Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell lost 50 pounds during budget impasse

Gov. Ed Rendell started his diet in June when it became apparent an on-time budget was growing increasingly unlikely, and he wanted something positive to focus on. Over the 101-day budget impasse he knocked off about 50 pounds.

While the impasse lasted far longer than many groups that depend on state funding would have liked, Rendell said that diet-wise, it may not have lasted long enough. He said on Friday he figures it would have probably taken 30 more days for him to meet his 200-pound goal for his 5-foot-11-inch frame.

“I’m about 16, 17 pounds short of my goal but I think for the good of the citizens, I’ll try to make it without the daily frustrations of the budget. We’ll see,” he said.