Nov. 3, 2005

Rendell talks tough, says legislative pay raise dispute is 'unseemly,' calls Republican lawmakers 'hypocrites.'

(excerpt of article)

By Chris Comisac

Capitolwire

HARRISBURG (Nov. 3) – There’s too much in-fighting going on in the Capitol and it’s getting in the way of doing the “people’s business,” said a tough-talking Gov. Ed Rendell during a Thursday press conference.

… Responding to a question about efforts by Republican lawmakers to impose state spending caps, Rendell said he wasn’t supportive of the plan as proposed by the GOP.

“The budgets I sent them were within the caps they propose; the budgets they sent back to me weren’t,” Rendell said. “Can you spell ‘hypocrite’?”

Rendell did say he could support a spending cap plan if it included appropriate exemptions including public education and healthcare.

… But when asked about tax-cuts proposed by Republicans, Rendell said: "They don't say how we can afford them."

Drew Crompton, chief counsel for Senate President Pro Tem Robert Jubelirer, R-Blair, … wasn’t pleased with the governor’s characterization of Republican lawmakers as “hypocrites.”

“His statement about the budget ignores reality,” said Crompton. “Of course you can prepare a smaller budget when all it contains is your own initiatives… the Legislature has its own spending initiatives, too.”

“If we pulled out all his ideas and just sent him ours, our budget would come in just as small,” he continued.

“We don’t appreciate being called ‘hypocrites,’ particularly by someone who just said there’s too much name-calling going on it this building."