Good morning politicos, and welcome to the Buzz. In a huge shocker, the Legislative Reapportionment Commission again postponed its meeting to Friday, instead of today. Now that no one believes its maps will be in place for 2012, they might as well take their time and get them right.

Bailey for AG: Just when you thought it was a two-way Democratic primary battle, another candidate made the ballot for Attorney General. Don Bailey, a former Pa. Auditor General and former Congressman originally from Westmoreland County, is officially in the race to be Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement official.

Scaringi Launches Radio Ad: Marc Scaringi will be the second Senate candidate on the air starting this week. The Cumberland County attorney and former staffer to Rick Santorum will launch a $600-1,000 radio ad buy in central Pa.

Legislative Election Updates:

SD-15: John McNally would take a pay cut if elected to the Senate. The attorney and former Dauphin Co. GOP Chairman released his tax returns Monday, showing an average gross income of $140,000 over the past five years. The salary of a rank-and-file senator is about $78,000. He’s running to replace the retiring Jeff Piccola.

SD-29: The Standard Speaker checks in with Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) and his re-election campaign.

SD-40: The corruption trial of Sen. Jane Orie has begun. 6 jurors were selected Monday.

SD-43: Sen. Jay Costa officially announced his re-election bid Monday. “It has been both my honor and privilege to represent the citizens of the 43rd District and Allegheny County in the state Senate,” Costa said in a statement. “Together we have made great strides and achieved many things, but there is still much work to be done and precious little time.” The Dem Minority Leader has served the Allegheny County district since 1996.

HD-16: Kathleen Coder, the former Bellevue Council president who is one of two Republicans vying to challenge Rep. Rob Matzie (D-Beaver), announced that former Steeler Rocky Bleier is chairing her campaign. “We don’t need more career politicians in Harrisburg,” she said. “We need real people who want to serve and do something to make a difference.”

HD-20: The petitions of David Schuilenburg (Dem) are being challenged by Robert Wilson – likely the same the father of Bobby Wilson, who ran for city council in 2011. North Pittsburgh Politics says it looks like the work of the Mark Purcell campaign. Purcell has gone after candidates’ petitions in the past and likely wants to be the only primary challenger to Rep. Adam Ravenstahl.

HD-22: The petitions of Stephanie Crossey (Dem) and Shawn Lunny (Dem) are being challenged in the race to replace Rep. Chelsa Wagner. Sources tell North Pittsburgh Politics that this is the Molchany campaign trying to setup a 1 on 1 race between her and Martin Schmotzer.

HD-24: The petitions of Rep. Joe Preston (Dem), William Anderson (Dem), and Todd Koger (Dem) are being challenged. Looks like the Ed Gainey campaign is putting on a full court press.

HD-45: The petitions of Maribeth Taylor (Dem) are being challenged by Rep. Nick Kotik. Rep. Kotik has also done this before against the same candidate.

HD-66: A second Republican primary challenger to Sam Smith, Jim Brown of Brockway, a former missionary. He says Smith hasn’t done enough to end abortion. “Every day that our Republican legislators drag their feet we have more needless abortion deaths,” Brown said in a statement. “Maybe they’ve got something more important to do than save lives but as the Representative from the 66th district I would not want even one unnecessary death on my conscience.”

HD-113: Based on a successful and well-attended event he hosted recently – featuring some heavy hitters in the Lackawanna County Democratic circles – NEPArtisan thinks Marty Flynn is a credible primary challenger to Rep. Kevin Murphy.

HD-116: Ransom Young, the Democrat running in the Hazleton-area district, talks about his recalibrated campaign efforts in the wake of the switch from new maps back to old. Meanwhile his opponent, freshman Tarah Toohil, puts a happy face on a tough path to re-election.

HD-119: Rep. Gerald Mullery talks redistricting and re-election. He’ll face Republican Rick Arnold in the general election.

HD-124: This Stanard Speaker article is an embarrassment of campaign riches. They also check in with State Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Schuylkill) and his primary opponent Larry Padora.

HD-153: Special election not withstanding, Democrat Madeleine Dean kicked off her campaign to replace former Rep. now Montco Commissioner Josh Shapiro. “This community, this village, instilled in me a set of values that have helped carry me through life and I believe will allow me make a real difference in Harrisburg,” she said in a statement. Dean is an attorney and an Abington Township Commissioner and currently she teaches at LaSalle University.

HD-169: The redistricting writing is on the wall, and the race to replace former Rep. now Councilman Denny O’Brien will remain a Philadelphia affair. The three York County Republicans who had filed for the seat withdrew their candidacies, leaving just Republicans John McCann and David Kralle, O’Brien’s former aide, and Democrat Ed Neilson, a former official in Gov.  Rendell’s  administration and former political director for the city electricians union, Local 98.

HD-182: Brian Sims, the primary challenger to Rep. Babette Josephs (D-Phila), got some national ink yesterday. This story about his coming out to his college football teammates made the front of AOL and the Huffington Post.

Hat tip today to North Pittsburgh Politics and Standard Speaker writer Jill Whalen. Lots of great election updates from them today.

