Calling the budget Conference Committee of six legislative leaders a "circus," Gov. Rendell has intervened by inviting Sen. Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi and House Majority Appropriations Committee Chairman Dwight Evans to the mansion for talks. The move brought jeers from activists, lamenting that the new era of transparency only lasted a couple days and the we were ostensibly returning to the bad old days of a backroom deal. Rendell insists, however, his meetings with Pileggi and Evans will be sunshined in accordance with the law. Stay tuned....