Good morning and welcome to the Buzz!

Our story on Rep. Holden withdrawing his support of the Stop Online Piracy Act was featured on The Rachel Maddow Show last night! Check it out.

Governor Corbett Pulls the Trigger for Welch But GOP’s SEPA Caucus Declines Vote
Governor Corbett and his political team called southeast Pa. party leaders to ask their support for Steve Welch, but complicated relations between Corbett and the caucus led to a no-vote Wednesday night.

Rep. Holden Withdraws SOPA Support
Score one for the techies. Rep. Tim Holden, one of 30 co-sponsors of the Stop Online Piracy Act, has withdrawn his co-sponsorship in the face of public outcry.

York Commissioner Reilly Prepares Bid for Rep. Platts Seat
Since Todd Platts announced his retirement, several prospective candidates for his seat have emerged. Sources indicate York County Commissioner Chris Reilly’s entrance into the race is imminent.

State Supreme Court Justice Orie’s Legal Troubles Have Implications For Redistricting Legal Challenge
Time is quickly running out for state Supreme Court justice Joan Orie Melvin. The embattled judge is scheduled to be one of seven judges ruling on the appeal of the state legislature’s redistricting plan next Monday, a prospect that has her critics calling for her resignation.

Erie Times-News: Sens. Casey & Toomey To Sit Together At The State of the Union Address
Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., might be on other sides of the political spectrum, but they will sit together for Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.

Was The Club for Growth Wrong To Take On Rep. Tim Murphy?
John Feehery, who worked for top Republican House leadership for fifteen years, wrote an op-ed in The Hill in which he stated that he believes that Club for Growth’s actions could lead to the loss of seats in the U.S. House and Senate. Some of their latest ads have targeted Congressman Tim Murphy, the Republican from the 18th congressional district.

National

Breaking: Morning Call: Final Tally Shows Rick Santorum Beat Romney In Iowa
AP: Tax return often an issue for White House hopefuls
AP: Casey, Toomey to meet up for State of the Union
FOX 29: Obama book author answers critics
Early Returns: Sen. Casey Next To Face Online Heat?
Malvern Patch: Rep. Meehan discusses controversial Anti-Piracy Bills
The Daily Beast: Santorum’s phony marriage attack on Obama
Pennsylvania Ave.: Lion, lamb…er, we mean Casey, Toomey to sit together at State of Union
Pennsylvania Ave.: On the trail: Santorum’s electability sales pitch
Pennsylvania Ave.: Rick Santorum touts small-town values
Pennsylvania Ave.: Rick Santorum focuses on Gingrich with time running out in S.C.
Politico: Rick Santorum steps up attacks on rivals
Politico: Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, set South Carolina expectations
Politico: Poll: Strongest vibe for Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum
Politico: Romney speaking fees show he’s out of touch, Santorum says
Politico: Bauer taping message for Santorum
Roll Call: South Carolina race tightens
Washington Post: Rick Santorum, couch-sitting with a woman not his wife
Washington Post: Rivals vie to battle Romney from the right – alone
The Hill: South Carolina social conservative leaders to endorse Rick Santorum
The Caucus: Romney holds solid lead over rivals
The Caucus: TimesCast: S.C.’s conservative vote
USA Today: Ad watch: Santorum ad lumps Romney, Obama together
Slate: Santorum Country
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: Three critical days
WHYY Newsworks: Toomey blasts Obama’s keystone decision
Patriot-News: Rep. Platts imposes his own term limits in Congress
York Daily Record: The achievements of Rep. Platts

Statewide

Philadelphia Inquirer: Corbett aide who edited journal resigns
Philadelphia Inquirer: DRPA continues purge of Rendell-era appointees
Philly Now: Tens of thousands of PA kids released from Medicaid
FOX 29: Former FBI agent now DRPA watchdog
WHYY Newsworks: Changing Priorities: Science funding slashed under Corbett Administration
Capitolwire (Paywall): Potential Marcellus Shale Deal Begins To Take Shape
Capitol Ideas: Is Pennsylvania’s Economic Cup Half Empty or Half Full
Capitolwire (Paywall): Independent Fiscal Office Makes Public Debut Today With Revenue Conference
Capitolwire (Paywall): Southeastern Candidate Interviews Key To GOP Endorsements for U.S. Senate
Delco Times: State Supreme Court to televise legislative redistricting arguments
Times Tribune: Marcellus Shale well safety bill heads to governor’s desk

Philadelphia

PhillyClout: Public employee salaries focus of report
PhillyClout: PICA releases study, Fire Department has some challenges
Philadelphia Inquirer: PA’s food-stamp asset test gets prominent pushback
Heard in the Hall: Boy Scout Building
Philadelphia Inquirer: Is this what the beginning of another soda-tax fight looks like?
FOX 29: Philly schools not cleared yet in cheat scandal
WHYY Newsworks: Pew report outlines challenges for Philly workforce system cut by half
FOX 29: Will Catholic schools closing cost taxpayers?

