HARRISBURG -- Gov. Ed Rendell was hoping to give Pennsylvania's 800,000 uninsured adults a health insurance plan as a Christmas present.

But that timetable didn't work out, due to opposition from Senate Republicans, so now he has a new goal -- Feb. 14.

"This would be our Valentine's Day gift to the people of Pennsylvania, health insurance for those who are now uninsured," he said.

Mr. Rendell gave his review of pending legislation at a news briefing last week.

He said he's disappointed that the Legislature hasn't approved Cover All Pennsylvanians, the health insurance plan he announced last February in his state budget speech. The main sticking points have been three new or higher taxes that Mr. Rendell wants to use to fund the coverage for people who can't afford it or who have pre-existing medical conditions that prevent them from buying it.

Initially the governor called for a 3 percent payroll tax on businesses that didn't offer their employees health insurance, as well as increasing the cigarette tax by 10 cents a pack (a total of $1.45 a pack) and subjecting cigars and smokeless tobacco to the sales tax for the first time.

After business groups objected, he ditched the payroll tax, and now wants to use part of a $400 million surplus in an account that helps doctors pay their malpractice insurance. But he's still seeking the two tobacco levies.

Sen. Vincent Fumo, D-Philadelphia, said that in 2003 the Legislature increased the cigarette tax by 25 cents a pack to help the doctors pay for their insurance, so increasing it by another 10 cents a pack to help poor people is justified.

"We need to show some compassion," he said.

Erik Arneson, a spokesman for Senate Republican leader Dominic Pileggi, of Chester, said Republicans want to work with the Democratic governor "when there are issues we can agree on. We've tried to bridge the divide when disagreements exist."

But Mr. Arneson said the taxes for Cover All Pennsylvanians were among a total of seven new taxes Mr. Rendell proposed this year, which he said was too much for GOP legislators, as well as many state residents, to swallow.

The GOP fears that the proposed health coverage for the uninsured could turn into a permanent and expensive government entitlement program.

Mr. Arneson contended that the program "will cost at least $2 billion in new government spending each and every year. Our caucus is interested in solving the problem [of the uninsured], not simply throwing money at it."

The health coverage issue was just one of several measures that did a slow crawl through the Legislature this fall.

The House and Senate approved different versions of two major initiatives -- the first update to the state's open records law in 50 years, and a strong "clean air" bill, which would ban smoking in most workplaces and public places. Much work remains to forge compromises on both subjects.

The House approved a bill in July that would ban smoking in most workplaces, including bars, restaurants and casinos, while the Senate has a more liberal version, allowing smoking in smaller bars and 25 percent of a casino floor. Legislative leaders waited until last week to finally name a six-member conference committee to hammer out a compromise. They hope it can be voted on shortly after the Legislature reconvenes in mid-January.

There's also optimism for a new open records bill. Currently, the Senate bill contains different standards on openness for records of the Legislature and courts than for the executive branch. A House bill calls for uniform standards on openness for all three branches of government.

"We expect the open records legislation to be finished in January, and the smoking ban could also be done that month," Mr. Arneson said.

There's been less progress, however, on the Rendell "energy independence plan," aimed at promoting the production of ethanol, either from corn or cellulose, such as wood chips and some types of grass, to make the state less dependent on foreign oil.

In June the House approved Mr. Rendell's PennSecurity Fuels Initiative, which calls for every gallon of gasoline sold in the state to include 10 percent ethanol, once in-state ethanol production reaches certain levels. He also wants every gallon of diesel fuel sold in the state to include biodiesel, fuel made from soy or other renewable material.

The Senate last week approved its own energy bill, providing $650 million in loans, grants and tax credits for companies that use alternative energy sources; for small coal-fired plants to get pollution control equipment; for helping low-income people pay heating bills; for grants to consumers who add solar panels and other energy conservation projects to their homes; and for rebates to people who buy hybrid vehicles.

The Senate bill "includes no new taxes," said Sen. Mary Jo White, R-Venango.

The Senate bill doesn't include provisions for adding ethanol to gasoline. Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, voted against it, calling it too weak on renewable fuels. "This bill sets the bar low and calls for far too little investment in renewable solar, wind and geothermal energy," he said.

Mr. Rendell said he was glad "to finally see some movement on this energy issue by Senate Republicans. To me it represents, at best, modest progress, but it is a step in the right direction."

Which is more than can be said about stalled efforts to reduce property taxes. The House Finance Committee did approve a bill by Rep. David Levdansky, D-Forward, that would increase state income taxes and sales taxes to generate about $1.5 billion to lower property taxes, but the House hasn't said when it will come up for action.

Mr. Rendell credited the Legislature for approving several other notable measures this year.

He pointed to Act 44, a law enacted in July to provide $1 billion a year to improve roads, bridges and mass transit; a funding plan to save the state's hazardous waste cleanup fund, which was due to run out of money Dec. 31; additional funding for pre-kindergarten classes and full-day kindergarten; funds for Classrooms of the Future, the Rendell effort to put more laptop computers in high school classrooms; and laws to reduce hospital-acquired infections and to expand the scope of practice for nurses and other health professionals to make up for the lack of doctors in certain areas of the state.

The battling over Act 44 isn't over, however, because it calls for imposing tolls on Interstate 80, along with higher Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls, to generate the $1 billion a year. Opponents are urging the federal government not to allow the state to toll Interstate 80 and there has been talk of a possible lawsuit to overturn it.