HARRISBURG -- Five lame-duck legislators, including Reps. Ken Ruffing of West Mifflin and James Shaner of Fayette County, are among a 32-member Pennsylvania delegation planning to attend a four-day legislative conference in Nashville, Tenn., this month.

The group, which also includes returning Reps. David Levdansky, D-Forward, and Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence, are going to the National Conference of State Legislatures' annual meeting Aug. 15-18 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in the country music capital of America.

Conference spokeswoman Nicole Moore released the list of attendees yesterday. It includes 17 Pennsylvania legislators and 15 staff members.

Any legislator can choose to attend the conference and bill the state.

Mr. Levdansky and Mr. Sainato are expected to be re-elected to participate in the new legislative session starting in January. But five of the 17 legislators won't, either because they were defeated in May or are retiring.

Mr. Levdansky and Mr. Sainato both said they don't go to the national meeting every year, but it's important to attend once in a while to learn what other states are doing on important issues such as taxes, illegal immigration, homeland security and health care costs.

Democrats Ruffing and Shaner could not be reached for comment as to why they're attending when they are leaving the Legislature Nov. 30. Mr. Ruffing lost his re-election bid in May and Mr. Shaner is retiring.

"I'm not at all surprised that [Mr. Shaner] is going," said William Earnesty of Connellsville, a Republican who lost to Mr. Shaner in 2004 and who is the GOP candidate for the seat again this year.

Mr. Earnesty, who criticized Mr. Shaner for voting for higher pensions for teachers and legislators, said, "He shouldn't go to the conference because it's a waste of money. There's no purpose in it. He's leaving."

Other lame-duck lawmakers going to the conference include Reps. Lynn Herman, R-Centre; Tom Corrigan, D-Bucks; and Mark McNaughton, R-Dauphin.

"It's outrageous that lame ducks would go to this conference," said Eric Epstein of Rock the Capitol, one of the citizens groups that sprung up in July 2005 to protest the 16 percent to 34 percent legislative pay raises that later were revoked.

"It's an incredibly insensitive parting shot to voters," he said. "I am not opposed to continuing education courses, but you have to justify why you are going and then bring back tangible results. For them, this trip is just one more bite out of a rotten apple."

"I have no idea what these guys will get out of this conference," said Russ Diamond, founder of PACleanSweep, which helped oust 17 incumbent legislators, including Mr. Ruffing, in the May primary. "What are they going to learn?"

The cost of the four-day trip will be about $1,200 to $1,500, depending on a person's mode of transportation and costs for lodging and food. The conference registration fees are $425 for legislators and $495 for staffers.

Whether the entire cost will be borne by taxpayers isn't known yet, said House staff members and Ms. Moore. It depends on whether attendees seek reimbursement from the House or Senate for some or all of their costs after their return. Three senators are going as well as 14 House members.

Mr. Sainato and Mr. Levdansky said they will seek full reimbursement because the trip is justified.

Mr. Levdansky is minority chairman of the House Finance Committee and expects to learn about tax issues, especially how other states are handling sales taxes on growing Internet purchases.

Mr. Sainato sits on the House Finance and Consumer Affairs Committees. He's also a member of a conference panel that deals with consumer issues.

Mr. Sainato said this will be his fourth trip to the conference in his 12 years in the Legislature. It will be the fifth trip for Mr. Levdansky in 22 years.

"If one is a policy wonk and seriously interested in state government policies, this is an opportunity to learn how other states handle issues we have in common, such as tax reform, health care reform and campaign finance reform," Mr. Levdansky said. "I don't do it often, but sometimes I like to see what other states are doing."

Mr. Sainato said his airfare is $234, and he will limit his lodging and food costs to the $141 a day -- for four days -- in per diem allowance that legislators get. With the registration fee, his total comes to $1,223.

Mr. Levdansky said he is driving to Nashville and will take the reimbursement for gasoline. He said he would seek full reimbursement for lodging and food costs even if it exceeds $141 a day.

About 1,500 legislators and staffers from around the nation plan to attend.

"The conference is a chance for legislators to get together and brainstorm, share ideas, learn from experts and learn how other states are dealing with issues," Ms. Moore said.

The agenda lists presentations on such subjects as homeland security, response to emergencies, energy policy, telecommunications, higher education and other topics.