Budget deal ends Pa. shutdown

For much of yesterday, it appeared there was little progress being made. In fact, the rift between Republicans and the administration appeared to widen at points.

State Sen. Mike Waugh ripped Rendell as a bully.

"This is not a budget impasse," said Waugh (R., York). "This is just a bully's tap dance, and the dance is being done on the backs of 25,000 unfortunate state employees."

Over the last several days, the administration has added initiatives to the mix in what GOP lawmakers have labeled "issue creep."

State Rep. John M. Perzel (R., Phila.), the former House speaker, said one item caught some negotiators off guard.

Administration officials have told legislators that the governor wanted to add a tax credit for film companies that produce movies in the state. Though the idea has been around for some time, it had not become part of the high-level talks until the last few days, Perzel said.

"Now we are holding up people's paychecks based on Hollywood," Perzel said. "I guess Tom Cruise and Barbra Streisand are important to the people of Pennsylvania."

Yesterday, House leaders abruptly pulled the plug on a session but instructed the representatives that they might be needed to vote with as little as six hours' warning.

House Minority Leader Sam Smith (R., Jefferson) accused Speaker Dennis O'Brien (R., Phila.) and the Democratic majority in the House of ending the session because they feared Republicans had the needed votes to pass a temporary spending plan. Such a stopgap measure would call back the furloughed workers and end the government shutdown.

Some, however called for cooler heads.

"Let's put down the swords, put down the sabres and get to the business at hand," said Sen. Vincent Hughes (D., Phila.).