With most Pennsylvanians recognizing the need for major reforms in Harrisburg, this year's approaching lame-duck session in the state legislature should provide an illustration of another aspect of state government in need of change.

The list of potential targets for change in the legislature is long, but ending lame-duck sessions certainly belongs on the list.

A recent commentary by Lowman S. Henry of the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research included some eye-opening statements.

The first paragraph states, "The Pennsylvania General Assembly is preparing to engage in a practice that is outlawed in most states. Every two years following legislative elections, the incumbent 'lame duck' legislature convenves for one final session, known in government parlance as 'sine die.' Elsewhere, such sessions are unconstitutional, preventing defeated and retiring legislators — who will never again be accountable to voters — from making major policy decisions."

Henry's point is valid. Why should important decisions be made by officials who are retiring or have been defeated in an election, and thus are no longer accountable to voters?

Except for emergency situations, the post-election, lame-duck session should be banished in Harrisburg.

The fact that only 12 states do not limit the length of their legislative sessions by constitution, statute or chamber rule reveals that Pennsylvania is — once again — out of step with most of the nation.

Common Cause of Pennsylvania, a good-government, citizen advocacy group, makes a good point in suggesting that the legislature should complete its work by September so voters going to the polls in November will know the lawmakers' full and complete records — with no opportunity for a November surprise.

And that is exactly what happens in many lame-duck sessions. With no voters' wrath to fear, lawmakers often tackle controversial issues in sine die session. Among the issues dealt with in recent lame-duck sesions are legislative pay raises, public money for sports arenas, taxpayer bailouts for public transit agencies and changes to the slot machine gambling laws.

There is no reason why those issues could not have been handled prior to the November election.

This year's session might not provide evidence of more lawmaker mischief, but that's only because voters still angry over the July 2005 stealth pay-raise vote are paying close attention.

But the simple fact that lawmakers would wait until November to take care of any official business, when a fair number of those casting votes have been defeated in an election or are retiring, is clear evidence of a flawed system.

Nearly 40 other states prohibit such lame-duck sessions. Pennsylvania should too.

Henry notes that the reform movement's slogan for ending sine die sessions is "Over by October,"meaning that whatever business the General Assembly is going to conduct should be completed before the November elections. That way voters can head to the polls with full knowledge of what their elected officials have done, and decide if they are worthy of re-election.

Since Keystone State voters were awakened from their slumber by the controversial pay-raise vote of July 2005, there has been continued attention on reforming the Pennsylvania Legislature to make it more effective, more transparent and more accountable to voters.

Ending sine die sessions is just one of several reforms that are necessary to change the way things are done in Harrisburg.