Budget agreement?

I spoke to state Rep. Keith Gillespie, R-Hellam Township, tonight. He said he got an e-mail from his caucus leaders, calling for a meeting of the House Republicans tomorrow morning. They hinted that the Democrats who comprise a majority in the House and the Republicans who make up the majority in the Senate may have reached a compromise on the state budget.

If so, it's about freakin time. Approximately 77,000 state workers didn't get their paychecks on Friday because of the budget impasse.

I also spoke to state Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-West Manchester. He said that even if they don't reach a budget compromise, the state lawmakers should come up with some kind of interim measure to pay state workers.

I agree whole-heartedly. Those 77,000 people and their families don't deserve to be pawns in a political game.