HARRISBURG — The state House of Representatives dealt a blow to its own reform commission Monday when it voted down a proposal to select four of the eight Ethics Committee members at random.

The final vote occurred about an hour after the chamber, by a single vote, had voted in favor of the reform.

The sudden reversal came after opponents of random selection argued it was preferable to continue the current system, under which each party leader picks four members.

The Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform had recommended a partially random selection process as a means of taking some power from the hands of party leaders and giving all members a chance to serve on the committee.

"Sooner or later, we have to decide in this House whether we're in charge here, whether the committee process is in charge or the members of the Speaker's reform commission," said Rep. John Taylor, R-Philadelphia, a member of the Ethics Committee.

Taylor, who sponsored the amendment to delete the random selection, argued that it amounted to "another change for change's sake" and would have been unprecedented.

"I think that when you start appointing people or having people put onto any committee by a random selection process, I think you actually undermine accountability," said Minority Leader Sam Smith, R-Jefferson.

Rep. Kate Harper, R-Montgomery, also a member of the Ethics Committee, called random selection "silly."

The Ethics Committee investigates alleged violations of the House's internal rules, lobbying regulations or the Legislative Code of Ethics by representatives, House officers and employees.