Good morning politicos, and welcome to the Buzz. The GOP primary for Attorney General is set to get more interesting today, with Cumberland County DA Dave Freed set to announce a bid in beautiful Carlisle. Meanwhile the primary for U.S. Senate got a little less interesting, as Sen. Dominic Pileggi took his name out of the running.

Pileggi Out: Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi has ruled out a bid for U.S. Senate, the lawmaker told his home town Delaware County Daily Times this morning.

Updated With Video: The AFL-CIO will spend over $170,000 to air television ads in support of Democratic Senator Bob Casey. The spots are scheduled to begin Monday.

Tom Smith: Former Democratic Committeeman: Supporters of his opponents are keen to note that Smith was a member of the Armstrong County Democratic Committee.

Confirmed: Ethan Smith to Take Reins of HDCC: The Multiple sources indicate that the caucus has selected Ethan Smith, a 27 year-old operative from Pittsburgh, to steer the ship in the 2012 cycle as the House Democratic Campaign Committee’s Executive Director.

National
Pennsylvania Ave: Pileggi not running for US Senate
Pennsylvania Ave: This week in Washington
Pennsylvania Ave: Rep. Holden to the Lehigh Valley?
Business Week: Pennsylvania Hires Greenhil to Weigh Asset Sales to Investors
American Medical News: Super committee gone, 27% Medicare pay cut threat remains
Politico: Payroll tax cut boils down to who pays
Politico: Bob Ehrlich book takes aim at Obama
Daily Mail: Rick Santorum: “Why I’m running for President when my daughter is seriously ill”
PolitiFact: Did Santorum’s unemployment numbers add up this time?
Catholic Online: Huckabee Presidential Candidate Forum: Is a Santorum Surprise in Iowa Possible?
Reuters: Santorum says Iowa race still wide open with month to go
The HiIl: Santorum: Cain right to drop out
WFMZ: Democrats offer payroll tax cut deal
Pennsylvania Ave: Casey unveils details of new payroll tax cut plan
Politico: Parties roll out dueling payroll tax proposals
Politico: Will supercommittee release it secrets?
Washington Post: Rick Santorum’s daughter’s illness stirs up controversy about whether he should campaign

Statewide
The Hill: AFL-CIO running ads for Casey
Capitolwire (paywall): Metcalfe, Mcllhinney, House GOP Push For Hearing On Congress Map, Senate GOP Not Assenting Yet
Capitolwire (paywall): Staback and Piccola Seats Major Factors In Finishing State Legislative Redistricting
Patriot-News: Redistricting Can Determine The Outcome Of Elections Years Before They Are Run
State House Sound Bites: Education Secretary Hears Concerns On Budget, Teacher Evaluations
Early Returns: Pro-Voucher Group Hits Harrisburg Airwaves
Capitolwire (paywall): Good Government Groups Criticize ‘Gathering’ of Corbett’s Privatization Panel
Capitol Ideas: Bills Before State House Would Close Pa. Megan’s Law Loopholes
Inquirer: Pileggi, on Facebook, says he won’t challenge Casey
Philly Weekly: Is Bob Casey’s National Defense Authorization vote hurting his global reputation?
Philly Weekly: Pa to offer stricter ‘massage parlor’ laws
Fox News: 2nd GOP Candidate Expected For Attorney General
ABC News: Dominic Pileggi won’t make US senate bid
Pottstown Mercury: Pa House OKs ban on leaving kids in casino parking
Post Gazette: Casey offers revised tax holiday extension plan
WJAC: PENNdot says new PA drivers license offers more security
WJAC: Some PA farmers oppose proposed child labor regulations

Philly
Education Week News: Philadelphia’s New School Safety Chief Promises a High Profile
Inquirer: ‘Real Housewife’ Ramona’s a wine seller
Inquirer: Pa. Senate approves more mayoral authority over PHA
Newsworks: No challenge
Intelligencer: Lawmakers deny charter school ‘support’
Daily News: What the media can learn from Occupy
Fox News: Second Occupy Camp Evicted in Philly

Philly Burbs
Intelligencer: Schwartz: Automatic cuts must happen
Intelligencer: Schwartz: Automatic cuts must happen
Intelligencer: GOP teens to host Senate forum

