Pa. governor joins budget meeting of GOP leaders

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Corbett is meeting with Republican legislative leaders to discuss the state budget.

Corbett and Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley joined the closed-door session shortly after 11 a.m. today in the Capitol.

Corbett and top GOP lawmakers have been trying to hash out their remaining differences in an effort to complete a state budget deal ahead of the end of the fiscal year June 30.

The spending is expected to tally no more than $27.3 billion, or about 3 percent less than this year’s budget, as Corbett insists on cuts to state government to balance a projected multibillion-dollar deficit.

Top lawmakers hope to secure an agreement that can pass the Republican-controlled Legislature this week.