As clouds of scandal waft over the Susquehanna, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato today offered an ambitious package of reform proposals in the first policy statement of his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Mr. Onorato called for an ambitious list if changes, including:

• Campaign finance limits based on the ceilings in federal law.

• 12-year term limits for legislators.

• A reduction of the size of the Legislature and cost cuts of at least 20 percent.

• The elimination of per diem expense payments for legislators.

• A Constitutional amendment to establish a commission to insulate the congressional and legislative redistricting process from politics.

Mr. Onorato's policy statement adds his voice to the calls for reform issued last week by his opponent, Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox. Gov. Ed Rendell offered his own reform suggestions in a speech earlier this week in Scranton.

These Democratic proposals come as Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican candidate for governor, has spotlighted charges of Harrisburg corruption with a series of arrests involving Democratic and Republican legislators and staff members.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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