Pittsburgh
Post Gazette: Pro-voucher group hits Hbg airwaves
Tribune-Review: State Sen. Pileggi will not run for US Senate
Tribune-Review: Upcoming redistricting likely to zap 12th District
Tribune Review: Next Allegheny Exec readies for position
Tribune Review: Allegheny County: No policy of inmate beating
Early Returns: DA Freed yes/no on AG race
KDKA: Officials discuss recent South Side problems

NEPA
Times Tribune: Community hospital to leave behind $19 million in liabilities
Daily Review: Dimock may refuse water
Go Lackawanna: Council will reduce tax increases but keep firefighter layoffs
Citizens Voice: State lawmakers in year-end rush
Standard Speaker: A good place for the president to make his case

South Central
Patriot-News: Redistricting can determine the outcome of elections years before they’re run
Patriot-News: Mayor Thompson Is Continuing Town Hall Series

North by Northwest
Erie Times: Millcreek Township 2012 budget expected to include tax increase
Erie Times: Erie residents react to slower U.S. Postal Service delivery
Erie Times: U.S. Sen. Casey to Postmaster General: think carefully about closing Erie mail-sorting facility
Erie Times: Postal Service confirms plan to close Erie processing center
Erie Times: House, Senate expect to work on payroll taxes
Erie Times: Pa. law backs up Penn State’s fight for secrecy
Erie Times: Pennsylvania towns contend with gas pipeline proposals
Erie Times: Region and state briefs
Erie Times: NCAA will wait its turn to investigate Penn State scandal
Centre Daily Times: Violations hold steady after Penn State bans alcohol for all dorm residents
Centre Daily Times: Centre County Court to hold “lottery” to fill seats for Sandusky hearing
Centre Daily TImes: Gingrich picks Pittsburgh prof as security adviser
Centre Daily Times: PennDOT says new Pa. license offers more security
Centre Daily Times: High court to hear suit over Cheney event arrest
Sun Gazette: Rebuilding 87
Sun Gazette: Legislative Tally
Sun Gazette: Area man places some blame on media in PSU scandal
State College: Erickson to Field PSU Faculty Questions; Senate to Discuss Resolution Anew
State College: As Joe Paterno Retains Tenure, Graham Spanier Gains Emeritus Status; Futures Unclear

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: No direct route to roads money
The Morning Call: Occupy Bethlehem protest ‘illegal,’ city says
Reading Eagle: 25% tax increase approved for 2012

Southwest
Indiana Gazette: County unemployment rate falls to 6.9 percent
Indiana Gazette: Two more state legislators turn down pay increase
Trib Live: Scottdale in need of bell ringers for annual holiday kettle drive
Trib Live: Contested race keeps districts from reorganizing
Beaver County Times: last hurdle cleared for moon commissary
Beaver County Times: Commissioners promote LaValle to financial administrator
Beaver County Times: Officials to review Freedom from Religion foundation banner
Observer Reporter: Washington School Board OKs Park School negotiations

Opinion
Baer Growls: The Legislative Lag
Times Tribune: Bills diminish public safety
Citizen’s Voice: Prohibit legal slush funds
Pocono Record: Obama must court PA voters
Intelligencer Journal Editorial: Penn State’s Recovery Begins
Intelligencer Journal Editorial: Occupy Lancaster: Protesting In Peace
Intelligencer Journal Editorial: A Payroll Bonus
Erie Times: Editorial Cartoon: Tax Cuts
Erie Times: Our view: City planning classes help Erie neighborhoods
Erie Times: Redistricting is focus on Mercyhurst program Tuesday
Centre Daily Times: Lies, lies and more lies
Centre Daily Times: Hope for the victims
Centre Daily Times: Hope for survival
Centre Daily Times: The only nerve protesters have struck is the gag reflex
Centre Daily Times: Protesters reflect vast majority on 99 percent of major issues
Sun Gazette: Seeing through the Barney Frank rhetoric
Sun Gazette: Politicians

Blogs
Third and State: The failure of school choice
The Pennsylvania Progressive: Go form your own party
Two Political Junkies: With a little digging
The Harrisburg Blog: Harrisburg education takes fiscal responsibility seriously
Gort 42: On Rep. Barletta
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Tax breaks but no books
Fot Worth Star Telegram: Armey: Santorum could be next no-Romney darling
NewsMax: Penn Lawmakers Concentrate on Congressional Map
NewsMax: Bachmann, Santorum Accept Newsmax ION TV Debate with Trump