PHILADELPHIA — Gov. Ed Rendell this morning told jurors that a former state senator on trial for corruption worked hard for the state.

Rendell said his sometime rival Vincent Fumo worked long hours on state issues. He says they sometimes met late at night or talked by phone when Fumo was on vacation.

On cross-examination, Rendell acknowledged that even successful, hard-working lawmakers must follow the law.

Fumo is charged with defrauding the senate, a charity and a museum out of $3.5 million.

A lawyer says Fumo, a Philadelphia Democrat, will also take the stand today in his own defense at the federal criminal trial.