A preliminary report by the nonpartisan Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on voting problems nationwide includes looks at voters being left off poll books in Philadelphia and lingering confusion over the state's voter ID law. The committee plans to send a final version to Congress next year.

On voter ID:

In Pennsylvania, following the court battle over Pennsylvania's new photo identification law and subsequent injunction, there was massive confusion across the state, which persisted through Election Day. The terms of the court decision permitted poll workers to still ask to see photo ID, though voters should have been allowed to cast a regular ballot without it in most cases. However, many voters reported being confused and deterred by the request. Election Protection received reports from across the state from voters who were improperly turned away for lacking photo ID. This was exacerbated by widespread misinformation disseminated at polling places. Voters in polling places in Dauphin County, for example, were greeted with misleading signs stating that voters must show an approved form of photo ID to vote. The state itself put out such misleading information, issuing a mailing the week before the election that read, "If you want to vote, SHOW IT....Under a new law, voters are supposed to show a form of ID" and contained no mention that voter's did were not required to show photo identification in order to vote on Election Day.

Strangely, vandals in Meadville have desecrated the grave of 1960s Pa Gov. Raymond Shafer, spray-painting weird messages on it in French. Kaitlynn Riely has the story.

Former House Speaker Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, filed an appeal of his corruption conviction. Karen Langley has the story.

The Allegheny County DA's office has responded to Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin's argument that her public corruption case should be handled by the judiciary not criminal courts. Wrote assistant DA Lawrence Claus (via Paula Ward):

"The commonwealth respectfully submits that no jurist can insulate herself from criminal liability by claiming that alleged criminal activity was an extension of politics and conducted within the physical space given to her by the court," the prosecution wrote. "The commonwealth submits that a judicial chamber is not a sanctuary for criminal behavior."

There was more bitter mayoral-season talk at City Council yesterday in a debate over parking rates, Joe Smydo writes.

The NRA ended its silence on the Newtown school shooting today. Here's their statement in full:

The National Rifle Association of America is made up of four million moms and dads, sons and daughters – and we were shocked, saddened and heartbroken by the news of the horrific and senseless murders in Newtown.

Out of respect for the families, and as a matter of common decency, we have given time for mourning, prayer and a full investigation of the facts before commenting.

The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again.

The NRA is planning to hold a major news conference in the Washington, DC area on Friday, December 21.

Details will be released to the media at the appropriate time.

A new Mercyhurst University poll shows Pennsylvania Republicans unsure who will lead their party after Mitt Romney's defeat last month. Story on that in today's PG.

Just as interesting is the survey's suggestion that state GOP members are in the mood for compromise when it comes to resolving the impending combination of tax hikes and spending cuts set to take effect in January. From the survey, conducted with 430 PA Republicans, Dec. 5 to Dec. 13, MOE +/- 4.7:

Seventy-five percent say Mr. Obama has not shown enough willingness to compromise since the  November election, and 50 percent say the same of Republicans in Congress. Similarly, 77 percent of state Republicans said Mr. Obama should have to compromise even if it requires sacrificing some of his beliefs, while 53 percent said the same of Congressional Republicans.

While Republican leaders in Congress have resisted Mr. Obama's demand for higher taxes on the wealthy, the survey found that 60 percent of Pennsylvania Republicans say a deal should include tax increases on high-income Americans along with cuts in federal spending. Twenty-eight percent said the agreement should contain only spending cuts, and 4 percent said it should consist of tax increases.

Valeria Caras, a spokeswoman for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, defended an opposition to raising rates on high earners.

"Republicans have offered a reasonable, responsible plan to avert the fiscal cliff through spending cuts and new revenues via tax reform that close special-interest loopholes instead of raising tax rates, while President Obama and Democrats are not wavering from their agenda to raise taxes on hard-working Americans," she said in an email. "This will cost America jobs and Pennsylvania jobs."