We’ve got the rundown of the winter GOP State Committee meeting, Dan LaVallee jumps into the PA-3 race and the first Democrat jumps out of the governor’s race. Plus, last week’s Ups & Downs. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.

PA GOP Endorses Corbett-Cawley at Official Meeting: The state Republican establishment rallied their troops behind the Corbett-Cawley reelection.

PA GOP Gathers For Lincoln Day Dinner: Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour was the featured speaker at the PA GOP Committee winter meeting.

Pawlowski to Drop Guv Bid, Endorse McCord: Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski will end his bid for Governor, numerous Democratic sources tell PoliticsPA. He will endorse Treasurer Rob McCord on Monday.

PA-13: Leach Endorsed by Leading Progressive Group: State Senator Daylin Leach earned the backing of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee today.

Winter GOP State Committee Meeting Preview: Here’s the rundown of the events happening this weekend at the Republican’s state committee meeting.

1/31 Ups & Downs: The race for governor kicked into high gear this week with more endorsements, polling and two media buys. Three felony charges also earn a down arrow. See who made this week’s list.

Sims Honored with Pro-Choice Award: Rep. Brian Sims will be honored Tuesday for his work in supporting the rights of women.

PA-9: Halvorson Slams Farm Bill That Subsidized His Farms: The Republican challenger collected subsidies that were part of a farm bill he criticized.

PA-3: Rep. Kelly Gets A Challenger (Watch Video): Dan LaVallee announced his run for Congress.
 
Legislative Elections Update:

HD-20: Republican veteran Tom Fodi announced his candidacy to unseat incumbent Rep. Adam Ravenstahl (D-Allegheny). The district has expanded since Ravenstahl first took office, from a North Side-centric seat to one that includes the northern suburbs of Avalon, Bellevue, West View and parts of Ross, as well as the city neighborhoods of Lawrenceville, the Strip District and Polish Hill.

HD-22: Another Democrat is fighting for the Democratic nomination in this newly relocated Lehigh County seat: Tatiana Tooley. Tooley is a south side Allentown resident who works as a community organizer, although she declined to name her employer. In 2012, she unsuccessfully ran for the 132nd District seat currently held by state Rep. Mike Schlossberg. Also running for the Democratic nomination is Allentown City Councilman Peter Schweyer.

HD-74: Senator Andy Dinniman (D-Chester County) endorsed Josh Maxwell for State Representative. Maxwell is seeking the Democratic nomination in the 74th State House district. He faces Caln Township Commissioner Josh Young in the Democratic primary.

HD-163: Pennsylvania Plumbers Local 690 endorsed Vince Rongione, Democratic candidate for the 163rd District. Rongione is running for an open seat vacated by the retirement of Rep. Nick Micozzie (R-Delaware). The Plumbers Local had previously endorsed Micozzie in his races before this year.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Bill aims to cut red tape for disaster response
State House Sound Bites: Outdoor show returns to Harrisburg
PA Independent: For parents, a tough choice: ignore a drug that could help a sick child or risk jail time
PA Independent: PA Democrats propose taxing tobacco products, eliminating business tax deductions to fund education
StateImpactPA: Poll: Most Pennsylvanians support gas drilling, but not in state forests
Capitolwire: Corbett’s budget proposal likely to emphasize education, jobs and helping those most in need
AP: GOP endorsement the easy part for Corbett campaign

Philadelphia
The Big Tent: McGinty’s friends in high places
The Big Tent: Wolf ads on broadcast TV in Dem gov primary
The Inquirer: Pa. gaming board seeks to avoid past mistakes
The Inquirer: USS Forrestal to leave Philly on last voyage Tuesday
Commonwealth Confidential: For gov candidate McGinty wind plant closure is personal
City Paper: Philly apathy helped elect Corbett governor
PhillyNow: PA lawmaker goes ‘off the cliff of rationality’ with legal discrimination idea, says professor
KYW Newsradio: City Council President Presses To Make Leadership Position Permanent
PhillyClout: Rendell finds the G Lounge

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Pottsgrove High School to expand tech, math, science classes, cut French
Delco Daily Times: Gambling games coming to area taverns soon
Delco Daily Times: Vitali urges Corbett not to use Oil and Gas Lease Fund to balance budget
Montgomery Media: Legislation, awareness efforts help to combat human trafficking
Daily Local News: State conservation grants to county listed
Daily Local News: Coatesville school solicitor agreement not signed
AP: Film explores ‘Kids for Cash’ scandal in Pa.

