Pennsylvania taxpayers can't be happy about the news that several top Democratic aides currently under scrutiny in the legislative bonus scandal — and who lost their jobs last week — apparently will continue benefiting from the questionable bonuses by way of their pensions.

And, to the chagrin of most taxpayers, much more than a few dollars are involved. Actually, as projected, some of the former aides' pensions will be boosted by thousands of dollars as a result of the bonuses.

The pension-eligibility disclosure by a Pittsburgh newspaper Wednesday merits additional outrage by taxpayers who have become increasingly troubled by the course of events in the state capital over the past two years.

The ill-fated middle-of-the-night pay-raise vote of July 2005 ended up shortening the careers of a couple dozen lawmakers in the 2006 legislative elections. It is to be hoped that the fallout from the current bonus scandal will have a similar result — delivering the message that, once and for all, the people of this state demand positive change.

Prior to the latest pension disclosure, House Democratic Leader William DeWeese had expressed the opinion that the bonuses would not be included in compensation amounts used to calculate pension amounts. A DeWeese spokesman confirmed Tuesday that that belief was not accurate.

Thus, Michael Manzo, who lost his job as DeWeese's chief of staff in last week's firings, will be eligible for a pension about $2,300 higher than he otherwise would have been eligible.

Based on his years of service, job classification and compensation in his 12 consecutive highest-earning quarters, Manzo's annual pension, according to estimates, will be about $47,000 when he reaches the full-retirement age of 60. However, he can opt to begin his pension at an earlier date, even immediately, at a lower annual payout amount.

About 700 House Democratic staffers shared in $1.9 million in bonuses awarded by the party's House caucus last year. State Attorney General Tom Corbett and a grand jury are investigating whether the bonuses were given for work on political campaigns, which would be illegal.

If there is any loophole available for overturning the higher-pension eligibility of Manzo and the other ousted aides, that loophole should be pursued without delay.