News Brief

Rendell's state budget passes In an unprecedented move, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the state budget this afternoon without any hearings or inquiries, only 48 hours after Governor Ed Rendell announced the proposal. The budget proposal, which Rendell deemed "very bitter medicine," was only the first installment of a two-part plan for the 2003-2004 state budget, the second part of which he plans to detail on March 25. While the first budget proposal is very "bare-bones," the second, which would likely require a tax increase, is what Rendell called "a budget for change." "The governor is seriously disappointed at the action taken today to pass the budget bill in the house," said Tom Hickey, spokesperson for the governor. "Quite frankly, this begs the question, 'Which cut to fund services were some members so excited about that they felt the need to pass this budget within 48 hours?'" In most years, budget proposals are extensively debated and examined and are not passed until April or May when revenue can be more accurately assessed. "The governor didn't believe in his wildest dreams that the elected representatives of Pennsylvania would choose to deny our citizens the democratic process in order to take a cheap political punch at the governor," Hickey said, referring to the Republican-dominated House. The budget must still pass the Senate, also dominated by Republicans, and face Rendell's final approval, which is anything but a given. The Republicans have removed a substantial amount of funds that Rendell had allocated for Keystone Opportunity Zones in an attempt to revitalize the state economy. -- Andrea Miller