Pa. Lawmakers Poised to Plug Possible Budget Holes

Governor Rendell and state legislative leaders are keeping a close eye on Washington as the US Senate prepares once again to take up the issue of medical assistance funds for states, including $850 million for Pennsylvania.

KYW's Tony Romeo reports that Congress has so far balked at approving the $850 million for Pennsylvania, and this morning Rendell and legislative leaders were supposed to meet and begin discussing how to close the budget gap that would be created without those funds.

But after a brief telephone conversation, state senate majority leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Chester) said that everyone agreed to wait until later this week to see what happens in the US Senate with regard to so-called FMAP (Federal Medical Assistance Percentages) funds:

"There is at least basis for hope that there will be some action on the FMAP issue. The question remains whether we should be developing a contingency plan and implementing it now."

And Pileggi says the planning should begin if the picture isn't clearer in the next few days.