Budget Bill Rolled Out

House Democrats finally rolled out their version of next year's state budget, which would be a slight increase in spending over what Gov. Ed Rendell proposed earlier this year. Rep. Dwight Evans, the Philadelphia Democrat who chairs the Appropriations Committee where the $28.5 billion measure was introduced, says he is optimistic that talks will produce a negotiated deal. The budget proposal, in the form of an amendment Evans offered, was approved 21-13 by Appropriations, largely along party lines. Rendell has proposed a $28.3 billion spending plan that would be a 4.2 percent increase over the current year; Evans' amendment would increase spending by about 4.8 percent. If a 2008-09 budget is not approved before July 1, some 25,000 state government workers will be furloughed. The bill remains in the House Appropriations Committee.