Gov. Rendell Hopeful for Remainder of Budget Legislation
by KYW's Tony Romeo
Governor Rendell says a dispute that is preventing him from signing the newly passed state budget is "serious," but he also says he's hopeful that the dispute will be resolved.
And a spokesman for the state senate Republicans says that talks appear to be back on track today.
Pennsylvania lawmakers delivered the governor a main budget bill on time, but budget "companion" bills are still in the pipeline and the governor says he can't sign the general appropriations bill until the other bills are passed.
Rendell says one of those bills that provide some revenue necessary to balance the budget is being held up in a dispute over Senate Republicans' desire to create an independent fiscal monitoring office:
"I'm very worried and very concerned. I want to be able to sign this budget, like I told you on Tuesday, but I can't do that without the other pieces of legislation being passed."
On the other hand, the governor also says he's reasonably confident that the dispute won't drag on:
"I am relatively confident that sanity will prevail and that we'll get this done in the next few days at least."
If it does, however, Rendell says he will have to use his veto power should his ten-day window to act on the main bill close before the companion bills are passed.
