By Marc Levy, Associated Press Writer
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - State Senate Republican leaders say they will try to override some of the spending items vetoed by Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell in a seven-week-old partisan budget impasse that is weakening the state’s social safety net.
Senate Republicans said a session scheduled for Wednesday might include votes on nearly $2.2 billion in spending for everything from money for college tuition grants to food bank aid.
The move comes as closed-door talks between top legislators are said to be making achingly slow progress toward a compromise on how to resolve a multibillion-dollar revenue shortfall.
Meanwhile, day-care providers are laying off workers and nonprofit providers of services for the poor, disabled and elderly are struggling to stay afloat while state government runs on a bare-bones budget.
A successful veto override requires two-thirds majority votes in the House and Senate. Such an effort would face an uphill climb in the Senate, where cooperation from four Democrats is necessary, and an even tougher time in the House, where 37 Democratic votes are necessary.
In a statement Tuesday, Republicans accused the Democratic governor of using college students, rape victims and the needy as hostages to get his way in the stalled budget talks.
“The governor’s decision to veto funding for line items such as food banks shows a lack of compassion for Pennsylvanians who are struggling with record-high unemployment rates,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware.
Rendell said he expects Democrats will defend his vetoes and sought to put the onus back on the Legislature to produce a budget proposal that is acceptable.
“The answer isn’t to override specific lines,” Rendell said. “The answer is,