With the June 30th fiscal year deadline now passed and no budget signed, legislative leaders continue to meet behind closed doors to try and hammer out a compromise budget. To see the latest articles covering the budget, please see below.

Lawmakers miss deadline for state budget - Angela Couloumbis, Philadelphia Inquirer

Rendell: Pa. budget deal likely won’t come soon - Mark Scolforo, Associated Press

Budget impasse means state lawmakers won’t get paid today - Jan Murphy, Patriot News

State workers prepare for weeks without pay as budget deadline looms - Rick Seltzer, Patriot News

Bill to expand Pa. health insurance sparks debate - Michael Vitez, Philadelphia Inquirer

As the state legislature heads into town for yet another week, only days remain for leaders to come up with a budget agreement. To see what news was made over the weekend, please see the articles below.

Rendell proposes more Penna. budget cuts - Amy Worden, Philadelphia Inquirer

Files prompt grand jury to look at DeWeese again - Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Businesses cool to Rendell’s income-tax proposal - David Dagan, Central Penn Business Journal

Compromise needed to reach Pennsylvania budget deal - Patriot News

What are the hang-ups in Pennsylvania’s state budget? - Charles Thompson, Patriot News

State Police at center of latest budget squabble - John Baer, Philadelphia Daily News

As the week draws to a close, breaking news was made late last night regarding one of the potential candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2010. To see those stories, and more, please see below.

Don Cunningham won’t seek governor’s office - Darryl Isherwood, Allentown Morning Call

Federal stimulus, state budget woes fuel uncertainty in school districts’ budgets - Jan Murphy, The Patriot News

Toomey criticizes Specter, deficit - Nick Malawskey, Centre Daily Times

Toomey Picks Up Another Endorsement In 2010 Pennsylvania Senate Race - Eric Kleefeld, Associated Press

Secret Service to secure G-20 in Pittsburgh - Jerome L. Sherman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As the week nears a close, and a budget appears nowhere near agreed upon, news was made during the past few days regarding new poll numbers, table gaming, and Dan Rooney. To see those articles, and more, please see below.

Poll: Specter’s numbers dive since ‘conversion’ - Bob Warner, Philadelphia Daily News

Poll: Pennsylvanians prefer program cuts to tax hike - Scranton Times-Tribune

Table games could yield $165 million - Tom Barnes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pa. high court nominees each raise more than $250K - Peter Jackson, Associated Press

Rooney a hit at confirmation hearing - Daniel Malloy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pennsylvania expands COBRA options - Yvonne Feeley, The Patriot News

With the state legislature back in Harrisburg for yet another week of session, news was made concerning the ever closer budget deadline. To see those stories and more, please see the articles below.

Rendell, Scarnati bringing budget battle to TV - Jan Murphy, The Patriot News

Pa. Democrats’ leaders back hike in income tax - Amy Worden, Philadelphia Inquirer

Rendell gathers his forces for tax battle - Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pa. to offer residents free legal, financial help in crisis - Kaitlynn Riely, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Specter plans hearing on VA prostate cancer treatment - Marie McCullough, Philadelphia Inquirer

State graduation exam returned to the shelf - Eleanor Chute, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As another week draws to a close and we get ever nearer a state budget deadline, news was made during the past two days regarding former Representative Mike Veon and current U.S. Congressman Joe Sestak. To see those stories and more, please see below.

What in God’s name is Joe Sestak Doing? - William Bender, Philadelphia Daily News

Veon case gets new judge - Charles Thompson, The Patriot News

Legislator seeks to tax owners of illegal poker machines - Tom Barnes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

State to put safeguards in emergency heating program - Barbara Miller, The Patriot News

During the past two days, the workings of the state Capitol have been busy. With a budget debate that is receiving massive amounts of attention throughout the state, some members on Tuesday took to the Capitol rotunda to stage a rally against tax hikes.  Also, yesterday saw fierce debate on the House floor regarding health care. To see both those stories and more, please see the articles below.

Health debate in Pa. House hits partisan divide - Mark Scolforo, The Associated Press

Rendell Signs Four Health-Care Bills - Associated Press

Protesters rally against tax hikes at state Capitol - Tom Barnes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biden visting Pa. bridge to tout stimulus benefits - Centre Daily Times

State lawmaker wants to block heavier trucks - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

With both the state House and Senate this week occupied with budget talk, news was made over the past few days regarding PA’s use of federal stimulus funds and I-81 project funding. To see those stories and more, please see below.

Pa. may turn down $273 million in stimulus aid - Tom Infield, Philadelphia Inquirer

Specter, Casey announce completion of rail study, I-81 project funding - Nicholas Sohr, Scranton Times-Tribune

Little change in Pa. seen from high court’s ruling - Robert Moran, Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. Senate OKs bill to reveal more gas shale data - Associated Press

As the week ends and we get another week closer to the budget deadline of July 1st, news was made over the past two days regarding Arlen Specter and tax increases. To see those stories and more, please see below.

Specter seeks to reassure his new party - Thomas Fitzgerald, Philadelphia Inquirer

Tax increase needed to erase state’s $3.2 billion deficit: Evans - Brad Bumsted, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Riled senators stonewall Rendell on graduation tests - Dan Hardy, Philadelphia Inquirer

Veon, others state case to drop bonus charges - Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

During both a press conference in the Capitol and a TV appearance on PNC, Governor Rendell yesterday made news concerning the state budget. To see those stories and more, please see the articles below.

Rendell: Tax hike not ‘off the table’ - Charles Thompson, The Patriot News

Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates urge cuts before any taxes- John Micek, Allentown Morning Call

Rendell taking at least $400 million out of his budget - Charles Thompson, The Patriot News

Veon court filing attacks AG, implicates DeWeese - Associated Press