The House and Senate appear to be locked in a game of chicken over liquor reform and transportation spending. Both chambers recessed Saturday night after aborting key votes on those issues.

The Senate spent many hours yesterday to push out victories for both parties to enjoy. Today could see a final vote on liquor in the Senate and transportation in the House.

In the early morning hours, a GOP liquor reform plan gained the support it will need to make it out of the Senate. They may not agree to move again until after the House passes a transportation bill.

A bill that would expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act cleared the Health and Welfare Committee. If its GOP supporters stick with it, it has the votes to pass the Senate.

Where there is smoke there is fire, and House and Senate seemed to have caught it Thursday. Forward motion was felt on two of their biggest agenda items: transportation and liquor.

Several state GOP leaders, led by Speaker Sam Smith, indicated pension reform may be pushed back in order to tackle other issues.

A new Republican privatization proposal will be taken up by the Senate Friday afternoon.

One of Gov. Tom Corbett’s major budget priorities this year is a bit closer to passage, but its fate is still uncertain.