Good morning politicos and welcome to the Buzz! Look for Up & Down this afternoon.

Beaver County Dems Endorse Altmire

The Beaver County Democratic Committee endorsed U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire in the Democratic primary for the new 12th Congressional district.

War of Words Breaks Out Over Petition Challenge

This has been a day of dueling press releases by the Altmire and Critz campaigns. The Altmire campaign formally responded to the allegations made by the Critz campaign earlier in the week. The Critz campaign then pushed back against the Altmire statement.

ABC News: Specter Says “Leave Me Out Of It”

Having been out of the news for some time, the former senator from Pennsylvania was briefly mentioned on the stage in Arizona as Mitt Romney blamed his chief rival, Rick Santorum, for his 2004 endorsement of the senator who became a Democrat and voted for President Obama’s signature health care plan that’s so hated by conservatives.

National:

Pennsylvania Ave: Toomey & Romney alliance?
Pennsylvania Ave: Santorum: Courage vs. team player
Politico: Nasty Arizona race reflects larger GOP divide
Politico: Obama: I’ve got ‘five years’ left to solve immigration
Politico: GOP fears rise over 2012 tone, message
Politico: At contraception hearing, Dems accuse GOP of ignoring women
Politico: Republican debate in Arizona: 6 takeaways
Politico: Virginia stalls ‘personhood’ bill until 2013
Politico: Democrats: Is Santorum for real?
Politico: Obama unveils online privacy plan
Politico: Paul Babeu survives storm, so far
Politico: Newt Gingrich back on his game
Politico: A secret history of the 2008 campaign
Roll Call: John Boehner may scale back highway, energy bill
Roll Call: Schumer asks Arizona Governor to testify on immigration
Roll Call: Obama blisters GOP on energy, gas prices
Roll Call: Oil & Gas Industry pushes back on Obama tax plan
Roll Call: Super PAC money getting more scrutiny, complaints
Five Thirty Eight: In Michigan, is Santorum sinking or steadying?
Washington Post: Same-sex marriage bill approved by Maryland senate
Washington Post: What happens if Romney wins Michigan?
Washington Post: Arizona Republican Debate: Winners & losers
The American Spectator: The mittens come off in Mesa
Wall Street Journal: A tax reform to restore America’s prosperity
The Hill: Gallup: Romney up by four on Obama
The Hill: Seven states sue over contraception mandate
The Hill: Nation might reach $16.4 trillion debt limit close to Election Day
New York Times: Santorum’s Senate record turns into a liability
The Caucus: Specter denies deal with Santorum
The Caucus: New Santorum ad, with a few omissions
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: Tough reviews
Tribune Review: Poll: Santorum’s support twice that of Romney’s

Statewide:

Roll Call: Pennsylvania: Critz says Altmire does not qualify
Early Returns: GOP challenge to DeWeese petitions
Early Returns: SEIU endorses Murphy for AG
Capitolwire (Paywall): Castille Does Not Fear Budget Revenge for Redistricting Decision
Capitolwire (Paywall): Senators Criticize Corbett For Lack of Transportation Plan
Capitolwire (Paywall): PennDOT Secretary Schoch Talks About Some Potential Transportation Plan Components
AP: Senate GOP: no delay in Pennsylvania’s April 24th primary
Post Gazette: Education budget holds line on basic funding, eliminates block grants
FOX43: Gov. Corbett discusses possible liquor privatization
Etownian: Gov. Corbett proposes largest prison reduction in state history
FOX: Rep. Murphy: U.S. isn’t keeping up with the world on energy
Daily Beast: Pat Toomey: The MVP of Obamacare
Philadelphia Inquirer: Corbett plans $55M in state Capitol renovations
Capitolwire (Paywall): State Tax, Law Officials Considering Crackdown On Tax-Evading Tobacco Shops
Capitolwire (Paywall): Gaming Control Board Asks For Slight Budget Increase, Addresses Property Tax Relief Questions

Philadelphia:

City Paper: Shop the presses
Daily News: Ready to explode over gas-bill liens
The Inquirer: New federal transportation funding plan will harm Septa, general manager says
The Inquirer: With no agreement yet on legislative districts, is the Pa. primary still on for April 24?
The Inquirer: Philly health officials: proposed state budget cuts ‘recipe for disaster’
PhillyClout: Nutter: tax-hike talk premature
PhillyClout: City council plans to set the record straight
PhillyClout: City councilman is eyeing solutions to gun violence
PhillyClout: W. Wilson Goode: city council working this week

SEPA:

Pottstown Mercury: Readers react to proposed Pa abortion law
Pottstown Mercury: Down since October, broken Pottstown sewer  sludge dryer costing users $1.2 million and counting
Daily Local: Parkesburg council looking for spending cuts
Delco Daily Times: Redistricting delays complicate elections for  6 State House seats
Delco Daily Times: County council ratifies with union workers

