Rendell signs part of a Pa. budget bill

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Gov. Ed Rendell signed part of a budget bill Wednesday, authorizing $11 billion in spending and allowing Pennsylvania state employees to get paid.

The governor vetoed $13 billion in the state Senate budget bill, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. That part of the bill included aid for state colleges and community colleges, libraries and the state legislature, and everything from autism programs to aid for museums and the elderly.

"I am not signing a true budget today," he said. "I am signing legislation that will let us pay state workers and preserve core state services for public safety and welfare. Our workers deserve to be paid and this bill will allow that."

Rendell has been pushing the state Senate, where Republicans are in the majority, to approve a larger budget with more money for what he argues are core state services. His proposal calls for $28.2 billion in state spending, while the bill that passed the Senate includes $27.3 billion.

The governor argues the Senate budget is not balanced, with spending $1.7 billion above revenue.

The budget impasse had left many state employees, including Rendell and legislators, facing an indefinite period without pay.