Pennsylvania is as prepared as any state to deal with an economic downturn, but that won't make the state's budget process any easier, according to Mercer County's four state lawmakers.

The lawmakers -- Sen. Robert D. "Bob" Robbins of Salem Township and Reps. Michael Gruitza of Hermitage, Dick Stevenson of Grove City and Rod Wilt of Sugar Grove Township -- appeared together at the League of Women Voters' annual legislative luncheon Friday at the Shenango Valley Community Library in Sharon.

The League asked the lawmakers about the future of state funding for local conservation projects such as Growing Greener and other state programs, a proposed statewide registry for voters and Harrisburg-style lawmaking.

While most lawmakers support the goals of Growing Greener and other programs that pour money back into and improve communities, some programs could wind up under the knife.

Growing Greener, set to expire in two years, needs $130 million to get to its end-date. Many hope the money is there, and that the program will be renewed.

"I concur with the spirit of Growing Greener ... but this has been a terrible fiscal year," said the Republican Wilt, adding that the state's deficit for the fiscal year ending June 30 could be between $600,000 million and $1 billion. "We're a pay-as-you-go state," Wilt added, saying the state can't operate with a deficit as the federal government does.

Wilt said the state's "rainy day" fund could be needed to balance the 2002-03 budget. None of the other lawmakers argued.

The $1 billion fund -- built with surplus money carried over each year -- has grown steadily since 1994. It's easier to put money into the fund than take it out, which requires the governor to declare a financial emergency and a two-thirds vote in both chambers. It's only happened once, in 1991 -- the year of a massive budget deficit and the largest tax increase in history.

"We're facing the most difficult budget since 1991-92," said the Republican Robbins. "But we're as prepared as any state in the nation to deal with an economic downturn. Money for the major programs, I think, will be there. But it's still a one-year budget. We can't commit another Legislature to a long-term program."

"These are programs we all would like to support if the money is there," added the Republican Stevenson, a member of the House Environmental Resource Committee that will take up the conservation-funding issue.

Gruitza, a Democrat, said he would like to see continued funding for conservation programs and more equity in the way the money is distributed.

Regarding voting issues, the lawmakers said a statewide registration and elections system would be beneficial. The state plans to spend millions retooling its system. Mercer County, which spent $800,000 to switch to touch screen voting machines, could be eligible for some of that money because it retooled its system prior to the Florida election debacle.

Regarding general lawmaking, the lawmakers said their process may not be perfect, but important legislation is carefully considered.

"Over 3,000 pieces of legislation are proposed each session," Wilt said. "Less than 5 percent ever comes to the floor for deliberation. But our important pieces of legislation are out there for a long time being discussed."