July 31, 2009, 6:55 pm
by Alex Roarty
House Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne) told reporters Friday evening that he has asked his caucus to return to the Capitol early Monday morning to discuss sending Senate Bill 850 to the governor’s desk so the chief executive can blue-line all line-items save basic government operations.
The move would allow the state to pay nearly 80,000 of its employees, who Friday experienced a payless payday because of the budget impasse
Continue reading…
July 31, 2009, 6:54 pm
by Alex Roarty
Legislative leaders called a Friday afternoon closed-door meeting at the Governor’s Mansion a positive step toward a budget agreement but were either unwilling or unable to cite specific examples of progress, a sign negotiations still face major hurdles before a deal is reached.
The lawmakers did reveal one agreement: They will meet Sunday at 10 a.m., again at the Governor’s Residence, to continue private negotiations after Friday’s roughly 75-minute session.
Continue reading…
July 31, 2009, 10:11 am
Governor Ed Rendell, House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia), and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) will meet at 2 p.m. today in the governor’s residence to negotiate the state budget away from the glare of TV cameras that accompanied the legislative conference committee.
The closed-door session will not violate state Sunshine Laws because it will not comprise a quorum of the conference committee. A quorum would include at least two members from the Senate side and two members from the House side.