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Ending weeks of partisan gridlock -- the norm these days for Capitol Hill -- House Republicans agreed Thursday to a two-month extension of a tax cut for working Americans with the stipulation that Senate Democrats agree to appoint conferees to negotiate how to pay for the tax cuts for the rest of the 2012 year. So far, just Democrats have made their selections. Among the chosen, are Pennsylvania Democrat U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Philadelphia suburbs U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz.

Although procedurally different, the appointment of a select group of lawmakers to meet privately to figure out an economic puzzle will likely remind people of the spectacular failure that was the supercommittee. The group will be up against an end of February deadline, setting up another likely down-to-the-wire debate.

The group must agree how a tax cut should be offset. The House Republicans had wanted a pay freeze for federal workers, Senate Democrats wanted a new surtax for millionaires. They are expected to begin work during Congress' winter break.

Casey sponsored the tax cut legislation in the Senate. After multiple failed attempts to pass a year-long extension, the Senate garnered bipartisan support for a two-month stop-gap version. The House Republicans initially bucked, but after intense political pressure caved late this week.

Both Casey and Schwartz issued statements on their appointments.

"At a time when almost 500,000 Pennsylvanians are out of work, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue my work to reach a bipartisan compromise that protects working families and provides more take-home pay for 160 million Americans by ensuring a full year extension of the payroll tax cut.  I thank Majority Leader Reid for the appointment and his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to working with Democrats and Republicans on an agreement that is in the best interest of Pennsylvania and the American people," Casey said.

“I have always worked across the aisle to find common ground on the most important issues facing our nation. We need to put aside our differences in order to protect our economic recovery. I am honored to have been appointed to this joint committee and will work to prevent a tax increase on middle class families and preserve the quality health care America’s seniors deserve," Schwartz said.

Others serving on the conference committee are: Sens. Max Baucus of Montana, Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Benjamin Cardin of Maryland; and Reps. Sander M. Levin of Michigan, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, and Xavier Becerra and Henry Waxman both of California.

Here's a story you can really sink your teeth into.

A report by the non-proift Sunlight Foundation suggests Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent and future part-Lehigh Valley Congressman Tim Holden were among 15 lawmakers who signed a letter to federal regulators protesting plans to rein in the marketing of junk food to kids while recieving thousands in contributions from the marketers and food producers.

Hershey Foods, manufacturer of the ubiqitous kiss, is headquartered in Pennsyvlania, the report points out. JustBorn, based in Bethlehem, is located in Dent's 15th District.

Over his career, Dent has recieved $73,500 from companies that reported lobbying the federal government against the regulations, while Holden has recieved $43,500, according to the report.

According to the Sunlight Foundation report: "The 15 Pennsylvania members of Congress who signed the letter raising concerns about the guidelines have together collected at least $546,765 in campaign contributions from interests that reported lobbying against restrictions on marketing unhealthy food to kids. The contributions included $159,291 from the National Cable Television Association (NCTA), $153,500 from the National Restaurant Association, and $61,660 from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

House Republicans' unwillingness to accept the Senate version of a payroll tax cut -- a measure that secured most Senate Republican support, including from Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey, leaves Congress with just ten days to come to an agreement or else working Americans will see less money in their take home pay.

Lehigh Valley's Charlie Dent, who voted with his GOP caucus to appoint the conferees -- a procedural effort to reject the Senate bill without outright taking a vote saying "no" to tax cuts -- said Tuesday he'd be open to the two-month bill, but said "I'd like to see if we can get something better first."

But as for the two-month piece, Dent said he wouldn't rule it out, and that realistically it might be the only thing that could end up passing by Dec. 31.

On a conference call with reporters Wednesday morning, Democrat Bob Casey, who is the lead sponsor of the payroll tax cut extension efforts in the Senate, said House Republicans wouldn't bring up the Senate two-month bill for fear it would pass.

"Neither side was happy with everything but we at least got some certainty for the American people…this was a compromise, rarely do you get this type of vote total in the U.S. Senate and now you have the House Republicans who won’t even bring it up for a vote, I guess they are afraid it might pass," Casey said.

On the same call, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York called on the House to vote for the two-month extension to provide Americans' certainty and then the Senate would agree to come back to conference on a longer extension. No word on how that offer was received.

Legislation carving Easton out of the Lehigh Valley's congressional district now awaits Gov. Tom Corbett's signature to become law. The state House passed a new congressional map Tuesday; the Senate passed it last week. The new map shifts the city and sections of northern Northampton County from the 15^th District, now held by Republican Charlie Dent, to the 17^th District, now held by Democrat Tim Holden.

The breaking up of the Lehigh Valley drew the ire of local leaders who said the region's interests are too closely aligned for the Valley to be split between different congressmen. The Easton-area Chamber of Commerce said the plan threatened "regionalization efforts."

The 15^th District has covered virtually all of Lehigh and Northampton counties since 1971. Once Corbett signs the bill, the 15^th District will stretch from the Delaware to the Susquehanna rivers.

