Updates on the Budget Negotiations

The AP’s Marc Levy on the behind-the-scenes budget negotiations. Of particular interest is this:

The House Republican leader, Sam Smith of Jefferson County, said that if budget negotiations do not pick up, he will push for his chamber to pass the Senate’s budget bill and send it to Rendell’s desk.

We would (1) get a budget that is close to the rate of inflation and population growth, gets rid of the WAMs, and get the harmful “Pre-K Counts” program out of the budget and (2) pass a budget according to the textbook/constitutional processes, rather than negotiate a deal behind closed doors. What’s the downside here? Do it – get a discharge resolution or whatever need to be done and vote on it.