Pa. state budget battle heads to TV tonight

HARRISBURG (AP) — The top Democrat and top Republican in Pennsylvania state government are taking the debate over the state budget before a statewide TV audience.

Gov. Ed Rendell and Senate President Joe Scarnati are taping 30-minute interviews that are slated to be shown back to back on public-television stations across the state at 9 tonight.

The program comes one week before the state begins a new fiscal year. But a $3 billion-plus shortall has stalled efforts to pass a budget.

The Republican-controlled Senate has approved a $27.3 billion budget that would slash spending while holding the line on taxes.

The Democratic governor is advocating a grab bag of new taxes, including a 16 percent boost in the state income tax, to support $29 billion in spending.