Rendell Still Supports Income Tax Hike

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov. Ed Rendell says he's not abandoning a personal income tax increase proposal and is determined to protect children's programs from state budget cuts.

Rendell said Monday he was encouraged by a House Republican budget proposal introduced last week because it requires more than $1 billion in new revenue sources.

But the governor says it cut too deeply and the tax amnesty it proposes isn't realistic or in the state's best interests.

The House Republican budget plan is expected to get a committee vote later Monday but might not be voted on by the full House for two weeks.

The state budget is already nearly two weeks overdue.

Rendell says he's canceled plans to attend this weekend's annual meeting in Mississippi of the National Governor's Association, which he chairs.