Good morning politicos, and welcome to the Buzz. If you opened this hoping for congressional redistricting maps, I’m afraid you’re mistaken – they’re delayed till next week. And you thought PA Society was going to be interesting before…

Not Again! Congressional Redistricting Maps Delayed: Congressional redistricting maps will not be out today (or this week), said House GOP Spokesman Steve Miskin Tuesday afternoon.

Dave Freed Announces for Attorney General: In the crowded lobby of the Cumberland County courthouse, District Attorney Dave Freed launched his bid for Pa. Attorney General Tuesday afternoon. He repeatedly emphasized his record as a tough-on-crime prosecutor.

Abortion Groups Divided on… Pa. Auditor General: Remember those heated pro-life and pro-choice rallies outside Jack Wagner’s office? Neither do we. But two of the issue’s most politically active groups have picked sides in the 2012 campaign for Auditor General.

Montco Commish Jim Matthews Arrested For Perjury: After an 18-month grand jury investigation, Montgomery County Commissioner Jim Matthews has been arrested on charges of perjury, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.

Casey Offers Payroll Tax Compromise: Late Thursday night, the Senate voted to block both Democratic and Republican plans for extending the current payroll tax cut. Now that Casey’s initial plan failed, he’s offering a compromise which the Senate will vote on later this week.

National
Hill: House to vote on synthetic marijuana ban this week
Hill: Inside the Office of Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.): Jenny Wood
Middle East North Africa Financial Network: Rendell employer gets state contract
CNN: Obama to channel Roosevelt’s ‘New Nationalism’
Stock Markets Review: LightSquared Bi-partisan News Conference and Congressional Staff Briefing
ABC: Rick Santorum Counters Anti-Campaign Literature in Iowa
ABC: Rick Santorum Has Tense Exchange on Gay Rights and Health Care in Iowa
ABC: 28 Days Out: Good Morning Iowa
Examiner: Mark Levin endorses Rick Santorum & Michele Bachmann for president in 2012
Foster’s Daily Democrat: Santorum explains positions
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: Losing Horns
Pennsylvania Ave: Specter: Pa. tough for Obama
Real Clear Politics: President Obama’s road to reelection runs through Pennsylvania
USA Today: Romney out, Santorum in for Trump debate

Statewide
Capitol Ideas: Senate Panel Approves Modified Small Games Bill
Capitol Ideas: Voucher Backers: “Let’s Save Those Who Can Be Saved”
Capitol Ideas: Way, Way More On Vouchers Than You Need To Know Today
Capitolwire (paywall): Lawmaker Says Conversation ‘Positive’ On Establishing Drug And Alcohol Department
Commonwealth Confidential: New Teen Driving Law May Have Saved Young Lives
Public Opinion: New Hologram Makes Drivers License More Secure
Inquirer: Pa. hearing highlights stalled child-sex-abuse-bills
Inquirer: Two Pa. officials urge Corbett to block DRPA plans
Essential Public Radio: Senate to Vote on Moon Commissary
witf: Links: The Price of orphaned wells, Corbett hires a Rendell employer, & Freed announces today
witf: PA Society: Toomey ready to work with Casey
WJTV: Latest Pennsylvania Business
Philly Weekly: Researchers find state budget cuts hurt economy, while lawmakers enjoy a raise
StateImpact: Burning Question: What Would Life Be Like Without the Haliburton Loophole?
College Reporter: PA Education Reform
ESPN: More names surfacing in PSU search
Early Returns: PA congressional lines on hold
Altoona Mirror: Banking firm to aid Corbett’s privatization group
WJACtv: Sandusky attorney looking forward to questioning witnesses against ex- coach
Observer Reporter: State lawmaker seeks opening of expressway section
Observer Reporter: Congressional redistricting plan still under review
Roll Call: Christopher Carney gauging support for 2012 bid

Philly
Inquirer: 19 Occupy Philly members opt for trial
Philadelphia Magazine: The Ultimate All-Time Philly Cocktail Party
Philadelphia Inquirer: Business news in brief
Philadelphia Weekly: Is Bob Casey’s National Defense Authorization Vote Hurting His Global Reputation?
Philly Weekly: Philly Democratic Party sued for not seating ‘unfaithful’ committee person
Courier Times: Missing link would help protect children
Temple News: From capitol to capital

