HARRISBURG — Blackmail. Extortion. Hostage-holding. Bullying. Unconscionable.

That's how state representatives and senators from Butler County refer to the six-day impasse over the state budget.

The state's fiscal year began July 1, but so far the state Legislature and Gov. Ed Rendell have not agreed on a 2007-08 state budget.

Specifically, lawmakers are complaining about Rendell's threat to furlough more than 24,000 "nonessential" state employees Monday if a budget deal cannot be reached.

If this occurs, Moraine and McConnells Mill state parks in Butler and Lawrence counties will close. Also state driver license centers will close.

State Sen. Mary Jo White, R-21st, pointed out the state Senate passed a budget by a 49 to 1 vote on June 20, and sent it to the House, where it has been stuck since.

"We could pass that budget tomorrow. I'd be thrilled to pass that budget, but it's no frills," she said Friday afternoon between negotiating sessions.

Instead, the governor's furlough threat is "scaring people," White said.

"We have been advised by attorneys that there is no federal law requiring furloughs. We have a $650 million surplus, so money flow is not a problem," she said.

"This is a manufactured crisis for political advantage," she said.

State Sen. Donald White, R-41st, agrees, calling the furlough threat "unfair."

"All this is, is him (Rendell) wanting to get his way. Personally, I think he planned this two months ago, to keep us here all summer to get his way," Don White said.

The bottom line, according to both Whites, along with state Sen. Jane Orie, R-40th, who is the Senate Minority Whip, and state Rep. Dick Stevenson, R-8th, is that the state can't afford Rendell's $27 billion spending plan.

Orie calls Rendell's budget "a debt-borrowing plan, that future generations won't be able to pay off."

Stevenson said in comparison, the budget passed by the Senate and sent to the House for approval was "limited in spending increases to the rate of inflation and included no new taxes."

Don White points out that budgets under Rendell have increased from $21 billion in 2003 to this year's proposed $27 billion.

"We just can't afford it, and I am very concerned about those people who will be laid off Monday, should we not reach an agreement this weekend," he said.

Mary Jo White believes Rendell's attitude comes in part of this being his last term as governor.

"He says he was elected by a landslide and that means the public wants his initiatives and he wants them passed now," she said.

"But someone needs to tell the governor that holding your breath until you turn blue is not a good negotiating tactic," she said.

Rep. Brian Ellis, R-11th, said he wants the governor and Democratic leaders to consider taxpayers in reaching a budget agreement.

"The citizens of Pennsylvania are taxed to the limit," Ellis said in a news release.

"No one ever wants to see people out of work, but the governor is taking these drastic measures to force the Legislature to buckle under pressure and pass his agenda," Ellis said.