[img_assist|nid=723|title=House Speaker Dennis O'Brien (R-Philadelphia) tells reporters meetings tonight between leaders are "unlikely."|desc=Politicker Photo|link=none|align=none|width=403|height=304]

UPDATE, 5:20 p.m.: A full account of Saturday's budget developments has been posted:

• No talks Saturday, but optimism remains for handshake agreement by June 30

UPDATE, 3:00 p.m.: Senate Republican leaders just visited the Capitol press room to say they're not concerned about not meeting with Democratic leaders today.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware County) would not say the negotiations have broken down or even that they are at an impasse. But he and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Cameron County) reiterated their dismay at Democrats' efforts to cut the budget last night, which they said were about $200 million short.

Pileggi still thinks a deal will be reached within days.

"I'm frankly optimistic we'll have an agreement in principle by Monday," he said.

Republicans said talks could resume at noon tomorrow.

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UPDATE, 2:15 p.m.: Well, that was quick. What was expected to be a long night for PolitickerPA.com abruptly ended a little after 1:30 p.m. when Pro told reporters legislative leaders would not meet for talks tonight.

Speaker of the House Dennis O'Brien (R-Philadelphia) came to talk to reporters shortly afterward, ostensibly to speak about his autism insurance bill. But soon questions shifted to the budget, and he eventually admitted talks between the leaders were "unlikely" tonight.

But he remained optimistic. The speaker said staffs from each side are still talking, and he said the nature of talks could change with a single phone call.

PolitickerPA.com will stick around a little longer to see what's what and to fish out Republican response, which is still forthcoming.

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UPDATE, 1:50 p.m.: Johnna Pro, spokeswoman for House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia), has just come through the press room telling reporters there will not be any budget talks today.

Pro said Democrats don't see any need to negotiate after their proposals last night were rejected. They've already made a very reasonable offer, she said.

"There will not be negotiations today," she said.

Asked what Republicans would need to do restart negotiations, Pro said, "Quite frankly, I don't have a good answer to that."

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UPDATE, 1:10 p.m.: One of the pressures working on budget negotiators is the delay between when the sides come to an agreement in principle and when Gov. Ed Rendell can actually sign a budget. Officials estimate the Senate and House will take three or four days to jump through the necessary parliamentary hoops to send the budget bill to the governor's desk.

That means negotiators might need to come to a handshake agreement by Sunday to avoid spending their July Fourth in the Capitol.

Well, maybe not. House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese (D-Fayette County) said on the House floor minutes before it adjourned he will ask Republicans to suspend the rules to help improve the budget's "flow." DeWeese did not specifically mention which rule would be suspended, but the rules mandate the Legislature cannot work past 11 p.m. or give bills first, second and third consideration in fewer than three days.

Rules suspension requires a two-thirds vote, so at least some Republicans will have to acquiesce to the majority leader's wishes.

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UPDATE, 12:10 p.m.: The House and Senate are still in session while budget negotiations continue. The rank-and-file lawmakers are doing, as The Philadelphia Inquirer put it, busy work.

Meanwhile, the Capitol rotunda is buzzing with activity as if it were a Tuesday. Lobbyists and administrators form two or three huddles on the floor to discuss who-knows-what while tourists walk slowly, heads tilted up to gape at the dome.

What about the budget talks, you say? Well, nobody is quite sure when those will take place. Sometime in the afternoon is as specific as anyone can get.

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No rest for the wicked -- PolitickerPA.com returns all day today recording every setback, every margin of progress in the ongoing budget negotiations.

Negotiators will try to get it back on track today after the talks unexpectedly stalled last night. They're supposed to return to the table sometime in the early afternoon.

And they might get help from an unexpected source -- embattled state Sen. Vince Fumo (D-Philadelphia).

The legendary Philadelphia politician will do his best Willis Reed impersonation when he returns to negotiations just two days after collapsing on the Senate floor. The senator spent Thursday night in the hospital before returning to his Dauphin County home to rest yesterday.

Fumo, who had a heart attack in March, faces a plethora of federal corruption charges that could imprison him for up to 10 years. The 30-year incumbent announced after his heart attack he will not seek re-election this year.

Does he have one more political success story in him?

Of course, he doesn't return to a total disaster. Negotiators weren't happy last night, but they also didn't report any breakdowns. Both sides maintained they've decided to spend an extra $291 million on education while not touching the state's Rainy Day fund -- two of the negotiation's biggest issues.

They simply can't decide how much money to spend. (Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?)

Check back to find out if progress has been made, or if your July Fourth plans need to be put on hold.