Pennsylvania's governor is calling for a dramatic change in the way our state's government operates.

Gov. Ed Rendell said he is seeking to restore the public's trust in the system, especially after Team 4's investigation, which unveiled PHEAA's spending records.

In a speech to the Pennsylvania Press Club, Rendell called for a smaller state legislature and term limits on lawmakers, as well as the appointment of appellate judges instead of their election.

Rendell also called for a stronger open records law and mentioned WTAE Channel 4's court battle with PHEAA, the state's student loan agency.

"I think it is crucial that we have an open records law that clearly applies to everything we do," said Rendell. "The PHEAA example is absolutely the most telling. For an agency to delay, for well over a year and a half, the dissemination of records that involve spending the public's money is absolutely unconscionable."

Rendell's open records reform plan would change the law to make all records public, unless the government can prove an exception, such as Homeland Security or private identity information.

Reforming the state legislature, Rendell wants to place term limits on state lawmakers, limiting them to a maximum of eight years in office.

And a commission would make recommendations to reduce the size of the state legislature.

Rendell's legislation for campaign finance reform would place $5,000 limits on contributions by individuals and political action committees in races for statewide office and for county executive in Allegheny County and mayor of Philadelphia.

Finally, as Team 4 reported earlier this month, Rendell is proposing to eliminate the popular election of Supreme Court justices and other appellate court judges in favor of a merit selection process.

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