Have news or a tip about a state Senate or House race? Email it to press@politicspa.com. Wondering why your opponent’s statement got in the Buzz and yours didn’t? Add us to your press list!

National:
AP: Are Santorum’s comments on higher ed of step?
AP: Gingrich slams Santorum as “big labor Republican”
AP: Romney hits Santorum on economic credentials
AP: Romney-Santorum clash turns next to Ohio
AP: Obama weighs in after Santorum calls him a “snob”
AP: OH Primary 2012: Romney & Santorum clash turns to new battleground
Morning Call: Mitt Romney tries to keep focus on the economy
Morning Call: Most voters believe healthcare mandate unconstitutional
Morning Call: Pro-Romney ‘super PAC’ denies new ad shows illegal coordination
Politico: Mitt Romney ignores Rick Santorum’s social politics
Politico: Rick Santorum blames recession on gas prices
Politico: GOP not focusing on Obama
Roll Call: Parties have plenty of time to play politics
Roll Call: Campaign finance onus placed on agencies
The Statehouse File: Across the nation: Gambling revenue promises rarely met
Time Swampland: Why Rick Santorum’s scolding is dooming his campaign
The Washington Examiner: Romney uses Specter to spook Santorum’s supporters
Los Angeles Times: Poll: Pennsylvania voters say Santorum is too extreme, can’t beat Obama
CBS News: Santorum leads Romney in Ohio poll
Five Thiry Eight: Michigan Forecast update: Romney’s lead looks more tenuous
Real Clear Politics: The wisdom of drilling for oil
The Hill: House takes aim at Supreme Court’s controversial property rights ruling
Reuters: Santorum win in Michigan could be chaos for GOP
NY Times: Santorum and Romney make last-minute appeals to Michigan
NY Times: Obama’s unacknowledged debt to Bowles-Simpson plan
Pro Publica: What do Republican presidential candidates say on foreclosure crisis? Not Much
USA Today: Are Paul and Romney teaming up against Santorum?
Slate: Ron Paul: The Mountain comes to Muhammad

Statewide:
AP: Pa. court to hear candidate petition challenges, including Altmire case
WFMZ: Pa. Latinos protest lack of representation in state capitol
Morning Call: The two sides of Rick Santorum
Times-Tribune: Millions of Pennsylvanians using health care reform benefit
Citizen’s Voice: Treasurer eyes comprehensive project financing charges
Capitol Ideas: Corman: I want to restore all higher education funding
State House Sound Bites: Schoch: Transportation funding plan fuzzy as long as state budget still unclear
State House Sound Bites: Corman vows to fight cuts to higher ed; says schools have “done enough”
State House Sound Bites: Links: Libraries eye proposed cuts, heating aid boost from fed, amateur mapmaker gets some ink
PA Independent: Corman to Corbett: Universities already paid their ‘fair share’ of budget cuts
PA Independent: Secretary of Ed: Administration open to discussing district consolidation
StateImpactPA: Anti-impact fee commissioner may end up supporting levy
Capitolwire: Schoch outlines potential ‘temporary’ fuel tax swap as funding option
Capitolwire: Holding 2012 primary on 2001 maps would limit Latino voice in Legislature, coalition says
Capitolwire: As governor proposes HEMAP elimination, official says settlement money could fund program
Capitolwire: Piccola says Corbett budget ‘guts’ key accountability, cost-savings measure
Capitolwire: Senators want more, earlier info on fiscally-failing districts

Philadelphia:
AP: Obama campaign to open re-election HQ in NJ
AP: Sunoco chief meets with local officials
Inquirer: Philadelphia city pension shows surprise rebound
Inquirer: York County trio drops from Philadelphia legislative race
Inquirer: HUD, Nutter agree Housing Authority not ready for local control
Daily News: Mayor Nutter talked FOX 29 out of airing spanking video, sources say
Daily News: Fired cop returns, Police Commissioner Ramsey blames Daily News
Daily News: John Baer: Watching Pa. politics is Capitol punishment
Philly Now: Is Philly the 8th most corrupt city in the U.S.?
Philly Now: Obama over Santorum, Romney in Pennsylvania according to new poll
Philly Now: ‘Hire Our Heroes’ event in Philadelphia ignores new tax incentives
Philly Now: Redistricting debacle keeps House seat in Northeast Philly
FOX Philadelphia: Warren Buffet fires back at Christie
FOX Philadelphia: Santorum benefits from mistaken identity
WHYY Newsworks: As state budget remains unresolved, PennDOT plans pending
City Paper: Philly newspaper layoffs reach production/printing department
Abington Patch: Rooney ready for battle in the 13th Congressional District

SEPA:
phillyBurbs.com: Senate candidate plans town hall in Doylestown
phillyBurbs.com: Lawmakers seek to make impact on H-H funding
Courier Times: Bucks to spend $164,613 on elections
Delco Daily Times: Yeadon council members, residents spar

