A U.S. Senate bill to extend aid to states, unemployment benefits and a host of tax provisions appears likely to fail today, potentially blowing an $850 million hole in Gov. Ed Rendell’s budget.<\/p>\n
At a Washington news conference this afternoon, Senate Democratic leaders said they do not have assurances that their latest version of the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act will garner the needed 60 votes for cloture today. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said if the vote fails, he will move onto another bill rather than continue to revise a measure Senate leaders have tinkered with for weeks.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives passed a version of the bill that did not include the state aid sought by Mr. Rendell and other governors, an extension of Medicaid reimbursements that originated in the stimulus bill. If the Senate passes nothing at all, it would throw Pennsylvania’s budget into additional turmoil.<\/p>\n