Rendell Budget Highlights: Reducing the Cost of Government

After presiding over an $8 billion increase in state government spending over the past six years, Gov. Ed Rendell is sounding like Ronald Reagan.

The 2009-10 budget proposal cuts nearly $1 billion ($977 million) in state spending compared to the current year through the elimination of funding for 101 line items and reductions to another 346 lines in the budget, according to Rendell's office.

Rendell's 2009-10 budget includes several initiatives to reduce the size of government, from merging services for senior citizens to consolidating school districts and making municipal services more economical, according to the governor's office.

Governor Rendell's Budget Proposal Keeps Down Cost of Government