Dent, who lives in Allentown, came under fire by some Democrats who said he should have fought harder to keep the Lehigh Valley intact. Dent said his preference was always that, but the final decision was not his to make.

"Redistricting is a contentious process, it always has been, always will be," Dent said Tuesday.

Despite losing a chunk of the county, if he wins re-election next year, Dent said he'll still work in Congress on behalf of all Northampton residents.

The new map strengthens Republican incumbents, including Dent, by making their districts less competitive. Many Democrats have strongly decried the new maps for that reason. State Democratic Party chairman Jim Burn said the maps were a "disgrace," and that Republicans were "trying to rig the system."

Republicans drew the map because they hold majority control of the state House and Senate. Corbett also is a Republican.

The new map follows the 2010 Census. Pennsylvania's population grew slower than some other states so it lost a congressional seat. State Republicans consolidated two Democrats' seats in Western Pennsylvania and dramatically reconfigured the southeast.

Democratic cities like Scranton and Wilkes-Barre were removed from Republican Lou Barletta's 11^th District, and many southeast Republicans were shifted west to avoid the suburban "swing" areas around Philadelphia.

Three state House Republicans who represent parts of Lehigh or Northampton counties – Gary Day, Julie Harhart and Doug Reichley – voted Tuesday for the new map. Three other Republicans – Joe Emrick, Marcia Hahn and Justin Simmons – voted against it, as did Lehigh Valley Democrats Joseph Brennan, Bob Freeman, Jennifer Mann and Steve Samuelson.

Last week local Republican senators David Argall, Pat Browne and Robert Mensch voted for the map; Democrat Lisa Boscola voted against it.

When Arlen Specter lost his 30-year career in the U.S. Senate last year, he promised his parting gift to the political world would be a tell-all book sharing his side of his defeat. Now that book is almost ready, and can be pre-ordered on Amazon before it's March 27 launch.

 It's called "Life Among the Cannibals: A Political Career, a Tea Party Uprising, and the End of Governing As We Know It." The title comes straight from his farewell speech in the Senate last December -- a stinging evaluation of his colleagues.

The Amazon description of the book says it's a "revealing memoir" that takes readers behind the scenes in the Capitol, White House and on the campaign trail: "He recounts the difficult transition, the unexpected struggles he faced, and his tumultuous campaign and eventual defeat in the 2010 Pennsylvania Democratic Primary."

A prominent Iowa evangelical selected Rick Santorum to support exactly two weeks before Iowa caucus voters kick off the 2012 primary selection, an endorsement that could propel the former Pennsylvania senator beyond expectations and ensure his survival beyond Iowa.

Bob Vander Plaats, the head of the Family Leader, announced his support for Santorum Tuesday. The religious political organization did not officially endorse, but Vander Plaats did so independently.

Chuck Hurley, president of the Iowa Family Policy Center, also endorsed Mr. Santorum.

"Their reach and influence covers all corners of Iowa, and I know they did not take this endorsement lightly," Santorum said in a statement about the dual endorsements. "This means so much more to our campaign. If their work on behalf of Governor Huckabee four years ago is any indication, I have no doubt they will be a terrific catalyst for our campaign as we continue building momentum in Iowa. Now is the time for conservatives to unite so we can defeat Barack Obama."

In politics, timing is everything. And Rick Santorum, who has been unable to break low single digits in public polling of the presidential contest, appears to be gaining some momentum just two weeks before the crucial Iowa caucus.

The former Pennsyvlania senator has broken double-digits, tying with Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann at 10 percent among likely Iowa Republican voters, according to a new poll released Monday by Public Policy Polling. The three are just four points behind last week's front runner Newt Gingrich, showing the fluidity of this cycle.

Santorum, whose future in this race rests in how well he does at the Iowa caucus, told Philadelphia Inquirer pal Tom Fitzgerald, "It's a good time to be found," he said in an interview. "We have to do better than expectations in Iowa. For us, that's lower than it is for almost everybody else in the field. And that's a good thing."

In politics, timing is everything. And Rick Santorum, who has been unable to break low single digits in public polling of the presidential contest, appears to be gaining some momentum just two weeks before the crucial Iowa caucus.

The former Pennsyvlania senator has broken double-digits, tying with Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann at 10 percent among likely Iowa Republican voters, according to a new poll released Monday by Public Policy Polling. The three are just four points behind last week's front runner Newt Gingrich, showing the fluidity of this cycle.

Santorum, whose future in this race rests in how well he does at the Iowa caucus, told Philadelphia Inquirer pal Tom Fitzgerald, "It's a good time to be found," he said in an interview. "We have to do better than expectations in Iowa. For us, that's lower than it is for almost everybody else in the field. And that's a good thing."

If people in Bucks County didn't know Newt Gingrich was an adulterer, they do now.

For drivers traveling on Route 1 toward Morrisville, a larger than life photo of Gingrich looms from a billboard with the message: "Faithful Republican, Unfaithful Husband. Welcome to the Ashleymadison.com Era."