Philly Burbs
Courier Times: Bill passed that allows counties to abolish jury commissioner
Intelligencer: Commissioners get earful on budget shortfall

Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review: Rendell employer gets state contract
Tribune Review: Allegheny County property tax increase
Tribune Review: Upper St. Clair Commissioners approve barn demolition, 2012 budget
Post Gazette: Council approves $784 million budget with tax hike
Post Gazette: Pittsburgh Council considers taking billboards
KDKA: Rich Fitzgerald supports tax increase

NEPA
Times Tribune: Dimock officials reject water offer
Times Tribune: Kill mail order drug merger
Times-Tribune: Marcellus well bonds differ in rival bills
Citizen’s Voice: DA elect names transition team
Citizen Voice: Quick action needed on flood hazard mitigation
Daily Review: Towanda approves tax hike
Go Lackawanna: Scranton approves airport authority

South Central
Patriot-News: Harrisburg City Council To Hold Budget Hearings
AP: New Commissary Planned In Western Pa. Frees People Up From Trip To Carlisle
WGAL: Governor’s Residence Open for Holiday Tours

North by Northwest
Erie Times: Delay in Pennsylvania redistricting proposal reported
Erie Times: Millcreek supervisors approve preliminary budget with tax increase
Erie Times: Pa. drivers licenses have new security hologram
Erie Times: Up to 11 postal facilities slated closure in state
Erie Times: Pa. House OKs fines on kids left in casino parking
Erie Times: City & Region news briefs
Erie Times: Erie residents react to slower postal service
Courier Express: Sandy Township revises budget, trims tax increase
Courier Express: Councilman-elect raises questions about budget
Centre Daily Times: Penn State plans to found Center for Protection of Children in Hershey
Centre Daily Times: Centre County posts information on “media staging” for Sandusky hearing
Centre Daily Times: PSU chief tries to soothe faculty fears on probe
Centre Daily Times: Attorney: Client claims Sandusky sexually abused him in 2004
Centre Daily Times: PSU President Erickson issues update
Sun Gazette: Williamsport region could benefit from Pittsburgh flight proposal
Sun Gazette: South Side has new school director
Sun Gazette: Southern Tioga preliminary budget has $2 million deficit
Sun Gazette: Tax hike coming in Lock Haven
State College: Erickson to Field PSU Faculty Questions; Senate to Discuss Resolution Anew

Lehigh Valley
WFMZ: Montgomery County Commissioner arrested

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Stretching the law
Altoona Mirror: Tyrone district votes to allow GACTC use
Altoona Mirror: 2012 Altoona area school board president elected
Indiana Gazette: Fourth candidate for IUP President visits campus
Daily American: Shade considering tax increase to pay for retirement costs
Johnstown Democrat: Altoona mail center may close
Tribune Review: Fayette election board signs off on results
Tribune Review: Fayette commissioner holds on to lead
Beaver County Times: Aliquippa city administrator resigns

Opinion
Patriot-News Op-Ed: Sen. Toomey: Democrats Shunned Tax Reform Offer
Intelligencer Journal Editorial: For Post Office, No Pain, No Gain
York Daily Record Editorial: Deliver Some Real Change, PLCB
Times Tribune: Kill mail order drug merger
Pocono Record: Gingrich may want to take a bath himself
Erie Times: Voting for gambling grants poses risks
Erie Times: District priorities hurt counseling
Erie Times: Editorial Cartoon
Courier Express: Mayor takes stand in defense of Christmas
Centre Daily Times: Parties needs to recognize reality
Centre Daily Times: Corbett’s moral compass off
Centre Daily Times: Defense of Paterno heartening
Centre Daily Times: Gun lobby’s power frightening
Sun Gazette: $500 deductible hardly an outlandish request
Sun Gazette: Seeing through the Barney Frank rhetoric
Sun Gazette: Crazy or stupid!
The Morning Call: Sensible ideas emerged from supercommittee

Blogs
Commonwealth Foundation: Public School Enrollment vs Staff
Above Average Jane: CMU meets with Obama
Keystone Politics: Pileggi Opts Out
The Pennsylvania Progressive: News and notes
Two Political Junkies: The Birther Return
Gort 42: Do Republicans even want the White House
Sights On Pennsylvania: Should WE keep paying people not to work?
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Congressional redistricting top secret