Happy New Year, politicos. Hopefully everyone had a relaxing holiday weekend, and welcome to 2011.

For a holiday, the weekend was fairly busy with political news. Pittsburgh and Harrisburg both have budgets, the journalistic assault on PA’s state-owned liquor stores continues, more drama in Montco, and legislators are looking to this week’s swearing in.

Good Monday morning, and welcome to the buzz.

PoliticsPA Reports

PoliticsPA: Former Philadelphia area Specter and Bush staffer named to 2010 Best Dressed list (h/t Stone Zone)

Weekend Headlines

New York Times: A push to privatize PA liquor stores, says PA customers “like prisoners in the gulag”
Patriot News: Harrisburg Council passes tax-free Koplinski budget
Patriot News: Wide gender gap remains in PA politics
Patriot News: State House raising private funds for inauguration celebration
New York Times: Political battle on illegal immigration shifts to states (Quotes State Rep. Metcalfe).
Newsworks: Incoming Senator Pat Toomey sets legislative goals as he joins U.S. Senate
The Hill: Issa says he won’t investigate White House job offer to Rep. Sestak
AP: Sen. Specter leaves enduring legacy in Senate
AP: GOP strength should aid Tom Corbett as Pennsylvania’s governor
Times-News: Rep. Dahlkemper suggested for White House job
Times-News: Congressman-Elect Kelly says he is ready for the challenge of D.C. politics
Roll Call: Rep. Weiner spars with Rep.-Elect Kelly (paywall)
Times-Tribune: Reps.-Elect Tom Marino and Lou Barletta excited to take office on Wednesday
Inquirer: Deficit is job no. 1 for Pa. politicos
Times-News: Petition calls for drilling moratorium in Pa. state forests
AP: Pittsburgh council overrides pension veto
Inquirer: Without city, state and federal financial aid, Aker Philadelphia Shipyard will close by July
Inquirer: Despite budget woes, Philadelphia tax hike unlikely
Inquirer: Montgomery County GOP struggling with money and mission
Tribune-Review: Rendell being Rendell
CNN: Altmire talks about the Dems’ way forward on CNN’s State of the Union.
Post-Gazette: Western PA has is share of powerful legislators
Post-Gazette: Rendell proud of his activist approach to government

Weekend Opinions

Times-Tribun Editorial: Murtha’s former congressional seat is the logical choice for elimination in redistricting
Daily News Editorial: Where Corbett can find $4 billion to close the budget hole
Times-Tribune Editorial E: Pa. should consolidate district courts
Post-Gazette Editorial: Broken leadership: The pension crisis reveals a Pittsburgh in trouble
Post-Gazette Editorial: U.S. needs to close Guantanamo
Post-Gazette Editorial: NASA boondoggle represents worst in government waste
Patriot News Editorial: 2011 is the year PA should say goodbye to state-owned liquor stores
Tribune Review Editorial: New NRLB are too pro-union
Tribune Review Editorial: Syria is bad, and Obama is bad to send a U.S. ambassador there