State Senate Republicans will try today to override nearly $2.2 billion in spending items vetoed by Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell in the seven-week-old partisan budget stalemate. A successful veto override requires two-thirds majority votes in the House and Senate. Such an effort would face an uphill climb in the Senate, where cooperation from four Democrats is necessary, and an even tougher time in the House, where 37 Democratic votes are necessary.

So it’s unlikely to happen.

Here’s my question: Why don’t legislative leaders offer up some of the taxpayer cash they’ve amassed over the last quarter century — the last audit showed more than $200 million — in all those discretionary accounts exempt from inspection by any independent government entity? You know, to help pay for some of those programs?

Here are some things you could pay for with that money. Take your pick:

• Child Care Assistance, $198.1 million
• Child Care Services, $159.8 million
• Community Mental Retardation Programs, $158.4 million
• Children’s Health Insurance, $86.9 million
• Assistance to Drug & Alcohol Programs, $41.8 million
• Homeless Assistance, $25.6 million
• State Food Purchase (Food Banks), $18.0 million
• Domestic Violence, $12.5 million
• Rape Crisis, $7.1 million
• Veterans’ Educational Assistance, $7.0 million
• Farmers’ Market Food Coupons, $2.2 million
• Veterans’ Outreach Services, $1.7 million
• Veterans Assistance, $428,000
• Disabled Veterans Transportation, $350,000

Here’s the line-by-line bridge budget signed by Rendell. The vetoed items are in blue.