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Pa. House Returns For 'Lame Duck' Session

HARRISBURG (CBS) - After a reversal by House Democratic leaders who had cancelled the remaining days in the current session, the Pennsylvania House returns today for a post-election, "lame duck," session to wrap up unfinished business.

House Democrats continue to rip the state Senate, controlled by Republicans, for not holding a lame duck session of its own. Bob Caton is a spokesman for the state House speaker:

"We're going to get this work done even though the Senate has flatly refused to return to session to deal with House-passed legislation."

Reform advocates oppose lame duck sessions because, in the past, lawmakers have fast-tracked legislation that hasn't been previously vetted at a time when they are less accountable to voters.

This time is different says Tim Potts, co-founder of the Pennsylvania reform group, "Democracy Rising," because the House can only vote on bills that have already been passed by the Senate:

"If both chambers were coming back this would absolutely be a really bad thing and we'd be screaming like hell to get rid of it."

Ironically, as far as Potts is concerned, this lame duck session is OK precisely because the Senate is not in session.

Reported by: Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio

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