Rendell Says Taxpayers Won't Pay for Research
Gov. Ed Rendell says taxpayers won't be billed after all for a partisan research project aimed at building support for his budget proposals.
The governor said at a news conference Monday that Philadelphia consultant Kevin Feeley will be paid out of Rendell's campaign fund and that Feeley has agreed to return $10,000 in tax money that has already been paid.
Reacting to a recent Philadelphia Inquirer story, Rendell says it's "inappropriate'' to bill taxpayers and blames the decision on overzealous staff members, whom he declined to identify.
The Democrat says the research will help build support for his budget in the Legislature, but that it should be financed with private money.
