Published: July 29, 2009

After seeing their pay cut at mid-month, Pennsylvania state workers, like those who rallied on Tuesday in Chester, Delaware County, are lurching toward a payless payday, this Friday, because of the budget impasse.

Margaret Niederkorn, a caseworker in the Chester Welfare Office, is among the many thousands across the Commonwealth trying to cope without a paycheck:
"Most of us can apply for food stamps. We'll be eligible by not being paid."

She's grateful to organizations like the Salvation Army and Philabundance, but says it's a shame state workers who show up for work everyday  - and have been asked to continue working by Governor Rendell - have to make those kinds of decisions.

Theresa Valentino is a training supervisor there:

"I was so embarassed the other day. I had to go into my doctor's office and tell them I couldn't pay the co-pay. They wanted to turn me down for an appointment I waited nine months for."

While the governor says a state court decision prevented him from paying
employees, he's now exploring ways to pay state workers, anyway.