"Now that Newt is the leading contender in the race for the GOP nomination, we felt compelled to make a point to illustrate how times have changed when a serial divorcee/adulterer is capturing the hearts of the American people.

"Gingrich proves that marital fidelity has no bearing on someone's ability to do a job. Rather than judge him, Americans have finally embraced the reality that affairs are commonplace, and perhaps paradoxically, might be an indication of great leadership to come. He is not the first nor last politician who will step outside of their marriage."

But why Pennsylvania? Voters there don't even have a turn to vote in the presidential primary until it's almost over in late April. Well, apparently people in Pennsylvania are having affairs.

Biderman said Pennsylvania is the only state where new membership to the site -- which opens "Life is short, Have an affair -- did not decline this month.

At each of the three Sept. 11 memorials in Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia there will now be displayed a Congressional Gold Medal honoring the Americans that died there.

The Senate cleared for the president’s signature Thursday night a bill introduced by Pennsylvania U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey instructing the creation of three original medals designed to specifically honor the lives lost at each location. It passed 416-0 in the House on Wednesday.

The one at the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville will commemorate the 40 passengers and crew members on that flight. Through the senators’ offices, Gordon Felt, president of Families of Flight 93, said, “It is a wonderful gift in memory of our loved ones’ lives and actions.”

In the bill text soon to be law, it says that “the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, recognizing the imminent danger that the aircraft that they were aboard posed to large numbers of innocent men, women and children, American institutions, and the symbols of American democracy, took heroic and noble action to ensure that the aircraft could not be used as a weapon.”

In a joint statement, both Casey and Toomey heralded the passage of the bill.

“This measure will appropriately honor their bravery and serve as a reminder to us all of their valor and heroism,” Casey said.

“The events of Sept. 11 forever changed our nation, and we should honor and remember those affected by that day. These congressional medals will pay tribute to these fallen heroes and remind the American people of their tremendous sacrifices,” Toomey said.

Duplicates of the medal will be sold to the public. Planning, design and production is expected to take at least several months.

(Updated with link to Boscola's full remarks. Watch here.)

Pennsylvania state Sen. Lisa Boscola ripped U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent during a debate on the new congressional map late Wednesday night, blasting that he sold out the Lehigh Valley to save his own political career. According to reports from Harrisburg colleague John Micek, Boscola -- a Democrat whose home in Bethlehem Twp. was carved out of Republican Dent's 15th District seat and plunked down into Democrat Tim Holden's new 17th District seat, -- said she was glad to have Holden as her representative over Dent, and that Holden had already called her for guidance. "You'd never hear that from Charlie Dent," she said.

When Dent's office got wind of Boscola's comments, they issued a lengthy response, calling her "an elected official with the lowest of standards." Here is the full retort from Dent spokesman Collin Long:

"Ordinarily, these types of outlandish rants do not dignify a response. However, given the Senator’s vindictive and mean-spirited personal attack against the Congressman, a response is warranted.

The Senator’s statement was a cheap shot - a low blow even for an elected official with the lowest of standards.  She falsely accused Congressman Dent of drawing the Congressional redistricting map, knowing full well he did not.

Whatever problems Senator Boscola brought to the Senate floor last night should be treated. The Congressman has stated publicly on multiple occasions he prefers leaving Lehigh and Northampton Counties as whole as possible, but does not have the ability to modify the map. As a member of the state legislature, Senator Boscola does have that ability, but I understand she failed to offer any amendments. And she preaches about work ethic…

It should also be noted, the Senator’s own caucus proposed an amended map that divides Lehigh County into 3 Congressional Districts and splits Northampton County into 2. She is alleged to be a leader of her own Senate Democratic caucus, but lacks the capacity and influence to modify the only amendment considered in this process.

Sadly, this is not the first time the Senator has brought shame on herself, the Pennsylvania Senate and the people she represents."

Nearly 3 million Pennsylvania homes are heated with natural gas, and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is urging Congress to extend an expiring $500 tax credit for those who convert their home heating to be more energy efficient.

The credit is an incentive for people to use "cheaper and cleaner fuel," Casey said on a conference call with reporters. He can't predict if the one-time credit will be part of the final package of tax extenders that needs to be passed before the end of the year, but he's highlighting it as a priority.

Casey's office also released data on natural gas usage in Pennsylvania:

Lehigh Valley Region

Rick Santorum doesn't have a whole lot of his only money to spend, but a super PAC called the Red, White and Blue Fund, has taken out a $200,000 ad buy in Iowa for the next week on his behalf, reports the Iowa Republican. The 30-second spot flashes head shots of the other GOP presidential hopefuls before declaring Santorum "the true conservative you can really trust."

It’s noteworthy that Santorum has a TV presence before Bachmann does.  The two are slugging it out to earn the support of social conservatives in the state.  The Santorum campaign has struggled to convince voters that he is capable of winning in Iowa even though the campaign has a passionate following of social conservatives.  A TV presence should help Santorum solidify his support, while also helping convince those that already lean his way to get on board.