Thanks to the controversial pay-raise vote of a year ago and state lawmakers' initial arrogant defense of their actions, there is a window of opportunity to reform Harrisburg. And those interested in changing the status quo — one that cedes control to a few legislative leaders while leaving voters as well as rank-and-file representatives with little input — are trying to build support for their efforts.

The time is right for reform in Harrisburg because of lingering voter anger over the pay-raise controversy and the sleazy, stealth manner in which the bill was introduced and passed. And the defeat in May of 17 incumbents also suggests that lawmakers interested in keeping their jobs now clearly understand that voters want change — real change, not lip service.

According to a report in a Pittsburgh newspaper, a bipartisan group of at least 59 reform-minded reprensentatives, including Republican Daryl Metcalfe of Cranberry, is working to make sure change does happen.

Among the changes the group wants to see enacted are:

• A ban on voting on bills between midnight and 8 a.m. (the controversial July 7, 2005, pay-raise vote took place at 2 a.m.)

• Mandating that once a bill is in its final form, three days must pass before a vote can take place, to give lawmakers and the public a chance to read and understand the pending legislation. (It's bothersome that this feature is already spelled out in the state constitution, yet lawmakers have for years routinely violated the three-day rule.)

• Require a two-thirds majority rather than a simple majority to pass bills voted on during November's three-week lame duck session after the general election.

There are other reforms being pushed, including efforts to reduce the power of legislative leaders as well as a plan to shrink the size of the legislature itself, that have the backing of most citizens who have, since the pay-raise scandal, been receiving a valuable, yet disturbing, civics lesson on how dysfunctional and self-serving the state legislature has become.

Voters clearly want to see an end to business-as-usual in Harrisburg, and the historic results from the May primary elections should have ensured that every elected official in the General Assembly got the message.

Now, it's up to the various reform efforts, including the House group involving Metcalfe, to coordinate their efforts and build support, to make sure this opportunity to make Pennsylvania state government more open and responsive to citizens succeeds. Even entrenched lawmakers must be tired of evoking mostly cynicism and disgust from their constituents. Passing real reform is a chance to change that.

Reformers and their opponents who want to preserve the status quo in Harrisburg all know that conditions are ripe for change. Voters know that plenty is wrong with the way business is done in the state capital and they want results.

It's up to Metcalfe and other reform-minded lawmakers to make it happen.