Pennsylvanians can be forgiven for questioning Gov. Ed Rendell's credentials to advocate legislative reforms. After all, it was less than two years ago that the governor signed into law the ill-fated legislative pay-raise, which was later repealed.

Soon after the pay raise passed, Rendell didn't sound like a reform supporter when he commented on lawmakers' use of unvouchered expenses by saying simply, "They're legal." The bogus expense reports might have survived legal challenges, but their use clearly was wrong.

Despite Rendell's earlier failures to push for changes in the way Harrisburg does business, he can play an important role in bringing reforms to the Capitol if he is able to promote necessary changes and keep the issue before the public and debate in the air.

Earlier this week, Rendell did just that when speaking before the Pennsylvania Press Club. He voiced his support for term limits of eight years for service in both the House and Senate, adding, "It's time for citizen soldiers to take control and serve in the legislature."

Citizen legislators is an appealing idea at a time when professional politicians seem more interested in serving their own interests than the interests of the public.

As an alternative to legislative term limits, some reformers would prefer to see a part-time legislature in which lawmakers are not provided generous salaries, perks and retirement benefits.Such a system might attract lawmakers more interested in temporary public service than on a lifetime of self-service.

Other states operate effectively with part-time legislatures. There is no reason that Pennsylvania can't.

Though it might sound a bit disingenuous coming from a career politician like Rendell, the era of the professional politician, who keeps the job for as long as he or she desires, has brought to Harrisburg the culture of entitlement and self-serving priorities that were evident in both the 2005 legislative pay raise and the so-called pension grab of 2001. Various other abuses of power and a cavalier spending of taxpayers' dollars such as with the 2006 secret bonus payments for staffers of legislative leaders have fueled the voter anger. And that voter anger helped produce the current legislature's crop of 55 freshman lawmakers, most of whom ran on a reform message.

In addition to term limits, Rendell also is calling for an open records law that presumes all government records are public. Such a change would go a long way toward stripping away the secrecy that has shielded lawmakers' past abuses from scrutiny.

Rendell also said he supports a smaller legislature and a nonpartisan system for drawing up legislative districts so that elections are more competitive and less designed to ensure the incumbent's re-election.

Opening himself up to charges of hypocrisy, the renowned fundraiser and former Philadelphia mayor also supports limits to political fundraising. Acknowledging his own talent for pulling in millions in campaign contributions, Rendell said, "If Richard Nixon could be the first person to bring diplomatic relations to Communist China, then Icould certainly be the governor who spearheaded campaign finance reform."

In his comments, the governor also pointed out that if the legislature were to move quickly and pass significant reforms, a constitutional convention would not be needed to bring meaningful change to Harrisburg. He stressed the urgent need for reform by saying that "nothing is more important to future generations than the things I've talked about today."

He is right. But the discussion needs to continue and spread to as many people as possible. Misdirected politicians have hijacked state government — and the citizens of Pennsylvania need to take it back.

Rendell is not the first — nor the only — person in recent months to talk about the desperate need for reforms to make the legislature more effective and accountable. But, as a popular governor serving his second and final term, Rendell does have a platform from which to push reform. He can continue to remind voters of the need for changes. Beyond that, he should pressure lawmakers to pass reforms — even threatening to veto other legislation, if reforms lag.

Though he is late in joining the reform bandwagon, Rendell is a welcome addition to the efforts to change the culture in Harrisburg. Having the governor on board is helpful, but only continued pressure by the citizens of Pennsylvania will make change happen.