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Pennsylvania Furloughed Workers Return Tomorrow

    HARRISBURG, Pa., July 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G.
Rendell tonight announced that a tentative budget agreement was reached
with legislative leaders just after 9 p.m. Monday. The pact, he said, means
nearly 25,000 furloughed state employees will return to work at 12:01 a.m.
Tuesday and transportation, including Pennsylvania's network of highways,
bridges and mass transit systems, will be well-financed for the next 15 to
20 years.
    "I am pleased to announce that as a result of earnest and sometimes
difficult negotiations, we have achieved an important agreement that will
allow Pennsylvania's government operations to be restored and all
furloughed employees to return to work," Governor Rendell said. "While I
regret that we were not able to reach this accord earlier, I am gratified
that we have agreed in principle to a spending plan that will continue to
move Pennsylvania forward."



    Governor Rendell thanked legislative leaders and budget negotiators
from both chambers of the General Assembly. Members of the legislature are
expected to begin considering the budget legislation this week.
    He also said efforts will be made to "lessen the impact" of state
employees' lost wages.
    While all sides came out with things they were seeking, Governor
Rendell said he was able to keep funding for pre-kindergarten, laptop
computers for high school classrooms, workforce development, reducing the
waiting list for mental health/mental retardation services, expanding
childcare programs and providing cost-of-living adjustments for human
services workers throughout the state, among other important agenda items.
    He called the transportation package "historic."
    "With this agreement, there will about $950 million a year for
transportation in Harrisburg, Erie, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre,
Altoona and everywhere else for the next 10 years," the Governor said.
"It's the most significant amount of funding devoted to transportation
needs in the history of the commonwealth and it should put transportation
systems in good shape for the next 15 to 20 years."

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