PENNSYLVANIA Governor, Legislature have yet to approve new budget

HARRISBURG (AP) -- Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has ordered his administration to continue normal, essential operations in the absence of a state budget when the next fiscal year begins Thursday.
Lawmakers and Rendell administration officials say they believe a budget will be finalized by the end of the week.
"If we do accomplish that, there will be little, if any, impact on state operations in the next few days," said Rendell's spokeswoman, Kate Philips.
Without an approved budget, state officials lose their legal authority to spend state funds. The Democratic governor and Republican-led Legislature have yet to agree on the details of a $22.7 billion budget that Rendell proposed in February.
Stalled paychecks
Unionized state employees, under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, would continue to be paid on a normal schedule, but managers or nonunion workers, such as those in the governor's office, the House and the Senate, would not, according to the Rendell administration.
In the absence of a budget, the last paycheck for nonunion state employees is to arrive Friday, Philips said.
An administration memo advised managers to encourage employees and vendors to continue working, with checks to be delivered when the governor and Legislature approve a budget.
But the memo also asked agencies to avoid nonessential commitments, such as purchases, contracting and travel.