In a 180-degree turn, Gov. Ed Rendell was cautiously optimistic about reaching a deal with top state legislators to end Pennsylvania's 2-plus month budget impasse, he said.
Following a meeting with Senate Republican leaders, Rendell told reporters Thursday night that he thinks that an agreement could be reached in the coming days.
However, he would not say why his attitude had changed toward legislators' nearly $28 billion budget proposal that also must fill the state's multibillion-dollar shortfall.
Just hours earlier, Rendell had threatened again to veto legislators' evolving plan.
A $200-million to $300-million gap remained between what the sides believe can be collected this year from the taxes, fees and other revenue sources in the plan, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi said.
These moves came late on the same day that state legislators passed a measure to help balance Philadelphia's budget.
