With their work on the new 2010-11 budget complete, both houses of the Pennsylvania General Assembly adjourned until September.

But lawmakers shouldn't regard the coming weeks as a vacation. Even with a budget in place, there is much for them to be thinking about, including one crucial item.

That is what the state government will do if Pennsylvania does not get the $850 million in federal stimulus money that currently is stalled in Congress.

A last-minute proposal last weekend for state lawmakers to spell out which programs would be cut if the $850 million is not forthcoming did not attract enough support for a floor vote in the state House.

That issue holds the potential for being a source of considerable controversy, and members of the House and Senate appeared committed most to getting out of Harrisburg without further wrangling.

Even after the spending package was passed by both houses, there was the threat of that agreement unraveling over the issue of creation of a fiscal oversight office championed by Senate Republicans.

In addition to the matter of what to do regarding the $850 million in federal money, if that revenue isn't forthcoming from Washington, and how the fiscal oversight office issue should be dealt with, state lawmakers should spend time doing research and pondering their stance regarding enactment of a tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction.

The new budget includes a commitment by House Demo-crats and Senate Republicans to work on the Marcellus Shale tax issue in the fall. However, with re-election campaigns gearing up after Labor Day, there is the potential for that tax issue to fall by the wayside.

"I think the taxpayers can look at this budget and say . . . heading into next year . . . we created a sound mechanism to guarantee that we're ready to focus on the key issues," said House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne.

September will indicate how well lawmakers spent their summer recess.