Ron Buxton

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."

State Rep. Ron BuxtonHARRISBURG -- State Rep. Ron Buxton (D-Dauphin County) offered a rare glimmer of optimism about the state budget Tuesday afternoon when he said he's seen indications it will be passed by June 30.

"All signals point to we might get a budget on time to prevent state furloughs," he said at a lawmaker rally in the Capitol to show support for state workers.

His remarks differ starkly from the general feeling in the Capitol, where many observers have said this year's budget could be worse than last year's. The state legislature and Gov. Ed Rendell (D) didn't resolve budget negotiations last year until weeks after the June 30 deadline.