HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said there has been progress in talks over taxing natural gas extraction, although the state's top senator said he has not changed his tune a day after the talks seemed stuck in acrimony.

Rendell said after noontime negotiations with legislative leaders today there seemed to be a consensus to do whatever it might take to close a deal before the Nov. 2 election.

But Republican Senate President Joe Scarnati seemed mystified by the governor's change in attitude and said he is still insisting on the same things he maintains he's wanted for months, including concessions from Democrats to set a lower tax rate and create an independent office that analyzes the state's fiscal situation.

Pennsylvania is the largest gas-producing state that doesn't tax it.