Those types of debt-funded grants will likely be few and far between under the next administration.

Rendell is a strong defender of using state grants to fund both public and private projects, saying Pennsylvania earns back the money it invests through tax revenue and new jobs.

Governor-elect Tom Corbett is much more hesitant to dole out borrowed money, as he explained during an October debate.

"I think it's a very risky situation. We have increased our debt here in Pennsylvania. Particularly in a time when our budget is suffering," said Corbett. "Our spending has increased in the same amount of time by 40 percent. Our revenues have come down."

Corbett's policy paper on transportation issues leaves the door open for what it calls "the prudent use of debt to fund projects."

But he's said he'd be very hesitant to finance private projects, like the retail developments and hotels funded in this year's major capital development bill.

The so-called RACP, or Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program Funding, debt limit increased from $1.5 billion to $4 billion during the Rendell Administration.

Top Democrats had planned to come back and vote on a pension overhaul and other measures after the election, but suddenly canceled remaining voting days on Friday afternoon. Dozens of rank-and-file Democrats protested.

Many, including Bill DeWeese of Greene County, blamed Appropriations Committee Chair Dwight Evans for the cancellation. "It was unilaterally Dwight. No doubt, no doubt," said DeWeese.

One member said Evans felt threatened by a section of the pension bill creating a new legislative fiscal office. Evans' spokeswoman, Johnna Pro, disagreed.

"The appropriations chairman has no authority to cancel a voting session. That is the role of the Leader and the Speaker," said Pro.

But Speaker Keith McCall has now informed members a voting session will take place on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m.

A Republican spokesman warns the pension bill might not have as much support as it did before, though – saying members of both parties might vote no, thinking they can write a better bill next year, when Republicans take control.

Corbett Wednesday named eight people to a transition team. The team consists mostly of longtime Republican insiders and members of Corbett's gubernatorial campaign.

Corbett, who said he won't step down as attorney general until just before the inauguration, said he'll keep working at his current job over the next few months.

"The day-to-day work of the attorney general's office that comes to my desk in the normal course will continue to come to my desk. I am going to sit down with my first deputy to talk about the status of the bonus investigation, and make a determination about my role with that, after the discussion," said Corbett.

A spokesman said Corbett may remove himself from the legislative corruption probe, due to the fact he'll be working with lawmakers as governor-elect.
The attorney general's office has filed charges against House Democrats and Republicans, and is now believed to be investigating the Senate Republican caucus.

Governor-elect Tom Corbett is a Republican and Wagner is a Democrat, but again and again during the campaign, Corbett said he'd look at Wagner's audits for ways to save money.

The auditor general said Tuesday he believes the Department of Public Welfare is wasting 15 percent of the monthly payments it makes to health-care providers on behalf of Medicaid patients by using out-of-date information.

"If, in fact, their status changes and there's no notification or use of data to update the change in status, the managed care organization continues to receive the monthly payment for months or for years," Wagner said.

Wagner said DPW typically only updates information once a year. He said relevant data can be refreshed quarterly or even monthly.

The auditor general said a 10 percent reduction in Medicaid payments could save more than $400 million.

The Democratic leaders' decision leaves a pension reform bill on the table. The measure would increase the retirement age and vesting period for state workers and public school teachers, but maintain a defined-benefit pension system.

After the floor appearance, about two dozen lawmakers held a news conference chastising Speaker Keith McCall and Majority Leader Todd Eachus.

Outgoing Democrat Barbara McIlvaine Smith of Chester County said the leaders are walking away from a pressing issue.

"We have an opportunity to fix that problem," said Smith. "But because our leadership chose to not come today to gavel us in, you see all of that frustration from all of us standing on this stage, demanding that our leaders do the right thing."

Other stalled bills include measures overhauling food safety laws, creating a new recycling program and encouraging alternative energy production.

Now, the Republican will need to select someone to finish out his term as attorney general.