Pittsburgh:

Tribune Review: Pittsburgh schools extend contract with education company
Post Gazette: Pittsburgh public schools gets $1M Heinz grant
Post-Gazette: Ross considers library tax vote
Early Returns: Altmire hearing scheduled

Southwest:
Tribune Review: Former state rep. Mike Veon’s ex-chief of staff set to testify
Post Gazette: Postal service to close, consolidate western Pa. operations
Observer Reporter: Central Greene eyes literary grants
Valley News Dispatch: Most Alle-Kiski towns to get fewer road dollars this year
Indiana Gazette: Independent candidate to run for Congress
Altoona Mirror: City seeks to enter distressed program

Lehigh Valley:

Morning Call: Tinicum reluctantly repeals oil and gas drilling law
Reading Eagle: Candidate wants to retain best of Berks values
Reading Eagle: Fleetwood administrators freeze pay
Reading Eagle: GOP legislators have foes in primary
Express Times: Easton Area School District appealing Right to Know issue
Express Times: Forks Township supervisors to spend more money on public works building project
Express Times: Warren County Pollution Control Financing Authority approves solar panel project estimated to save $111,000 in first year

NEPA:

Times News: Local GOP group to hold voter registration party
Times Leader: Jail union offers concessions
Times Tribune: Rail grants headed to region
Citizens Voice: County retirement board approves pensions
Citizens Voice: Scranton postal center to close
Standard Speaker: Voters to decide on library tax

South Central:

Chambersburg Public Opinion: View public school administrator, teacher salaries
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Meeting stalls on moving Franklin County behavioral services
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Citizens call for county commissioners to install microphones to avoid ADA inquiry
Carlisle Sentinel: Houston will resign from county authority to take DCED job
York Daily Record: No vote tonight on city’s possible ‘non-renewal’ of New Hope charter
York Daily Record: Dallastown: Weinberg’s resignation cost district $120,000
York Daily Record: Adams County Republicans set forum for congressional candidates
York Daily Record: York panel to tell story of local minority community
York Dispatch: Feds: Mexican deported five times, caught again in the U.S., this time in York
York Dispatch: Fate of state grants worry York County school districts
York Dispatch: Additional $175K from state won’t close York Suburban’s $1.5M budget gap

North by Northwest:

CentreDaily: Thompson talks to supporters, kicks off re-election campaign
Erie Times-News: Congressmen Kelly and Thompson address Erie business luncheon
Campaign ‘12: Santorum leading Romney in latest Pa. poll

Opinion:

Washington Post: Opinion: Why the Supreme Court should curb the Alien Tort statute
Washington Post: Opinion: Carbon emission policy could slash debt, improve environment
Washington Post: Opinion: The knowledge class vs. the factory class
Washington Post: PostPartisan: Chris Christie is wrong on Obama & gay marriage
Washington Post: PostPartisan: Santorum loses ‘true conservative’ crown at Arizona debate Washington Post: PostPartisan: Va.’s anti-abortion bill: This is conservatism?
Tribune Review: Miscast Candidates
Tribune Review: Do the math
Tribune Review: Courting liberty: striking back
Post Gazette: Selective competition: UPMC should expand its one-year, one-site deal
Valley News Dispatch: Throw ‘em out!
Tribune Democrat: County board faces challenges, deserves chance to succeed
Daily American: Affordable plans
Altoona Mirror: Crossing fingers on gas prices
PennLive: Foster care: Corbett’s plan would be win-win situation
Morning Call: Sen. Toomey deserves kudos for earmark-ban bill
Daily News: Editorial: For City council , federal holidays can last a week
The Inquirer: Editorial: Time to sunset loopholes
The Inquirer: Housing crises was you fault

Blogs:

Young Philly Politics: The Santorum Problem
Commonwealth Foundation: Pennsylvania’s once-great cities
Commonwealth Foundation: Goodbye Gus, hello private partnerships
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: How will Lehigh County reassessment affect you?
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Zoners hear final arguments for and against Atiyeh’s rehab proposal
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Mike Schlossberg now uncontested in State House race
Lehigh Valley Independent: Americans love free birth control
Lehigh Valley Independent: Bartering in Philly
Pennsylvania Progressive: Random Thoughts
Above Average Jane: Dunderhead disses Girl Scouts
Keystone Politics: Critz-Altmire royal rumble gets court date
Keystone Politics: Why the state liquor stores will never be run “like a business”
Keystone Politics: Sam Smith still dragging his feet on special elections
John Hanger: Shale gas cuts again electric rates at big PA electric utility
John Hanger: Study finds drilling boom does not increase crime in communities