Though a deal was not unexpected, super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff's guilty plea and agreement this week to cooperate with Justice Department investigators could be described as an "A bomb" going off in Washington. Scores of lawmakers who have done business with Abramoff will be waiting to see if the ongoing probe costs them their jobs.

With Abramoff admitting to conspiracy and that he engaged activities that resulted in "corruption of public officials," there are many nervous people in Washington, D.C. this week. As many as 20 members of Congress, mostly Republicans, and scores of staffers have been linked to Abramoff, and the ongoing federal investigation will likely expand with Abramoff's cooperation.

Clearly a world away from Butler County and most other communities across America, the Washington culture mixing big money and politics raises suspicions in the minds of many. Even assuming that the majority of lobbyists are ethical, the expanding Abramoff scandal could have a cleansing effect on Washington — with every public official careful to steer clear of any questionable relationships or activities where gifts of money, trips or meals, can be linked to legislative or regulatory action.

The majority of Abramoff's contacts in Congress were Republicans — most notably former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, of Texas and Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio. But Abramoff also contributed to Democrats. Some of those, like Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, are returning thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Abramoff and organizations he controlled.

Much of the money that Abramoff lavished on politicians came from the estimated $20 million in profits he and a partner netted by charging two different Indian tribes more than $60 million in fees to work on their behalf — in reality, playing one against the other — over casino gambling licensing.

The fallout from Abramoff's cooperation could spread far and wide throughout Congress. Because the majority of his cash and gifts went to Republicans, this scandal is likely to be used by Democrats in the upcoming 2006 congressional elections. The publicity, voter outrage and possible political fallout likely to follow in the coming months is producing comparisons between the Abramoff case and the 1992 House banking scandal that hurt mostly Democrats — who had long Some 77 lawmakers either retired or were ousted by voters in the election following the 1992 scandal. No doubt, Democrats, who have been honing their message that Republican majorities in Congress have created a "culture of corruption," hope for a similar scenario.

But Democrats might not have an easy time differentiating themselves in the eyes of voters, who generally have a negative view of incumbent, career politicians — whether Republican or Democrat.

Here in Pennsylvania, voter disgust over the pay-raise scandal has fueled efforts to oust incumbents on a broad scale. Something similar could develop on a national scale, which is supported by a recent CNN/USA Today/ Gallup poll that found that 49 percent of voters believe that most members of Congress are corrupt. The revelations coming out of the Abramoff investigations will not do anything to improve the image of lawmakers in Congress.

Though Democrats are expected to exploit the Abramoff scandal, Republicans will no doubt suggest the ethical lapses have been bipartisan. Prosecutors have vowed to follow leads found in the thousands of e-mails on Abramoff's computer, so this story will live on for months.

Despite the public cynicism likely to be fueled by revelations of Abramoff's efforts at buying influence in Congress and some lawmakers' blind appetite for money, gifts and power, the scandal could very well have a healthy cleansing effect. For a while, at least, any lobbyist offering money, luxury overseas travel or dinners at four-star restaurants will be getting a much cooler welcome in congressional offices.