Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz. Altmire and Critz are on TV. And it looks like the former Massachusetts Governor is preparing to play in Pa. Mitt Romney’s campaign will have an endorsement event today in Harrisburg featuring U.S. Reps. Jim Gerlach and Charlie Dent, and additional guests.

Exclusive: Altmire, Critz Launch TV Ads (With Video): Jason Altmire and Mark Critz are going on television. Both campaigns are launching positive, 30 second introductory spots in the 12th district primary race; Altmire today, Critz on Wednesday.

Santorum Cruises in Kansas; Prez Campaign Turns South: There’s no place like the party base. Rick Santorum cruised to a win this weekend in Kansas, while Mitt Romney cleaned up on the islands: Guam, the Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. Alabama, Mississippi and Hawaii are up today.

AG Oppo Dump: The Democratic primary for Attorney General has not been high-profile to date, but behind the scenes both campaigns have been hard at work trying to define each other. Kathleen Kane says Patrick Murphy is too inexperienced to be AG, while Murphy says Kane is too conservative to be a Democrat.

Local Officials Fight To Save 911th Airlift In Allegheny County: As part of a “national restructuring plan,” the U.S. Air Force has decided to close the 911th Airlift Wing near Pittsburgh within the next two years. The closure is part of a larger national effort to cut federal defense spending, and the Pentagon has listed “a need for geographic balance and the base’s aging aircraft” as reasons for targeting the 911th for closure. The eight C-130 tactical aircraft at the 911th will be retired when the base closes.

Daylinsights (video): Pa. Sen. Daylin Leach appeared on Al Sharpton’s Politics Nation on MSNBC Monday evening to talk about Voter ID legislation. Spoiler alert: Tom Corbett is not their favorite guy.

Legislative Election Updates

SD-49: Former Sen. ‘Buzz’ Andrezski (D) wants to run for his old seat – that of retiring Sen. Jane Earll (R-Erie), but he’s facing a petition challenge. The most interesting detail of the challenge is that he signed his name ‘Buzz’ on his petitions rather than his legal name of Anthony. But probably the most relevant detail is that he submitted a scant 513 signatures (500 are required). Pretty much any lawyer in Pa. could knock him off the ballot.

HD-29: Conservative activists Gloria Carlineo is appealing a judge’s decision to toss her from the ballot. She is seeking to primary Rep. Bernie O’Neill (R-Bucks). A line-by-line challenge took her down to 294 signatures (300 are required), and Carlineo hopes the judge will side with her on more lines on appeal.

HD-182: The campaign of Brian Sims, the openly gay attorney challenging Rep. Babette Josephs (D-Phila) in the primary, posted this video of Josephs at the Liberty City Democratic Club, explaining why she hasn’t agreed to a candidates debate. Josephs, who has been a staunch supporter of LGBT rights, says the gay community should focus its resources on other races where gay candidates are running.

National:
Statecollege.com: Santorum claim aside, College Repubs prez at PSU says classroom bias hard to find
The Hill: Rep. Schwartz One Of Two High Profile Dems Co-Sponsoring Bill To Repeal IPAB
Slate: Rep. Pitts Denounced After-Birth Abortion
Delaware County Times: Meehan To Chair Field Hearing On Sunoco Refinery Dispute
Times-Herald: Transportation Funding A Priority For Rep. Schwartz
Essential Public Radio: Altmire Bill to Boost Disabilities Payments to Wounded Reserve Soldiers
Capitol Ideas: Lou Barletta Tests Out New Marine Airplane
AP: Feds release health overhaul blueprint for states
AP: Santorum: Convention would give me GOP nomination
Times-Herald: Transportation a priority for Congresswoman Schwartz
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Santorum not getting warm welcome home
The Hill: Specter says Obama ditched him after he provided 60th vote to pass health care reform
Manufacturing Digital: Fattah recieves award for his work in neuroscience
Erie Times-News: Transportation on lawmakers’ agenda

Statewide:
AP: Pa. House readies debate on voter ID bill
Capitol Ideas: Monday Morning Coffee: A conversation with Terry Mutchler
Capitol Ideas: House State Government Committee to vote ‘Marriage Protection’ amendment Tuesday
Capitol Ideas: Corbett to critics: ‘Where would you have me take’ money to restore higher ed cuts?
WITF: Corrupt practices in hibernation mode, the governor’s Grand Tour
StateImpactPA: Drill bits: College grads flock to oil jobs
StateImpactPA: Inside Cabot’s drilling facilities
StateImpactPA: Alternative energy can be unpredictable
StateImpactPA: Drillers answer impact fee questions
Capitolwire: Higher education did best job of making budget case; others better get going
Capitolwire: Some Democratic consultants say Voter ID may not have major impact on election
AP: Western Pa. distillery banking on new law
Times-Tribune: Courts to look to combine magistrate judge offices
Inquirer: Gov. Corbett is off to Europe on a private group’s dime to drum up trade
Allentown Morning Call: Corbett challenges critics to find money for higher education

