Former state House Speaker John Perzel just couldn't go back to being a regular lawmaker. After losing the speaker's post to fellow Republican Dennis O'Brien in a series of backroom deals engineered by Democratic House members and Gov. Ed Rendell, Perzel spoke modestly of his new role: "I'm just a rank-and-file member." But apparently that wasn't enough.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Republican leaders had met and agreed to create a new position, that of speaker emeritus, for Perzel.

When his party lost control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Perzel refused to vacate his large office to make way for his Democratic replacement. One reason for Perzel's decision to become a squatter was that he was working a backroom deal to be elected House speaker with the support of a Democratic lawmaker who had promised to cross party lines in the House, which consists of 102 Democrats and 101 Republicans. But Perzel's deal failed, and maneuvering by H. William DeWeese, D-Greene, thwarted Perzel. When it became clear that DeWeese was not going to be elected to the speaker's position, another Republican, Dennis O'Brien, was selected. For DeWeese and some other lawmakers, it was ABP — Anybody But Perzel.

But most voters, especially those in Western Pennsylvania, don't know much about Perzel.

To review, Perzel was a chief architect of the ill-fated and secretive 2005 pay-raise vote.

And, after the bill was passed — in a 2 a.m. vote with no debate and no advance public notice — Perzel was a vocal supporter of the big pay raise for lawmakers, judges and others.

When a constituent criticized the pay raise in an e-mail to Perzel, the speaker replied that the constituent should "get a life."

When asked by a reporter about the controversial pay-raise vote, Perzel essentially said, "It's over. It's done." and vowed that it would never be repealed.

But political pressure produced a repeal vote in November 2005.

While visiting an elementary school in Pittsburgh, he was asked by a young schoolgirl if he had come to her school in a limousine. Perzel's response was, "No." Then he quietly had his staff remove the long, black car with limo plates parked outside the school and replace it with a staffer's SUV.

Perzel later made news by suggesting that Pennsylvania didn't need a lobbyist reporting and regulation law to track how much money and favors were passing from lobbyists to state lawmakers. When pressed about the issue, he claimed that nobody really cared about lobbyist spending in Harrisburg — only the media were making it an issue.

Perzel's disinterest in a lobbyist reporting law, however, was at odds with a public poll at the time that found that 87 percent of the people wanted lobbyist reporting and regulation — at a time when Pennsylvania was the only state in the nation without such laws.

Perzel drew some criticism for his use of taxpayers' money on projects clearly designed to help Republican incumbents get re-elected, and forproducing 20,000 copies of a DVD documenting his election as speaker.

Perzel has been described as the consummate insider and power broker. Those are roles that Perzel apparently relished and was not prepared to give up.

So this week, Republican leaders met with Perzel and decided to create a new position for the former speaker.

The deal allows Perzel to retain a larger staff than the regular rank-and-file member, but he will have fewer aides than he had as speaker. Also, Perzel will lose the $41,000 premium associated with the speaker's position.

House Minority Leader Sam Smtih, R-Jefferson, said the new position was created so Perzel can "have the office and staff commensurate with a former speaker." There is no word yet as to whether this special status will be afforded all former speakers of the House, or just this one.

A spokesman for Smith added further justification for creating a new position for Perzel, saying, "You want to keep him involved. He has a lot to offer."

No doubt that is true, but why could not Perzel be involved and contribute the benefits of his experience and expertise as a regular rank-and-file member?

To most observers, Perzel's latest move completes the process of becoming the poster boy for term limits.

Perzel, apparently, has been an effective politician, but the role of public servant seems an uncomfortable fit.