HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said as painful as it is for state workers to lose out on their pay temporarily, it's better than having thousands of state workers lose their jobs.

The Democratic governor said Wednesday night that if the budget plan favored by Senate Republicans had passed, about 2,000 to 2,500 state employees would be permanently laid off.

Rendell said he is sympathetic to state workers who aren't getting paid but noted they will get paid retroactively once the state budget stalemate is over. He said about 60 percent of state workers are getting interest-free loans from banks and credit unions to tide them over.

State lawmakers have been meeting behind the scenes to work out a deal. A conference committee of high-ranking leaders is expected to be appointed Monday.

PITTSBURGH — World leaders attending the Group of 20 summit meeting in Pittsburgh in September will use six acres of the city's convention center when discussing the global recession.A White House advance team arrived in Pittsburgh Wednesday and will tour the center, the airport and other possible venues for the Sept. 24 to 25 summit. Nineteen world leaders and representatives of the European Union will attend the meeting.Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said the leaders will use an entire floor of the convention center, making some adjustments to suit their needs.Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato said local businesses might be involved in the redesign. Any changes will be temporary and will be removed once the summit ends.