Corbett has to hope the appointment process for his replacement goes more smoothly than the confirmation battle he faced 15 years ago. Senate Democrats held up Corbett's appointment for three months, questioning his independence from Ridge, whom Corbett had campaigned for.

The main political hurdle facing Corbett's choice is the ongoing legislative corruption investigation, according to political scientist Christopher Borick of Muhlenberg College.

"Whoever gets dropped into this particular position by Governor-elect Corbett will be in the midst of leading a major corruption investigation with the 'Bonusgate' trials," said Borick. "So it's simply going to be putting someone into the spotlight, because they're going to carry on the work that Corbett's done earlier."

Corbett's spokesman says the attorney general won't resign until Jan. 18, the day he's inaugurated governor.

Chief Deputy Attorney General Bill Ryan will serve as acting attorney general until the replacement is confirmed by two-thirds of the Senate. By tradition, the pick won't run for re-election in 2012.

The city has issued nearly 200 warnings a day for the past two months, telling Philadelphia business owners they must register and acquire a radio frequency ID tag for their Dumpsters. Deputy Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams said the goal is to make the city cleaner by tracking down and fining those who let trash pile up.

"This gives us the opportunity to regulate Dumpsters that have been an issue for the city of Philadelphia in Center City and parts of the business community where Dumpsters would overflow and be kind of a nuisance to businesses and communities," said Williams.

Williams denied that the regulations are a stealth tax.

"The trash and the smell was the major issue which created a lot of unattractive things such as vermin and mice and rats which run through the city rampantly so we needed to address it," he said.

Williams says those who have not registered their Dumpsters now face fines of $75 to $150.

That means several high-profile bills will stall, despite passing both the House and Senate this session.

The House was set to convene after the election, but Democratic leaders have now turned those sessions into non-voting days. The move means a pension reform bill overhauling benefits for future public employees won't become law.

Both the House and Senate had passed versions of a measure increasing the retirement age and vesting period, and changing the way benefits are funded.
The House needed to concur on the Senate's latest version of the measure, for the bill to go to Governor Rendell's desk.

Rendell says he's urging Democratic leaders to change their minds and hold a vote.
A spokesman for House Speaker Keith McCall isn't commenting on why the lame duck session was canceled.

The House flipped from Democrat to Republican control on Tuesday, but GOP leaders said they had no problem with the lame-duck session.

Senate leaders have ruled out returning for post-election votes.

Another high-profile bill now stalled is the so-called "Castle Doctrine" measure, which expands a person's right to deadly self-defense.

Corbett will likely appoint a transition team and begin hiring administration staffers in the coming days. After his Tuesday victory, he told reporters he'll head to Harrisburg soon for a series of meetings.

"We'll begin sitting down very quickly. Preliminarily with the legislature, to take a look at what the budget's like. With the governor's office, to take a look at what the details are like," said Corbett. "But then also, one of the first appointments to the cabinet will be a budget secretary."

Corbett will deliver a budget address within weeks of taking office, so the incoming budget secretary will need to get to work right away, mapping out funding priorities and looking at line item-level details.

Governor Ed Rendell has promised to work alongside Corbett, though an administration spokesman says a meeting has yet to be scheduled.

The Democrat says every state agency has prepared a memo for the incoming administration. Corbett will likely hold a transition press conference early next week.

As Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi puts it, his caucus has been playing defense against the House and governor since Democrats took control of the lower chamber in 2007.

Now, Pileggi says the Senate will work with, instead of against, the governor's office and House.

Pileggi joins likely House Speaker Sam Smith in promising to cut taxes, relax business regulations and shrink the state budget. He also wants to push through several reform bills that passed the Senate but stalled in the House this year.

Pileggi is also predicting on-time budgets, for the first time since before Governor Rendell took office.

He expects the Corbett Administration will work with House and Senate Republican leaders to put together a budget plan, which will be introduced a few weeks after Governor-elect Corbett takes office next year.