From Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

After holding out until shortly before Christmas, Senate Republicans in 2003 agreed to the 10 percent income tax increase sought by Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell.

Remembering that capitulation is the defining fabric of the 26-day budget impasse, as Rendell once again seeks to boost the income tax, this time by 16 percent, political analysts say.

Senate Republican leaders “don’t want that to happen again,” said Joseph DiSarro, chairman of the political science department at Washington & Jefferson College. “They may cave again, but I don’t think so.”

New GOP leaders, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati of Jefferson County and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi of Delaware County, have been staring down Rendell this time. Gone are the former pro tem, Robert Jubelirer, and GOP leader, David Brightbill, who were ousted by voters in 2006.

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