HARRISBURG — The Corbett administration is rebutting state Treasurer Rob McCord's criticism of a no-bid contract to manage the state's executive-branch websites, which it says is a good deal for taxpayers.

McCord said Wednesday he's refusing to pay $3.5 million to the contractor, a subsidiary of Kansas-based NIC, because he's concerned about the legality and propriety of the contract.

Nils Frederiksen of the governor's Office of General Counsel says the deal's no different from others that the treasurer's office approves every day. He called McCord's comments “inflammatory.”

Dan Egan of the governor's Office of Administration says a no-bid contract makes sense because NIC has unique expertise gained through its work with 28 other states. Egan says the contract is for five years and its value is roughly $10 million a year.

WASHINGTON — Senators today are considering competing versions of legislation that would keep interest rates low for some college students — at least for now.Senate Democrats were set to push to keep interest rates for new subsidized Stafford loans at 3.4 percent for the next two years while they consider a more comprehensive overhaul. Senate Republicans, meanwhile, were pushing for a bill that would link interest rates to 10-year Treasury notes, meaning rates would climb higher as the economy improves.Interest rates on new subsidized Stafford loans are set to double on July 1 without congressional action.

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration is abandoning a plan to allow passengers to carry small knives, souvenir bats, golf clubs and other sports equipment onto planes in the face of fierce congressional and industry opposition, the head of the agency said Wednesday.By scuttling the plan, the agency can focus its attention on other priorities, including expanding its Pre-Check program to identify ahead of time travelers who don’t pose a security risk, TSA Administrator John Pistole said.Pistole had unveiled the proposal to loosen the rules for carry-ons in March, saying the knives and other items can’t enable terrorists to cause a plane to crash. He said intercepting them takes time that would be better used searching for explosives and other more serious threats. TSA screeners confiscate more than 2,000 small folding knives a day from passengers.