HARRISBURG -- When House Democratic lawmakers and aides were arrested in a corruption scandal two years ago, Republican Leader Sam Smith said he found it hard to believe his Democratic counterpart didn't know what was going on under his nose.

With 10 members of his own caucus now under arrest on similar charges, Mr. Smith is changing his tune.

His criticism of Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese came in December 2007 after an investigation that probed the House Democrats' use of taxpayer-funded bonuses as rewards for campaign work resulted in 12 arrests.

"As big as that [bonus] program was they operated, I have difficulty believing he didn't know," Mr. Smith said then.

He retreated from that statement yesterday as 10 people associated with his own caucus prepare to fight hundreds of criminal charges for allegedly using state resources to fund campaigns.

"There's nothing worse than getting stung by your own words," he said yesterday. "I was wrong."

His associates are accused of using tax dollars for computer programs and equipment that was used to target get-out-the-vote efforts on those most likely to support Republican incumbents, including former House Speaker John Perzel of Philadelphia.

Mr. Smith, R-Punxsutawney, now says he didn't know tax dollars were being used that way, and that Mr. DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, may not have known either.

"The secrecy that existed is almost beyond belief," he said.

He said those around him led him to believe computer contracts were for legitimate legislative work, not for databases and equipment to run campaigns.

"If what is alleged is accurate, it bears out that I was given misleading information as to what those contracts were all about," Mr. Smith told reporters yesterday.

He said he was baffled by some of the revelations in last week's grand jury presentment.

Among those charged were Mr. Perzel; caucus attorney and former Rep. Brett Feese, R-Lycoming; and Mr. Perzel's former chief of staff Brian Preski.

Mr. Smith waffled when reporters asked him whether he believed Mr. Feese, Mr. Perzel and Mr. Preski lied to him, but conceded that "if the allegations are true" that he had been "misled" by the trio.

Their arrests came during the second phase of an ongoing investigation by Attorney General Tom Corbett.

The end of that phase brings no relief to House Republicans, said Mr. Smith, who considers himself and his whole caucus possible targets of the probe until Mr. Corbett says otherwise.

Meanwhile, he is trying to shore up legislative policies to prevent future transgressions.

His plan -- called Pennsylvania's Agenda for Trust in Harrisburg, or PATH, -- would prevent legislative staffers from campaigning during scheduled work hours or from using government equipment for campaign work at any time.

Both already are illegal under state law.

PATH also would prevent public officials from starting nonprofit organizations while in office. That measure apparently was inspired by grand-jury revelations that former state Sen. Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia, and former state Rep. Mike Veon, D-Beaver, improperly used state grants given to organizations they founded in their districts.

Mr. Smith also is proposing an ethical code of conduct for government employees and contractors, a ban on awarding contracts to campaign contributors, audits of the General Assembly and whistleblower protection for employees who alert authorities to legal and ethical violations.

"Our plan would help stop corruption, address various ethical issues and bring accountability and better accessibility to state and local government," Mr. Smith said. "We need to earn back the people's trust and confidence."

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