Panel of 6 top lawmakers to seek Pa. budget deal

HARRISBURG (AP) — The action in the battle over a new state budget is moving into what’s known as a conference committee that consists of six high-ranking Pennsylvania lawmakers.

The negotiations were scheduled to begin at noon today inside the Capitol and will be open to the public and broadcast on the Pennsylvania Cable Network.

The members include the House majority and minority leaders, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, the Senate majority leader and the ranking Republican and Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The sides remain far apart on how much to spend, and whether and how much to increase taxes.

State government began July without a budget in place, severely curtailing its ability to spend money or pay its employees.