HARRISBURG -- Before leaving for their summer recess, legislators gave Gov. Ed Rendell an increase in the state's minimum wage and a state budget that contained most of the initiatives he had been seeking, but they left several other important issues on the table.

Among the items that have been the subject of arduous debate in recent months and which now will not come up again until September or beyond are:

Potential changes to the 2004 legislation that authorized slot machines, particularly a measure adopted by the state Senate that would have eliminated the much-criticized requirement for middlemen called slots suppliers.

A proposed constitutional amendment that would reaffirm Pennsylvania's ban on gay marriage and add a similar prohibition on civil unions.

Property tax changes. Although a law was enacted to provide tax relief for low-income senior citizens, the larger question of changes that would apply to all or many more homeowners was not addressed.

Regulations that would remove what has been called "Pennsylvania's shame" of being the only state that doesn't require special-interest lobbyists to register with the state and report how much money they spend to wine and dine public officials to influence legislation.

Restrictions that would penalize Pennsylvania companies that hire immigrants who have illegally entered the state, and companies that don't withhold state income taxes from the immigrants' paychecks.

A proposal to make English the official language of Pennsylvania and require all official documents to be printed in just that one language.

Conservative lawmakers and religious groups that say they are seeking to "protect the sanctity of traditional marriage" are vowing to try again next year for a constitutional amendment on gay marriage.

They had hoped that legislators -- before they went home for the summer -- would pass a bill to amend the constitution. If next year's Legislature had also passed such a bill, the proposed amendment could have gone on the statewide ballot in November 2007. But because legislators didn't pass the measure last month, initial action will be delayed until 2007, and the proposed amendment couldn't go on the ballot until 2009 at the earliest.

What was the problem? The two chambers disagreed on the wording of the same-sex marriage ban.

The House wanted to ban both gay marriage and civil unions, which states such as Vermont and Connecticut have legalized. But the Senate wanted to ban just gay marriage, saying that since Pennsylvania does not legally recognize civil unions, there's no point in outlawing them.

Sen. Jane Earll, R-Erie, said a constitutional amendment isn't needed because Pennsylvania already has a 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which says Pennsylvania recognizes marriage as "only between one man and one woman."

Conservatives fear a same-sex couple may sue to overturn the law, and that an "activist judge" would agree, so they say a constitutional amendment is needed, as 20 other states have done.

As for the failure to eliminate slot machine suppliers, Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless is vowing to try again when the Legislature reconvenes in the fall. The Senate did vote to eliminate suppliers, but the House adjourned without taking up the issue.

Ms. Orie maintains that such middlemen, who will buy slot machines from manufacturers and resell them to casinos, are an "unnecessary layer of bureaucracy" and will only benefit well-connected politicians who have formed slots supplier companies.

Another gambling-related move that fell short was an effort to block elected officials from owning up to 1 percent of a casino.

A 150-page amendment to the 2004 slots law containing that provision fell victim to the last-minute rush to complete work on a state budget and recess for the summer.

Conservative lawmakers already have one controversial issue on the agenda for the summer. They want to crack down on illegal immigrants coming into Pennsylvania and, they contend, taking the jobs of state residents. Hearings on the issue of immigrants and their potential impact on state welfare and medical spending are set for this month and next.

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, claims the state has to do something about protecting its own borders because the federal government has failed to do its job.

Another issue left unresolved is lobbyist regulation. Senate President Pro Tem Bob Jubelirer, R-Altoona, and state Rep. John Maher, R-Upper St. Clair, both want to require lobbyists to register with the state and list quarterly how much they spend to influence legislation.

But the two legislators differed on such items as the spending thresholds for lobbyists' reports. Should a lobbyist have to report only if he/she spends more than $250 per meal or $650 for gifts, travel, ball games and other entertainment? Should the level for reporting expenditures be $2,500 for a three-month period or something lower?

Mr. Maher said he'll keep working on a lobbyist regulation bill in the fall.

The Legislature's performance on another major issue, property tax relief, was decidedly mixed. Mr. Rendell has boasted that he and legislators had finally taken a step in that direction after 30 years of legislators doing nothing.

Their measure, House Bill 39, benefits mainly lower-income senior citizens, earning up to $35,000 a year. It uses $200 million from a lottery fund surplus to provide tax reductions or rent rebates ranging from $250 to $975 a year, but they won't start until July 2007.

Mr. Rendell remains confident that up to $1 billion in new gambling revenue will begin coming in by 2009, which would give all property owners a small break on their property taxes, roughly $150 to $250 a year, depending on their school districts.