Two freshman legislators from Allegheny County, a Democrat and a Republican, are showing the kind of leadership that has been lacking in Harrisburg.

Reps. Matt Smith, a Mt. Lebanon Democrat, and Randy Vulakovich, a Shaler Republican, are proposing a 20 percent cut in the budget of the Legislature. They believe the General Assembly's proposed 2008-09 spending plan of $334 million could survive a $66 million reduction with no damage to the constituent services they've been elected to provide.

At a time when households across the state are having to pinch and squeeze, Mr. Smith said elected representatives should be doing it themselves. After all, they're using the people's money. He sees no reason for leadership accounts, used by party caucus chiefs to keep rank-and-file members in line, to carry over surpluses from year to year, a practice that has produced an astonishing $135 million balance in those accounts.

What's even better is Mr. Smith and Mr. Vulakovich don't just want to move the money out of legislative coffers into some other state account. They're talking about returning money to the taxpayers, perhaps through greater property tax relief.

Their plan is broad, not specific. It is not weighted down with details on whether copy paper or desks, office rents or staff salaries are the items within the budget that should take the hit. The devil may be in the details, but this suggestion deserves support.

They are drafting a letter that will be circulated among the House's 203 members for signatures of support. Six other representatives already have joined the effort -- Republican Mark Mustio of Moon and Democrats Sean Ramaley of Conway, Jesse White of Cecil, Tim Mahoney of South Union, Jaret Gibbons of Ellwood City and Eugene DePasquale of York.

The signatories then will put legislative leaders of both parties on notice: This is what we want in the budget and, if you want our vote for it, make it happen.

Every Pennsylvania taxpayer should wish them good luck.