corbett has proposed an essentially flat budget in order to close a projected deficit of more than $700 million by the end of the fiscal year.  As expected, there are no tax increases in the $27.139 billion spending plan – and the departments considered likeliest to see cuts have stayed more or less level.  But higher education is seeing double-digit reductions. 

Gov. Corbett is scheduled to outline his budget proposal tomorrow morning before a joint session of the state House and Senate.  The first time those budget packets go out, pages start flipping.  House and Senate members will be looking for their school districts.  “If that’s not the first thing they do, it’s the second thing they do,” said Philadelphia Democratic Sen. Vincent…

Former House Speaker Bill DeWeese has been convicted on five counts of corruption charges. The longtime House Democrat is the first sitting legislator to be convicted since 2004, and the second House Speaker to plead or be found guilty of a crime within six months.

A Marcellus Shale drilling impact fee could be ready for a floor vote this week.  With Corbett staff keeping mum on tomorrow's budget, the Associated Press considers the myriad pressures on the governor's spending plan.  And, of course, we’re waiting on a verdict from the jury that sat for state Rep. Bill DeWeese’s public corruption trial.  Links after the jump.