Gov. Rendell: Pa. budget deal likely won’t come soon
HARRISBURG (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell is warning Pennsylvanians not to expect a state budget deal this week or next.
The governor said in a Capitol news conference today that recent talks have been cooperative. He says the spirit of Monday night’s meeting with top lawmakers was good.
His remarks came about 12 hours before the state’s fiscal year wraps up at midnight.
Rendell says he and negotiators went through 358 of about 700 lines in the budget Monday night. They resumed the process later today.
The state faces an estimated $3.2 billion revenue shortfall for the current year.
Senate Republicans want to solve the problem by cutting state spending. Rendell supports a mixture of cuts and tax increases.