So much going on today . . . but enough about the Steelers' new offensive coordinator.

Gov. Tom Corbett's budget address is at 11:30 a.m. You can watch live here at the state website. It could be another long cold winter for education and human services funding.

At least the long-delayed Marcellus Shale impact fee/zoning oversight bill is moving. It's two votes away from Corbett's desk. (Laura Olson/Pipeline)

Speaking of state duties, county controller Chelsa Wagner is still battling county exec Rich Fitzgerald over control of the little yellow stickers on scales and gas pumps. Rather than let the exec take the duty over, she says the responsibility should be returned to the state. (Len Barcousky has the story, and Wagner writes an op-ed in today's PG.)

Waynesburg Democrat Bill DeWeese is vowing to run again for his state House seat, despite his conviction on five public corruption felonies yesterday. He gets to stay in office through his sentencing April 24th . . .

Which was a big day already, sharing the calendar with the state's primary and perhaps the cavalcade of GOP presidential candidates and hangers-on. Except state Republicans may seek to push the primary back if Democrats get their way via the re-reapportionment and have the election on decade-old lines. If so, there goes any chance of Pa being a presidential player this spring. From my story:

"Presidential primary movement is common. Presidential primary movement in the midst of the primary calendar is not," Josh Putnam, a visiting assistant political science professor at Davidson College in North Carolina, wrote in an email.

Pennsylvania usually holds its primaries the third week of May but moves them to late April in presidential years. Mr. Putnam, who runs the primary and delegate-tracking website Frontloading HQ, said the state was poised to have a say this year in a GOP nominee, possibly by pushing frontrunner Mitt Romney past the 1,144 delegates needed to lock up the party's nomination.

"To move back beyond that date, then, would mean Pennsylvania would be pushed out of the window of decisiveness in this race," he said.

Hours after a jury convicted him of theft and criminal conspiracy, state Rep. Bill DeWeese was back in the Capitol, shaking hands and shouting greetings.

The Democratic representative from Waynesburg, once a House speaker, greeted fellow lawmakers in a hallway where a committee meeting had just adjourned. He called out an apology for missing the session: "Sorry, I was just on the steps when the meeting concluded."

As he had outside the courtroom this morning, DeWeese maintained he would continue to serve as a member of the House while pursuing re-election. He noted to reporters that he previously had won re-election "under tumultuous circumstances," both in 2008, after his name had been tied to the investigation of House Democratic caucus staffers receiving bonuses for political work, and in 2010, after his indictment. 

"So the court of public opinion in those faraway and honorable townships and boroughs sanctioned my public duties in these sessions," DeWeese said. "And until the official jurisdictions limit my ability to serve, I shall hopefully maintain perfect attendance and a positive attitude. I'll conduct myself as an officer and a gentleman."

Asked if he had any concern that the convictions would limit his effectiveness, DeWeese responded: "None."

Former Senate staffer Evan Feinberg is way behind US Rep. Tim Murphy in the money-raising department when it comes to his GOP primary challenge of the 18th District incumbent, but other support keeps coming his way.

The grassroots Tea Party group FreedomWorks is announcing its support of Feinberg tomorrow, reports The Hill. That comes on the heels of Club For Growth ads attacking Murphy for being too moderate and national complaints about the incumbent's record from the influential Red State blog.

After seven days of trial and a little more than two for jury deliberations, state Rep. Bill DeWeese was found guilty this morning on five of six felony counts of theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy.

In typical DeWeese fashion, he exited the courtroom and told reporters that he is seeking appeal, will continue his re-election bid, and will take his seat on the House floor tomorrow during the budget address from Gov. Tom Corbett (who brought the charges against the long-time lawmaker back in 2009).

"I believe in the court of public opinion I will be favorably received to some substantial degree," he said. "I will certainly continue to run for renomination and re-election."

Senior Deputy Attorney General Ken Brown had a stinging response to DeWeese's declaration: "He's a convicted felon and convicted felons, once they are sentenced, can't sit in the General Assembly.

"If he wants to spit in the face of the jury's verdict, I guess that's his perogative."

It appears that DeWeese could remain in his legislative seat until his April 24 sentencing date -- which coincides with the state's primary election date (though that may be in limbo at the moment...). His six-figure pension also will be forfeited, though it's unclear whether that will occur after today's conviction or sentencing.

In the meantime, the former House Speaker is aiming to be among the lawmakers who escort the governor into the chamber tomorrow. A copy of his email to House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, sent before this morning's verdict was announced, is below:

From: DeWeese, William

Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 9:13 AM
To: Dermody, Frank
Subject: Request

Dear Mr. Leader,

As the second most senior Member in the General Assembly, House and Senate combined, I would respectfully request to be appointed to the Committee that will be escorting the Governor to his annual budget address on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 AD.

Respectfully,
Rep. Bill DeWeese