Pittsburgh:
Early Returns: 6 jurors selected for Orie’s second public corruption trial
Early Returns: Population shift causes need for redrawn county council districts
Tribune-Review: Pa. Senator Costa to seek fifth term
Tribune-Review: Plum approves deal for taxes on Longwood retirement community
Post Gazette: Assessments increase 31 percent in southern Allegheny County
Post Gazette Hiring process upsets some on county council
KDKA: Ravenstahl helping with reassessment appeal process
WPXI: Mayor: Mild winter could mean more road paving for city streets
Valley News Dispatch: Tarentum wants to use leftover $500,000 grant

Southwest:
Daily Courier: Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation changes coming
Observer-Reporter: Property tax relief deadline upcoming
Indiana Gazette: Republican runs for 66th district

South Central:
Carlisle Sentinel: Pa. court to hear candidate petition challenges
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pa. Sen. Jake Corman advocates against funding cuts for Pennsylvania public colleges and universities

Lehigh Valley:
Morning Call: Affirmative Action strife, such as that in Kutztown, may end in court ruling
Morning Call: What should Pa. do for higher education?
Morning Call: Corbett’s budget could cost municipalities fine revenue
WFMZ: Grant to help struggling families fix up homes
WFMZ: PPL reaches agreement to acquire natural gas-fired power plant
WFMZ: Corbett announces formation of Pennsylvania eHealth Collaborative Advisory Committee

NEPA:
Pocono Record: Early release of convicts could help state budget
Times Leader: District court changes proposed
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County pulls down $769,000 from judicial sale
Standard Speaker: As map changes, so do plans
Standard Speaker: Schuylkill airport receiving 300k state grant
Standard Speaker: Conyngham council moves forward with state sewage plan
Daily Review: Monroe’s polling place is moving to library
Times News: Carbon County Democrats to meet
Times News: GOP holds annual dinner to kick off campaign season
Go Lackawanna: 13M in back taxes paid ahead of sale
Go Lackawanna: Commissioners address campaign contributions

North by Northwest:
Times-News: Crawford County Redistricting Plan Would Eliminate Vernon Township Court
Centre Daily Times: PSU Says Board of Trustees Start Listening Tour

Opinions:
York Daily Record: Letter to the Editor: Smart subsidies needed on energy
The Daily Caller: Opinion: Does Rick Santorum have a youth problem?
Morning Call: Pennsylvania arts help the economy
Morning Call: Tax policy harms poor, middle classes
Morning Call: It’s time to fill federal judicial vacancies
Daily News: Pennsylvania law ultra unsound
Inquirer: Op-Ed: Income and business taxes addressed
Inquirer: Christie’s budget critiqued
Inquirer: Smerconish: Romney’s missed chances on role of faith in elections
Times-News Editorial: Ride Bikes, Walk, To Defy High Gas Prices
phillyBurbs.com: Lack of political challenges not good for democracy
Tribune-Review: Preachers of junk science
Post Gazette: Obama’s reform: his corporate plan may give too much away
Tribune-Democrat: Healthcare not a concern for the church
Deico Daily Times: Editorial: Fundraisers, not politics, the focus of schools
Bucks Local News: Word on the Street: Do you agree with the President’s $1.9 trillion budget increase?
Bucks Local News: Letter to the Editor: Appalled by Harrisburg’s passage of natural gas drilling bill
Bucks Local News: Letter to the Editor: State Supreme Court made right decision in striking down legislative redistricting plan
Bucks Local News: Guest Opinion: Shale Law does not preempt local control
Bucks Local News: Guest Opinion: Marcellus Shale legislation protects environment, preserves local control
Wayne Independent: Time to stop dancing on political shells
Morning Call: It’s time to fill federal judicial vacancies
Washington Post: Enough of Rick Santorum’s sermons
Chicago Tribune: Obama, Romney, Gingrich, Santorum — will somebody, anybody, cut the federal deficits
THe Hill: What campaigns reveal
The Hill: Partisans ignoring stimulus’s success
NY Times: Cash and Carry –

Blogs:
Philly Now: Redistricting debacle keeps House seat in NE Philly; York Republicans drop out
Press Action: Pa. farmer ratchets up battle against Shale gas industry
NPR Political Junkie: Kucinich-Kaptur one of many House primaries between incumbents in 2012
North Pittsburgh Politics: Those that live in glass houses…
North Pittsburgh Politics: Petition challengers in Allegheny County
John Hanger: Key facts from today’s EPA hydraulic fracturing webinar
John Hanger: New coal plants more expensive then new renewables
John Hanger: Global solar installations set new record amid creative destruction
NEPArtisan: HD-113: Marty Flynn  a credible threat to Murphy
Lu-Lac Political Letter: The LuLac Edition #1962
Keystone Politics: Commonwealth of the bible
Keystone Politics: Jake Corman bucks Corbett, calls for zero cuts to education
Keystone Politics: Why President Santorum would not try to reduce health care prices
Keystone Politics: Residency requirements and the market for politicians
Keystone Politics: Critz adds another labor endorsement
Keystone Politics: Cities shouldn’t create barriers  to entry for food carts
Keystone Politics: Corbett will stop sharing state police fine revenue with moocher townships
Keystone Liberty: Taxpayer debt for political favoritism in need of reform
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: How did Senator Brown explain EIT tax grab?