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: ‘Boot camp’ teaches women how to run for political office
Post-Gazette: Pa. GOP committee endorses Corbett
Post-Gazette: Finances in forefront of the governor’s race
Tribune Review: Bellevue pastor to begin campaign to unseat state Rep. Ravenstahl
Tribune Review: State Republican Party chairman confident Corbett will win re-election
Early Returns: Cranberry Dem challenging Kelly
KDKA: Former Mayor Ravenstahl To Consult With Drilling Firms
KDKA: Tom Wolf Gets Head Start In Campaign Advertising For Governor

Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Ex-Bush aide to help write Corbett’s budget speech
AP: Pa. gubernatorial hopefuls show $34M in donations
AP: Event returns after boycott
Altoona Mirror: UPMC nurse talks will continue today
Altoona Mirror: Unions rally in support of Penelec workers
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Food stamp benefit cuts decried
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Pot laws create difficult decisions

NEPA
The Times Leader: Governor hopeful touts Pennsylvania manufacturing
Times-Tribune: Educators hope to not repeat Corbett’s first three budgets
Times-Tribune: Gov. Corbett’s poll numbers remain grim
Citizens Voice: Yudichak says Corbett administration should leave lottery system alone
Citizens Voice: NEPA lawmakers give their two cents in shaping budget
Standard Speaker: Council’s pay cuts confusing
AP: Corbett proposes $45M to improve Pa. parks forests

South Central
Morning Call: Gettysburg Foundation plans Cemetery Ridge restoration
Morning Call: Mike Fleck introduces Lehigh Valley to political hardball
Morning Call: Friends of Johnston form to fund park around mansion
Reading Eagle: Deployment of special state crime unit depends on community’s needs
Reading Eagle: Only 20 Berks municipalities raised taxes for 2014

Lehigh Valley
Patriot-News: Gov. Tom Corbett hires speechwriter with campaign funds to polish his state budget address
Patriot-News: Millionaire Democrat boasts deepest campaign pockets in governor’s race
Patriot-News: Corbett re-election fund fueled by big donations
Patriot-News: Democratic 2014 Gubernatorial Candidate Scorecard
Carlisle Sentinel: Report flags traffic safety law gaps in Pa.
Carlisle Sentinel: Chinese language interest on rise in Midstate schools, colleges

North by Northwest
Sun-Gazette: Fallout feared from Medicaid stance
Sun-Gazette: Farmers fear fallout from legislation
Sun-Gazette: ‘REAL MEDICINE’
Daily Times: Penn State awaits word on funding proposal from governor
Daily Times: STEM career day at Penn State aims to cultivate the next crop of female scientists

Opinion
Patriot-News: Ted Nugent is coming to Harrisburg: A PennLive poll
Post-Gazette: Medicinal value: Pennsylvania should allow doctors to prescribe marijuana
Citizens Voice: Inept governance provides Pa. with cautionary tale
Pottstown Mercury: We urge Gov. Corbett to lead way to property tax reform
Delco Daily Times: Special year-long editorial series: ‘Keystones’ goal: Education funding, property tax reform

Blogs
Media Trackers: Philly City Council Approves Resolution Condemning Paycheck Protection
Keystone Politics: Racist Boss Hogg Lookalike Delights PA GOP, Feasts on Federal Superstorm Money
Keystone Politics: #PAGov: Allyson Schwartz’s Vote for Food Stamp Cuts and Why It Matters
Keystone Politics: GOP Lawmakers: Give $250M Subsidy for Rich Horse Owners to Rich School Districts Instead
Keystone Progress: A Candidate for New Hampshire’s U.S. Senate Seat From Pennsylvania? Why not?
Keystone Progress: The Push for Pot: Hearing Held on PA Medical Marijuana Bill
Pittston Politics: Bolin makes it official, he’s in for 120th seat
Pittston Politics: Shab wants Gov to remove former State Rep from position
CasablancaPA: Hey, DOJ! Why not Corbett?
Bals Blog: Critz Is It
Commonwealth Foundation: Don’t Stop Halfway
2 Political Junkies: Well THIS is Certainly Embarrassing (UPDATED and Rewritten for Clarity)
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Eleven City Council Candidates Run Gauntlet in 6-Hour Meeting