Rendell wants state budget to sign by Sunday

HARRISBURG - Gov. Rendell today gave legislative leaders a Sunday deadline to deliver to him an approved state budget to sign.

"We need to bring this to a conclusion," said Rendell at a news conference this afternoon after a meeting with House and Senate leaders at the Governor's Mansion.

Rendell said counties, municipalities and non-profit groups are struggling to make ends meet in the absence of state funding.

Ten days ago, Rendell and Democratic legislative leaders. Joined by Senate Republicans, announced a handshake agreement to end the state's three-month-old budget impasse. But the deal's details promised at that time have not yet emerged and Rendell wants to see legislature work through the week and the weekend if necessary to get the fine-tuning on the budget completed.

Rendell's deadline order comes as growing discontent among factions of rank-and-file lawmakers which oppose various revenue-generating options. Some are opposed to expanded natural gas drilling on state land. Some are against a tax on small games of chance. Others are dead-set against a tax on arts events.