Pennsylvania residents should have mixed feelings about the latest developments emanating from a statewide grand jury probing alleged corruption in the General Assembly.

They should feel encouraged by the fact that the panel seems dedicated to getting to the bottom of what has become known as the Bonusgate scandal — state workers doing campaign work while on the state government's time clock, and while they were being paid their state salaries and/or illegal bonuses.

However, people of the Keystone State should be even more deeply troubled than in the past because there is the prospect — although not clearly defined at this time — that a number of additional prominent people in the government might face charges stemming from the scandal.

That would add another notch to the commonwealth's evolving reputation as one of the most corrupt states in the Union.

Last month, 10 people connected to the House Republican Caucus, including former House speaker and current Rep. John Perzel of Philadelphia, were charged with spending millions in taxpayer money on computer technology to gain an edge in election campaigns. About 16 months ago, the state grand jury probe resulted in charges against a dozen people connected to the House Democratic Caucus, including former Democratic Whip Michael Veon of Beaver County, also for misusing taxpayers' money for political purposes.

The latest grand jury development, announced last week, involves "invitations" to testify being sent to three more prominent Democrats: current House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, of Luzerne County; former Majority Leader H. William DeWeese, of Greene County; and state Revenue Secretary Stephen Stetler, who represented York in the state House for eight terms before deciding not to seek re-election in 2006, the year after a legislative pay-raise scandal that triggered a big voter backlash.

Should Eachus or DeWeese be charged, House caucus rules would require that they step down from leadership positions. Stetler, who Gov. Ed Rendell has stated is "doing a great job," would, if he were to be charged, have to weigh his future in the current administration, which will serve through next year.

What hasn't been openly talked about or suggested amid grand jury developments so far is that, before the legislative probe wraps up, all members of the House leadership — both parties — during the period of time on which the investigation is focusing should be "invited" — or subpoenaed — to testify as to what they might know about the illegal activity uncovered so far.

Also, if evidence surfaces to tie the Senate to the scandal, the same requirement to testify should hold true for the Senate's leadership during the time in question.

Leaders are supposed to know what is going on, even in a Legislature as bloated as Pennsylvania's. Judging from what the panel's probe has produced so far, leaders, even if in fact they had no knowledge of the illegal activities while they were happening, should be required to testify to that under oath.

Pennsylvania government and its elected officials used to command respect. Increasingly, in the minds of most people, respect is becoming a word not associated with the state capital.

The news last week of the impending "invitations" opened another troubling chapter of Bonusgate. But state residents who long for a day when their government will be cleansed of all illegal and unethical activity should be embracing the developments with hope for a time when they can again put their trust and confidence in those who they've chosen to represent them in Harrisburg.