I learned a new word today

I've used a few choice words through the years to describe the members of the Pennsylvania Legislature, but "reprobates" is not one of them.

rep·ro·bate: A morally unprincipled person; One who is predestined to damnation; Morally unprincipled; shameless; Rejected by God and without hope of salvation.

Yep, sounds like the typical member of the Pennsylvania Legislature.

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review says the new Democratic leadership in the state House of Representatives is attempting to undo the reforms of the past two years and return the Legislature to the corrupt system that led to the infamous middle-of-the-night pay raise in 2005.

From the editorial:

Democrat House leaders have circulated a draft proposal to water down legislative reforms designed to end the shafting of state taxpayers. Among the measures they hope to ram into place by Friday:

• Reduce from three-fourths to a simple majority the number of votes required to allow House votes after 11 p.m.

• Reduce from 24 hours to six hours the waiting period for voting on bill amendments

• Again allow the leadership-controlled Rules Committee to "adjust" legislation.

Read the full editorial, "Harrisburg reprobates," at the newspaper's Web site.