SEPA

Philadelphia Inquirer: Controversy over shake-up of Chesco DA’s office
WHYY Newsworks: Fishtown’s St. Laurentius school making a case to stay open
The Mercury: PA officials clear some districts in cheat probe
Courier Times: Neshaminy fires two coaches for refusing to work during strike
The Intelligencer: Democrats make 8th District a priority
Delco Times: Senator Pileggi to host open forum for parents in the Chester Upland school district
Delco Times: Protesters take seats in Pileggi’s office in Chester Upland standoff
Ambler Gazette: State Rep. Stephens recomments measure to combat rising turnpike tolls
Delco Times: US judges asked to halt Delaware River dredging
Bucks Local News: Aria health attorney: “RAFR is rehasing old testimony” in Lower Makefield zoning board hearing
Daily Local: Coatesville RDA seeking deal for train station
Pennsylvania Ave: Bethlehem council seeks applicants to replace city controller

Pittsburgh

Post-Gazette: County & city in new era of finance
Tribune-Review: Port authority buses may not roll for 45000
Post-Gazette: City Council gives early approval to $80 million bond issue
Post-Gazette: More Port Authority transit cuts ahead
Post-Gazette: U.S Supreme Court wont hear appeals in students online rants
KDKA: Jury selection begins in the trial of state rep. Bill Deweese
KDKA: More people calling for Orie Melvin to temporarily step down

Southwest

Beaver County Times Port Authority might eliminate local routes
Observer-Reporter: Deweese aid pleads guilty in corruption case
WJAC Critz to host meeting opposing post office closures

NEPA

Times Leader: Casey urges Congress to close loopholes in synthetic drug law
AP GOP campaign rhetoric raising racial concerns
Times Leader Holden withdraws co-sponsorship of SOPA bill
Times Leader: Top PA adviser steps down
Times tribune: Prosecutors: No break for Munchak
Times Tribune: Wayne Highlands ratepayers face tax hike of up to 5.4 percent
Times Tribune: Marty Flynn to take on Kevin Murphy in primary
Citizen’s Voice: Salavantis, Flora criticize proposed cuts
Wayne Independent: Janine Edwards takes over as first female DA in county
Standard Speaker: Sugarloaf nixes auditor picks on news of election winners
Pocono Record: Shohola Township supervisor, husband charged in corruption probe
AP: Deweese aide pleads guilty in corruption case
Pocono Record: Pike County district judge seat on the chopping block

Lehigh Valley

Morning Call: Bethlehem Council seeks applicants to replace city controller
Morning Call: Bethlehem Area preliminary budget has 4 percent tax hike
Morning Call: Wilson Area proposes 1.8 percent tax increase
Reading Eagle: West Reading officer receives probation, stripped of firearm
Reading Eagle: Reading School District administrators change minds about leaving posts
Reading Eagle: Bridge-project work to start, says PennDOT

South Central

Patriot-News: Audit Details How Incinerator Financing Led Harrisburg Into Black Hole Of Debt
Patriot-News: Upper Allen, Mechanicsburg Urge Redistricting Plan To Be Redrawn

North by Northwest

Courier Express: Officials create liason posts for Clarion County
Sun Gazette: Commissioners will consider purchasing more landfill vehicles
Sun Gazette: Lycoming County retirement fund proposals opened
Erie Times-News: Wesleyville Council to appoint new member

Opinion

Daily Local Op-Ed: On point with Chris Papst: The role of government
York Dispatch Editorial: Really Eugene DePasquale? Seeking Both Jobs at Once?
Philadelphia Daily News: John Baer: Imagine, representatives truly representing
Philly Now: How’s your representative look on SOPA/PIPA? (hint: Bob Casey is a co-sponsor)
The Mercury Column: Will 7th District be known as “Bullwinkle District” ?
The Mercury Editorial: PA legislative priorities should start with fixing roads
Washington Post Op-ed: Evangelical leaders and the Santorum endorsement: The old guard’s last stand
Inquirer Op-Ed: Corbett’s food-stamp plan is strictly from hunger
Patriot-News Editorial: Raising The Alarm: Proposed Cure To Halt Web Piracy Hurts Entire Social Media Revolution
Patriot-News Editorial: Extreme Agenda Threatens A Woman’s Right To Choose

Blogs

CasablancaPA: Representative Bill Deweese prepares for trial
Keystone State Education Coalition: State legislature’s recent hearings and deliberations on schools, education
Jon Geeting: Fracking vs. Craft beer
Jon Geeting: Density and Afghan food
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Kraft, Lutes out on Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Bethlehem City Council blesses $900,000 dip into escrow
NEPArtisan: King Corbett kicks poor again
NEPArtisan: Scranton Police Chief Duffy: Superhero Scranton needs
2 Political Junkies: SOPA and PIPA
PA Water Cooler: Don’t blame big oil or unions for refinery shutdowns
Pennsylvania Progressive: In attack add, French-speaking Mitt Romney aims at S.C. voters
Above Average Jane: Wikipedia, others go dark on Wednesday
Keystone Politics: Without Justice Orie, will the state supreme court deadlock on redistricting?
Keystone Politics: State democratic party passes legislation to support a severance tax on hydraulic fracturing
Citizens’ Call: An MLK conversation on the death penalty
John Hanger: Ron Paul: Obama’s ticket to a second term or his toughest opponent?
John Hanger: Duke Energy will close 1,667 megawatts of coal-fired plants by 2020
The Hill: Lawmakers who support piracy bills under fire
Post-Gazette: Daily Santorum: Three Critical Days
Energy Publisher: Santorum forum part VI: the truth & the South Carolina showdown