Good morning politicos, and welcome to the Buzz. We have tons of US Senate and Congressional news today, but we start on a sad note.

Officials Offer Condolences on Paterno Passing: Revered Penn State football coach Joe Paterno died Sunday at the age of 85. He had been undergoing treatment for lung cancer. Here’s what Pa’s public officials had to say.

US Senate: Tim Burns won the GOP’s southwest and northwest caucuses this weekend, with Tom Smith in second overall. Meanwhile Steve Welch – who Gov. Corbett officially endorsed on Friday – finished a relatively distant third.

No Endorsement? It’s possible, reports the Post-Gazette. Sam Rohrer began a concerted campaign in favor of an open primary; he finished fourth. He’ll be in Harrisburg today, highlighting his no-endorsement effort.

Murrysville Debate: Smith won the post-forum straw poll with Rohrer in close second on Friday night. The candidates agreed on most issues, so it came down to style. Though Burns continued his assault on Welch, and handed out copies of a mailer he had sent to state committee members (view it here).

Turzai for Congress: The Pa. House Majority Leader looks like he will run for Congress in the newly-drawn 12tt district, hoping to face the winner of the Altmire-Critz primary (provided he beats Keith Rothfus in the primary). Turzai told PoliticsPA he was “strongly considering” a bid; campaign sources confirmed it to PoliticsPA.

1/20 Ups & Downs: A little bit of congress, a lot of Senate and some SOPA help us round out this week’s Ups & Downs.

Altmire Internal Poll: Meanwhile on the Dem side of that district, Rep. Jason Altmire’s campaign released numbers that showed him leading Rep. Mark Critz by 16 points, 50 percent to 34.

Steelworkers for Critz? The Congressman has an event today at Steelworkers HQ in Allegheny County, where he’s alternately said he’s making a “major announcement” and announcing a “major endorsement.” Wonder who it could be…

Boockvar Makes DCCC Red-to-Blue List: Bucks County’s Kathryn Boockvar, candidate for the 8th District seat held by Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, has achieved top-recruit status by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Manan Trivedi (PA-6) and Jackson Eaton (PA-15) were put on the radar.

Cartwright v Holden: The Scranton attorney will officially launch his bid Tuesday, he says.

Dems for Platts Seat: During redistricting, the district went from deep, dark, crimson down to merely scarlet, so Dems have a glimmer of hope if they recruit a top candidate (former York Mayor John Brenner). Ken Lee, a 51-year-old attorney from Hampden Township, and Harry Perkinson, a 60-year-old engineer from York Township announced on Saturday. On the GOP side, Rep. Scott Perry is in, and York Commish Chris Reilly is set to announce today.

Legislative Election Updates

SD-17: State Sen. Daylin Leach, progressive hero, officially kicked off his re-elect Saturday. His declared GOP opponent is Montco YR leader Charles Gehret.

SD-49: Another Republican name has emerged for the Erie-based seat of retiring Sen. Jane Earll: attorney and GOP state committee member James Owen. Janet Anderson, the outgoing Executive Director of the NW Planning Commission, will also likely seek a bid.

HD-15: Beaver Commish Joe Spanik (D) will not challenge Rep. Jim Christiana, despite efforts to recruit him into the race. There is no candidate yet officially declared against the incumbent Republican.

HD-28: With news that Pa. House Majority Leader Mike Turzai is likely to run for Congress, two Republicans have already emerged to contest for his seat: Bob Howard, the 2011 GOP candidate for Allegheny Controller, and Karen Shaheen, the Treasurer of the Allegheny GOP. It’s also TBD whether Turzai would run for both offices simultaneously.

HD-104: Another Republican is primarying Rep. Sue Helm: Central Dauphin High School grad Brad Donbach. He writes: “I maintains the idea that government should be; small,  efficient and cost effective and if elected I plan to do just that by starting a transition to all electronic documentation for all state agencies to eliminate paper waste and increase efficiencies within our state agencies.” Jenna Lewis, of the Dauphin County DA’s office, announced several weeks ago.

HD-108: State Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland), who took over for longtime Rep. Merle Phillips in 2011, will seek a full term.

HD-126: Berks County Patriots (a Tea Party group) chairman James Billman is seeking the seat of retiring Rep. Dante Santoni.

HD-132: Allentown Councilman Mike Schlossberg kicked off his campaign for the seat of retiring Rep. Jennifer Mann, his recent boss. Mann is endorsing him for her seat.

