Rendell Signs 'Bridge' Measure

Governor Ed Rendell has signed legislation that provides a mechanism for state employees to be paid, but does not provide a complete and final budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year. “What I am signing today is not a budget,” Rendell said. “I am signing legislation that will simply allow us to pay state employees who provide for immediate critical public health and safety services, and that will send negotiators back to the table to communicate, compromise and get real about delivering a true budget agreement for Pennsylvania.” Rendell signed Senate Bill 850 after he vetoed all program funding line items except those pertaining to payroll and essential public protection. The measure is an incomplete budget of roughly $11 billion.For more information, go to the governor's web site.