RENDELL ASKS SPECIAL SESSION TO RECONVENE IN AUGUST AMID SENATE SKEPTICISM

Governor Ed Rendell on Monday pushed back by one month his request the special legislative session on transportation funding reconvene and vowed he remained optimistic lawmakers would seriously consider proposals to make up the half-a-billion-dollar gap in money for highways, bridges and mass-transit systems. But the delay was met with skepticism by one top Senate Republican official, who said the session is less of a priority than an array of other issues facing lawmakers this fall and added that the chamber won’t deviate from its expected return in late September. House lawmakers and officials were more optimistic but conceded the two sides need to make a lot of progress to reach a deal. Click here to read the PLS News and Views article.

RENDELL PREDICTS 700 LAYOFFS

According to an article in the Patriot News, state government job cuts are on the horizon, but they could wind up being fewer than the 1,000 that Gov. Ed Rendell has suggested. The targeted number is now 700, Rendell said Monday. The projection declined as officials analyzed the money allotted to their agencies in the recently

Continue reading Eye Opener – July 20, 2010