Eugene Pasquale

Budget progress a relief to central Pa. lawmakers

By Alex Roarty, PolitickerPA.com Reporter

HARRISBURG -- Although everybody in the Capitol feels the strain of budget negotiations as they near the June 30 deadline, midstate lawmakers, with thousands of state workers in their districts, feel the pressure a little more.

Especially in an election year, and especially if they're a Democrat.

With Gov. Ed Rendell (D) as the face of Pennsylvania government, state Rep. Ron Buxton (D-Dauphin County) said he must defend the administration against criticism from angry state workers.

"It's not easy being a Democrat in central Pennsylvania," Buxton told PolitickerPa.com after a rally Tuesday urging the passage of the budget. "There were already some tough lay-offs last year ... you have to defend our administration."