Pennsylvania lawmakers back at Capitol

Pennsylvania lawmakers are back in the Capitol for an unusual weekend session as legislative leaders try to assemble a package of tax increases to help break a five-month-old budget stalemate.

Lawmakers expected long closed-door meetings Saturday, for the second straight day. It comes amid growing rank-and-file unrest over the grinding pace of negotiations between Gov. Tom Wolf and legislative leaders.

Negotiators are largely silent about their discussions, worried that giving details about an unfinished deal would doom it.

On Friday, Republican lawmakers reported wide-ranging discussions and rank-and-file pushback against proposals to remove exemptions under the state sales tax. That’s the most recent idea being advanced by Republican legislative leaders.

Wolf’s office is seeking a tax increase to boost aid to public schools and help narrow a long-term budget deficit.