HARRISBURG -- A conservative think tank has gotten support from 81 state legislators -- all Republicans, so far -- in its petition campaign to oppose an increase in the state income tax.

Matthew Brouillette, leader of the Commonwealth Foundation, started a "Yes, We Can'' campaign two days ago, asking legislators to sign a petition agreeing that "Yes, We Can'' balance the 2009-10 state budget without the 16 percent income tax increase being sought by Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell.

Mr. Rendell has proposed a $28.8 billion budget for this new fiscal year, a spending plan he maintains can't be balanced without increasing the income tax and several other taxes. So far, Senate Republican leaders are supporting a $27.3 billion budget, which they say doesn't require tax increases, but is balanced by cutting spending.

Mr. Brouillette is being aided in his anti-tax effort by Eric Epstein, a Democrat and founder of the RockTheCapital group. Mr. Epstein, Mr. Brouillette and several other activists led a fight in 2005 to oppose the pay increase that legislators approved for themselves (which was later rescinded).

Mr. Brouillette acknowleged that no Democratic legislators have signed the anti-tax petition so far, but said it's difficult for them because Mr. Rendell is pushing so hard for the income tax increase and he is the leader of their party.

Mr. Brouillette has told Democratic lawmakers that they can sign the "Yes, We Can'' petition privately and he won't disclose their names, so they don't get into trouble with the governor. Some are thinking about it but haven't signed yet, he said.

From the Pittsburgh area, GOP legislators who have signed the petition include: Rep. Jim Marshall of Big Beaver; Senate Majority Whip Jane Orie of McCandless; House GOP Whip Mike Turzai of Bradford Woods; Sen. John Eichelberger of Blair; House GOP Leader Sam Smith of Punxsutawney; Rep. Rick Geist of Blair; Rep. Mike Reese of Mount Pleasant; Rep. Daryl Metcalfe of Cranberry; Rep. Dave Reed of Indiana; Rep. Jim Christiana of Beaver; Rep. Jeff Pyle of Ford City; and Rep. Brian Ellis of Butler.

Meanwhile, it isn't known when Mr. Rendell and legislative Democratic leaders will reach a compromise on a state budget with Republican leaders. House Democrats and Republicans are meeting privately today -- in separate caucuses -- to go over the budget line by line, but talks to resolve the impasse won't resume until Monday.