Bickering But No Budget

Budget Negotiations at the Capitol seem stalled, though the partisan sniping is in full form.
Governor Rendell says he’s compromised plenty, trimming his spending plan by two billion dollars and dropping a proposal to hike Pennsylvania’s personal income tax.
He says Republicans aren’t returning the favor.

"So far we’ve given, myself and the House and Senate Democrats, we’ve given, given, and given, and all they’ve done is take take take."

Not surprisingly, Senate Republican spokesman Erik Arneson has a different take.

"He likes to trumpet two billion dollars in cuts, but Governor Rendell is the only man in the world who can make two billion dollars in cuts and still want to spend a billion more than he did last year."

Appearing at the Capitol, Rendell said he’s open to any budget agreement, as long as it doesn’t cut spending on education, health care and services to the elderly, and it presents a balanced plan for the next two fiscal years.