HARRISBURG -- The budget conflict between Gov. Ed Rendell and state Senate Republicans is turning uglier.

The Democratic Rendell administration yesterday intensified criticism of the $27.3 billion budget that the Republican-controlled Senate recently approved along party lines, saying it could lead to the demise of key programs and perhaps even force 300 military veterans out of state homes.

Republicans shot back that it's easy to talk about spending more taxpayer dollars, and asked what taxes Democrats were willing to raise to get the necessary funds.

Labor & Industry Secretary Sandi Vito, a Rendell appointee, said the GOP budget calls for more than $16 million in cuts in workforce development and worker-training programs.

"This is disappointing at a time when Pennsylvania is suffering rising unemployment and falling job [numbers] as a result of the national economic downturn," she said.

Erik Arneson, an aide to Senate Republican leader Dominic Pileggi of Delaware County, said the Rendell administration is "working overtime to scare Pennsylvania residents and distort the truth about our budget."

Another Rendell agency, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, was also on the attack yesterday. It said the GOP budget cuts $7.6 million from the appropriation for six state homes for veterans, meaning that almost 300 of the 1,600 residents might have to move out.

What's worse, Rendell officials said, is that the loss of the state money would trigger the loss of $5.9 million in federal funds for the six homes, which are in Pittsburgh, Erie, Scranton, Blair County and two near Philadelphia.

Also, state Adjutant Gen. Jessica Wright said a budget cut for the National Guard would hurt its 19,000 members, 6,000 of whom are overseas. The GOP budget reduces state spending on the National Guard by $2.5 million.

The latest administration attacks follow a warning Thursday by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which said the Senate's cut of $19 million from its 2009-10 budget would force the closing of at least 35 state parks July 1.

Also being dragged into the partisan political battle are the state's 78,000 employees. This week Mr. Rendell warned of payless paydays in July if a new budget hasn't been adopted by July 1.Mr. Rendell has proposed a $28.9 billion budget for 2009-10, significantly higher than the GOP budget. He he has proposed new taxes on tobacco and natural gas drilling, as well as increases in the cigarette tax, that Republicans aren't willing to support.

First Published: May 16, 2009, 4:00 a.m.