HARRISBURG -- Edward G. Rendell is a lame-duck governor, but he sure didn't sound like one yesterday as he laid out an ambitious agenda for change after he was sworn in for his second and final four-year term as Pennsylvania's governor.

	Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press Gov. Ed Rendell delivers his inauguration address yesterday in Harrisburg. Click photo for larger image. Related coverage Text of Rendell's inaugural address Governor is set to unveil plan to cut health costs Baker Knoll sworn in as Lt. Gov.

His agenda includes a smaller Legislature; term limits for lawmakers and limits on campaign financing; dependable, long-term financing for ailing roads, bridges and mass transit; developing new, non-petroleum sources of energy such as wind, solar and wood chips; ridding state government of unnecessary, wasteful operations; and dramatic changes in the way health care is delivered.

Standing outside the Capitol without a hat or topcoat on a gray, blustery, 40-degree day, Mr. Rendell, who easily swept to re-election in November, vowed to set forth over the next 30 days something he called "an agenda for Pennsylvania progress."

As 16 American and state flags whipped in the wind behind him, Mr. Rendell said he was proud of what he accomplished during his first term, such as $1.8 billion in new funding for education, steps toward property tax relief, a $3 billion economic stimulus program and expansion of a drug program for senior citizens.

But, he added, "today is not the time to rest on our laurels. There is much yet to be done."

He gave no details on what exactly he'll do to accomplish his goals, many of which he had mentioned last year while campaigning for a second term, but he outlined these highlights on his to-do list:

Establishing a bipartisan panel "to study and recommend the appropriate size for a smaller Legislature."

Amending the state constitution "to establish term limits for every state office."

Developing a new open records law "to ensure that every citizen can engage in the political process and hold their elected officials accountable."

Passing new laws to stop important last-second changes to bills just before they are voted on. He said lawmakers must have adequate opportunity to "carefully consider bills" and residents should be able to "express their opinion before legislative action is taken."

Setting limits on campaign contributions to ensure that people with deep pockets "don't unduly influence the political process."

Requiring merit selection of state appellate court judges. He called for "an independent expert panel to ensure that our judiciary includes only the most qualified jurists."

Setting up a nonpartisan citizens panel to handle the redrawing of legislative districts after the 2010 census.

But can a governor who will be around for only four more years have the legislative clout to get such a program enacted?

"It both helps and hurts being a lame duck," said Christopher Borick, a professor and pollster at Muhlenberg College. "It allows you to be a bit more risky in the types of proposals you put forward because you're not worrying about the next race."

He noted that Mr. Rendell won re-election with 60 percent of the vote, and his party -- the Democrats -- now controls the state House, both factors that should help him with his programs. Mr. Rendell will still have considerable power with the Legislature for the first two years of his second term, Mr. Borick predicted, but after that his clout will diminish.

"When an official doesn't have another race to run, some people are already looking ahead to what the next election will bring, and that diminishes an official's power," he said.

Mr. Rendell made a 15-minute speech to a crowd of several hundred onlookers huddling in a cold wind. He mentioned transportation as another focus of his second term, but again he didn't spell out details, such as the possibility of higher sales, personal income or realty transfer taxes to pay for the improvements.

He has talked about a long-term lease or even a sale of some roads, such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike, to raise anywhere from $2 billion to $30 billion for road work.

He said Pennsylvania should be a state "that provides a financially sound system of mass transit and a first-class network of highways and bridges."

A commission named by Mr. Rendell reported in November that $1.7 billion more per year is needed to improve roads and bridges and support buses and trolleys. Urban legislators, especially from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, are seeking a permanent, dedicated source of funds for mass transit.

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, both Democrats up for re-election this year, were on hand and said they liked what they heard. Mr. Ravenstahl went the extra mile by wearing a red and blue tie with the initials EGR, for Edward G. Rendell, on it.

Mr. Onorato didn't have any specifics about state aid for transit either, but said based on the $1.2 billion Mr. Rendell provided Allegheny County for economic development in his first four years, he's sure there will be help for the ailing Port Authority system.

Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Monroeville, the new chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said that aid for mass transit is often a "polarizing issue" because it divides rural legislators, who don't want to fund it, from urban legislators, whose constituents use trolleys and buses a lot.

"People must be mobile enough across the state so they can get to work and patronize businesses," he said.

"I am confident we can create a fair way to subsidize public transportation."