The Pennsylvania Capitol's 100th birthday is today. What President Theodore Roosevelt declared "the handsomest state capitol I have ever seen" when he attended its dedication ceremony in 1906 remains a pillar of artistry, grandeur and beauty for which all Keystone State residents can feel a strong sense of pride.

But all has not been well under the dome of this impressive structure, especially in recent years. Constructive, progressive government has increasingly given way to unbending partisanship that has stymied progress on many fronts.

"Bipartisanship" almost has become a bad word when considering important, difficult, complicated measures on the legislative agenda.

Men and women elected to legislative seats — purportedly to serve their constituents — have increasingly dedicated themselves instead to serving their own self-interests.

Lawmakers have become pawns for lobbyists hellbent on achieving their special goals by way of the legislative calendar.

The current Congress in Washington, D.C., has been labeled as a "do-nothing Congress," but the record that has been compiled by the Pennsylvania General Assembly over the past two years can't be characterized in much better terms.

It is to be hoped that today's dedication ceremony, capping five days of events honoring the Capitol's history, will inspire a commitment to positive change in state government built upon a foundation of cooperation and working for citizens' interests.

Ruthann Hubbert-Kemper, who oversees the building's preservation and restoration as executive director of the Capitol Preservation Committee, said, "It is such a unified blend of art and architecture that no matter what corner you turn or where you look, you see such an outstanding attention to detail."

It would be a source of encouragement if Pennsylvania's lawmakers could display a blend of unified dedication to purpose and statesmanship to exact achievements that have eluded the state government not only in the current term of the legislature, but prior terms as well.

There is no shortage of important issues facing state lawmakers — Pennsylvania has many problems — but the legislative quicksand that has bogged down progress on many fronts has pushed those issues to the background while lawmakers have confined much of their attention to matters that seem petty or insignificant by comparison.

An article in Sunday's Butler Eagle said "intricately carved statues adorn the building's interior and exterior, mosaic floor tiles form a pictorial timeline of state history along the main hallway, and vast murals pay tribute to Pennsylvania's oil, coal and steel industries."

The article pointed out that the building's features combine French, English and Italian Renaissance designs, along with Greek and Roman touches, under a massive dome inspired by St. Peter's Basilica and the U.S. Capitol.

It would be great if all of Pennsylvania's lawmakers were deserving of the kind of respect and appreciation that is being lavished on the Capitol.

Unfortunately, while state residents are honored by the building that is their seat of government, they have been dishonored on far too many occasions by the lawmakers who work in that building.

Lawmakers who today have helped welcome the Capitol's second century of existence should commit themselves to be catalysts for better government in the years ahead.

A Capitol of such stature and pride deserves nothing less.