Gov. Ed Rendell willing to sign skeleton Pa. budget

HARRISBURG (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell says he may sign legislation as early as next week that will allow state employees and some vendors to be paid a few days later.

Rendell said today he will take action if a joint House-Senate committee makes no substantial progress toward breaking a five-week-old budget stalemate.

The committee began meeting today. State government began July without a budget in place, severely curtailing its ability to spend money.

The legislation Rendell wants to sign must be passed first by the House.

Rendell’s plan would leave in limbo billions of dollars for education, health care, universities, human services and more while negotiations continue toward a full-year budget agreement.