HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) _ Gov. Ed Rendell says he hopes he and legislative leaders can strike a deal on the state budget by early next week.
Rendell told reporters Thursday that he’s encouraged by ongoing discussions behind the scenes among key legislators and his own representatives.
The Democrat said he hopes those talks will produce a tentative agreement that can be swiftly ratified by the House-Senate conference committee expected to be appointed Monday.
The state government is now in the fourth week of operating without a budget _ meaning it has no authority to pay most of its bills and state workers.
Last week, the House passed a $29.1 billion spending plan that would require tax increases. On Monday, the Senate approved a $27.1 billion proposal that cuts programs and taps reserve funds.