Pa. Gov. Rendell says nearly 800 layoffs are pending

HARRISBURG (AP) — As many as 800 Pennsylvania state employees may have to be laid off because of Republican lawmakers’ demands for spending cuts and labor unions’ refusal to accept less drastic measures, Gov. Ed Rendell said today.

“I regret that deeply,” Rendell said. “I wish the unions would consider letting me do rolling furloughs. I think it’s a fairer way than taking away someone’s livelihood, but I can’t do that without their assent under the contract.”

David Fillman, the executive director of the state’s largest employee union, said unions have ruled out furloughs because it involves office shutdowns that are disruptive to government. But Fillman also said he hopes Rendell’s cabinet secretaries are able to avoid layoffs by finding ways to save the money.

“I have not seen a mandate that there has to be 800 people leaving,” said Fillman, who heads Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “So we’re hoping the secretaries will use a more surgical cut.”

Amid partisan standoff that has left the state government without a budget for a week, Rendell also said he plans to ask the largest vendors to continue providing services while the state is barred legally from spending money to pay most of its bills. They would be paid in full once a budget is approved, he said.