HD-175: Rep. Mike O’Brien, who brags of representing his Philadelphia district with “pride, honor and moxie,” officially kicked off his re-election bid this weekend.

HD-186: The Philly Tribune takes a look at the 4 to 5 Democrats looking to fill the seat vacated by now-Councilman Kenyatta Johnson: Former candidate for City Council Damon Roberts, former Youth Commissioner Jordan Harris, ward leader Edward Nesmith and businessman Fawwaz “Jazz” Beyha are officially in. It’s also possible that former Rep. Harold James will try to recapture the seat he held for years.

National
Post-Gazette: GOP field unwieldy for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate contest
Capitolwire (Paywall): Gov. Corbett Pushes Welch for Senate With Letter to State Committee
The Hill: Santorum: ‘No Pressure’ to Exit GOP Race
New York Times: After SC surprise, GOP moves to Florida -Elyse
New York Times: South Carolina raises new doubts about Republican contest
New York Times: In a Romney believer, private equity’s risks and rewards
New York Times: Obama to draw an economic line in State of the Union
New York Times/Five Thirty Eight: Did Gingrich’s win break the paradigm?
New York Times/The Caucus: Romney to release tax returns on Thursday
CNN: What happened to Romney, the “inevitable” candidate?
CNN: Romney hopes to regain momentum in Florida
CNN: Santorum: SC results mean GOP race will be a long fight
Tribune Review: ‘Battle of ideas’ shapes up in Florida GOP primary
Tribune Review: Gingrich is victorious in South Carolina
AP: Santorum ramps up rhetoric
CBS News: Iowa GOP declares Santorum winner of Iowa caucuses
Wall Street Journal: Challenges mount for Santorum

Statewide
Capitol Ideas: Report: House Majority Leader Mike Turzai is running for Congress
Capitol Ideas: PA’s jobless rate dropped in December, state says
Capitol Ideas: New poll shows voters favor smaller legislature, term limits
State House Sound Bites: PSU trustees say work continues to move past child sex abuse scandal
State House Sound Bites: Links: DeWeese trial Monday, reformers tally up promises kept, & PSU Trustees meet
State House Sound Bites: Death of Joe Paterno draws condolences from state leaders
State House Sound Bites: Midstate Catholic bishop denounces President Obama’s health care plan
State House Sound Bites: Harrisburg City Councilman calls for federal investigation of city’s incinerator retrofit
State House Sound Bites: State Representative Scott Perry says he’ll run for Congress
State House Sound Bites: Midstate schools to receive state grants
PA Independent: Education secretary says Chester-Upland school district victim of poor management
PA Independent: Possible conflict of interest clouds Supreme Court hearing on redistricting
StateImpact PA: Dimock, PA: “Ground Zero” in the fight over fracking
StateImpact PA: Krancer: Cabot-funded filters can treat Dimock arsenic
Tribune Review: Joe Paterno dead at 85
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania’s State Supreme Court will hear arguments on redistricting
Early Returns: Ex-fund manager with Pa. ties throws big bucks behind Santorum
AP: Marcellus Shale: Corbett will sign drilling emergency-response bill
AP: DeWeese trial seen as ‘pettygate’
Morning Call: Gov. Corbett endorses Pa. Sen. candidate Welch
Express Times: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to resign from Congress this week

Philadelphia
Philadelphia Inquirer: Stress and distress in southeast Delaware County
Philadelphia Inquirer: PHA lobbyist maps agency’s 2007 war with HUD
PhillyNow: Watch Mayor Nutter on Meet the Press
WHYY Newsworks: Philly limits campaign contributions
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia protest marks 2nd anniversary high courts ruling
KYW Newsradio: Board slashes percentage to calculate property tax in Philadelphia
Fox Philadelphia: 27,000 more layoffs, new leaders for Philadelphia school district

SEPA
The Mercury: Attorney General: 3 Republicans to plead guilty in Pennsylvania probe
Delco Daily Times: Sunoco CEO Elsenhans no stranger to plant closings
Delco Daily Times: Profit margins for refineries are slim
Delco Daily Times: Governor Corbett to meet with Delaware Co. lawmakers, discuss Chester-Upland school district
Delco Daily Times: Delaware County schools receive grants
Montgomery Media: Pennridge School Board seeks legal help amid residents’ questions
Bucks Local News: Yardley Borough chooses to keep police department
Bucks Local News: Council Rock school board to retain Superintendent Mark Klein
Bucks Local News: Upper Makefield reaches 4-year contract with its police union
Daily Local News: Dinniman bill aims to help childhood victims of sex abuse
Daily Local News: Democrat Joe Denham considers run at 167th district state seat