Philadelphia:
Daily News: Whistleblower lost job at PAC
Inquirer: Nutter: Soda tax ‘not on radar’
Inquirer: A seat on Traffic Court, a most prized city post, now has a downside
Heard in the Hall: Council inserts itself into labor standoff
Heard in the Hall: Ward leaders choose short-timer House candidates
Heard in the Hall: Tough talk from Mayor Nutter
PhillyClout: How to deal with Super PACs
PhillyClout: State Rep. dodges debate, says focus on other races
PhillyClout: Monday – – How to improve the Police Advisory Commission
Phillynow.com: Gov. Tom Corbett apparently doesn’t understand his own lies
Phillynow.com: Top 5 Rick Santorum campaign memes
Phillynow.com: Treasury subpoenas Rendell’s records
WHYY NewsWorks: Corbett heading to Europe on five-day trade mission
WHYY NewsWorks: Pa. higher education panel prospects for ideas on reducing costs

SEPA:
Pottstown Mercury: Voter ID bill nears end of debate in Pa. House
AP: Pa. lawmaker robbed at gunpoint near capitol

Pittsburgh:
Tribune Review: NY Assembly calls for fracking health impact study
Tribune Review: Parents of Western Psycho shooter notified of his death
Tribune Review: Jail time for offenders deters legislative corruption in Pennsylvania
Tribune Review: Organizations can raise more with relaxed rules on games of chance
Tribune Review: Property assessment rose 35.4 percent in Allegheny County
Tribune Review: Former staffer says she expressed concerns about politicking for Orie
Post-Gazette: Penn State explains Paterno, Spanier firings
Post-Gazette: School union fights for ex-convicts
Post-Gazette: Three bridge project begins this week
Post-Gazette: Pa. teachers union calls for funding from taxes, drilling
Post-Gazette: Pa. House approves lower debt limit for economic development
Post-Gazette: County council considers cuts to jail population

Southwest:
Beaver County Times: White Township disbands police department
Beaver County Times: Local lawmaker robbed at gunpoint
Observer-Reporter: Washington County studying convention center
Observer-Reporter: Franklin Twp. OKs Chesapeake Energy building at Evergreene business park
Somerset Daily American: State court ban lifted, Tribune free to publish accounts of abuse hotline calls before a local boy died – Dainelle
WJAC: Senator calls for change in vehicle emissions testing
Daily Courier:  Meals on Wheels volunteers’ hearts are bigger than gasoline prices

South Central:
York Dispatch: Local lawmakers support Grove’s property tax bill
York Dispatch: Newberry Township couple’s lawsuit again universal health care awaits Supreme Court ruling
Harrisburg Patriot News: Ex-Rep. Brett Feese collected $150,000 from pension before going to jail
Harrisburg Patriot News: Sen. Mike Folmer to return to the hospital for a procedure related to non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett’s higher education advisory panel gets to work
Harrisburg Patriot News: Commonwealth Court approves Harrisburg receiver’s recovery plan

Lehigh Valley:
Pennsylvania Ave.: Debate Canceled Between Dent Challengers, Eaton and Daugherty

North by Northwest:
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Legislative tally
Erie-Times News: Greco named member of Millcreek commission
Erie-Times News: Erie councilman Beeman files for personal bankruptcy
Centre Daily Times: Penn State sophomore looks to add fresh perspective in role as Ferguson Township supervisor
Centre Daily Times: Residents weigh in on road, drilling fees

Opinions:
Huffington Post Op-Ed, Ernest Preate, Former Attorney General of Pa.: The Son Also Rises (About Bob Casey)
Post-Gazette: Op/Ed: Parade of corruption: Another month, another conviction in Pa. politics
Post-Gazette: Op/Ed: Easy Money: Beware the promise of phony tax refunds
Beaver County Times: Letter to the Editor: Legislation violates women’s bodies
Beaver County Times: Letter to the Editor: Contraceptives should not be the focus
Altoona Mirror: Op/Ed: Voter ID bill reasonable
Daily News: DN Editorial: Pesky PAC rats
Daily News: Letters: Whose bright ID was Voter Bill
Inquirer: Disparities threaten a nation of minorities
Daily News: Letters: Wondering if some on welfare are living lives that are more, well, fair
Daily News: Property plan not exactly money in the (land) bank
Philadelphia Inquirer: Thank you, Kathleen Kane

Blogs:
Keystone Politics: Team Romney opposed to Metcalfe’s “Marriage Protection” amendment?
Keystone Politics: Tax soda, not work
John Hanger: Santorum must hammer Romney’s failed jobs governorship
Keystone Progress: More than money at stake in prison health care privatization
Keystone Progress: New ads put face on cost of carbon pollution in PA
Commonwealth Foundation: War on welfare fraud raging
Commonwealth Foundation: Does school choice harm public schools?
Third and State: Costly voter ID bill now before PA house
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Are rising gas prices sinking Obama?
NEPArtisan: HD-112: Smith joins oppression of women, co-sponsors invasive ultrasound bill
Keystone Liberty: Democrat touts Hollywood handout