Leading lawmakers continue talks on Pa. budget

September 16, 2009 at 5:20p.m.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Senior Pennsylvania lawmakers are having a closed-door meeting in hopes of completing a deal that can pass the Legislature and get Gov. Ed Rendell’s support.

Leaders of the Senate Democratic and Republican caucuses and the House Democrats convened late this afternoon in offices of Lt. Gov. Joe Scarnati.

Negotiators say they’re trying to satisfy Rendell’s doubts about the reliability of the revenue figures that would finance a nearly $28 billion tentative spending plan they announced on Friday.

House Republicans aren’t taking part in the discussions.

The Democratic governor is in Philadelphia, where he appeared on a segment of the Dr. Phil TV program regarding the Philadelphia Eagles’ signing of convicted dogfighting ring figure Michael Vick.