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: BNY Mellon’s tipster lost $5M in bonuses, but could reap up to $500M
Tribune Review: Turzai to run for seat in district he helped create
Tribune Review: Turzai: Role in redesigning district shouldn’t be an issue
Tribune Review: Prosecutors seek to bar Sen. Jane Orie’s constituents from jury
Post-Gazette: Allegheny’s angling just for a fair share from state transit aid
Post-Gazette: Turzai’s entry into race for Congress criticized
Post-Gazette: 500 gather in Murrysville to hear Casey challengers
KDKA: Informal appeals back on for city, Mt. Oliver homeowners
Daily American: Critz, Altmire respond to Turzai’s apparent entry into the race
Tribune-Review: Lobbying pays off for Pittsburgh’s credit ratings

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Ethane cracker creates plastic possibilities
Beaver County Times: Indirect jobs could come from plant location
Beaver County Times: Political Prose: Spanik pulled plug, party hopes down the drain?
Observer-Reporter: Pension costs force tax talk
Observer-Reporter: Washington Co. jury commissioner joins court action to preserve office
Indiana Gazette: Government in action
Indiana Gazette: Senate OKs bill to let more state schools grant doctorates
Altoona Mirror: Supreme Court Justice still holding the cards

NEPA
Scranton Times-Tribune: In first year, Marino touts spending reductions
Times Leader: Holden to face primary challenge
Times Leader: Republicans announce candidacies
Times Tribune: Sen. Casey issues statement on Paterno’s passing
Citizens Voice: Republicans kick off state campaigns
Citizens Voice: Former rivals to face off again in state representative race
Wayne Independent: New mayor believes borough going in right direction
Pocono Record: Pa. Rep. Peifer seeks fourth term representing Pike, Wayne counties

South Central
The Sentinel: Southampton Township man to run for Platts’ seat
York Daily Record: Two Democrats announce candidacies for Platts’ seat

Lehigh Valley
AP: Marcellus Shale: Pa. town with tainted wells getting new water from EPA
Morning Call: Pro-Marcellus Shale gas drilling lobbyists spending millions more than critics
Morning Call: House Maj. Leader Mike Turzai is running for Congress
Morning Call: Forks Township board revises meeting structure
Morning Call: Politics as Usual
Morning Call: Allentown mayor working on pension costs fix
Reading Eagle: State urged action in Reading schools spat
Reading Eagle: Leader of Berks Patriots seeks state House seat
WFMZ: Governor Corbett, Senate Majority Leader Pileggi Address Fiscal Situation in Chester Upland School District
WFMZ: Pennsylvania Governor Corbett Expresses Condolences on Death of Joe Paterno

North by Northwest
Erie-Times News: Potential candidates emerge for Jane Earll’s senate seat
Erie-Times News: Sen. Pat Toomey talks about spending, economic growth in Erie
Centre Daily Times: U.S. Senator Bob Casey on Joe Paterno’s passing
Centre Daily Times: Pennsylvania town with tainted wells, given water by EPA
The Courier Express: Opinion: Clarion County must field candidate in senate race

Opinion
CNN: A perfect storm for Gingrich
Lehigh Valley Express-Times: PA voters should keep redistricting flim-flam on the front burner

Blogs
CasablancaPA: Required Viewing
Young Philly Politics: School District can’t afford to leave democracy behind
NEPAritsan: Glenn Cashuric Mulling a Run, hits Smith hard
NEPArtisan: Laws in place now, SOPA/PIPA not needed
PA Water Cooler: Why are Iowa hicks and South Carolina’s Uncle Cletus picking our president?
Pennsylvania Progressive: Daylin Leach kicks off campaign
Pennsylvania Progressive: Schlossberg Kicks off campaign
Keystone Politics: Democrat Ken Lee announces candidacy to replace retiring Todd Platts
Keystone Politics: 2012 Republican senatorial debate coverage
Keystone Politics: Santorum is Anti-gay standard bearer in GOP race
John Hanger: Gingrich rises from political death bed: Up 40-26 in last night’s polling
John Hanger: Comparing Tax rates paid by Obama, Biden, Gingrich, and Romney
North Pittsburgh Politics: State House elections 28th district