Pa. lawmakers hope budget stalemate ends on 101st day

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Senate and House will be gaveled into voting session before noon and top legislators hope will it produce a final budget bill that Gov. Ed Rendell can sign.

The politically divided Legislature on Friday entered its 101st day of a stalemate over the 2009-2010 state budget.

It is the longest such battle in the nation this year.

Key bills were readied for today votes in the Senate, including a $27.8 billion appropriations bill that cuts spending by more than 1 percent.

A companion bill to tap more than $1.5 billion in reserves is also ready for a vote, but disagreements remain between the House and Senate.