HARRISBURG, PA — Senate Majority Leader Republican Jake Corman has suggested the legislature might hold a lame duck session in early January, which would allow Gov. Tom Corbett to sign favored legislation before he leaves office.

That has prompted a sharp response from some Democrats. State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa said, “The suggestion by the incoming Senate majority leader that the General Assembly engage in a lame-duck session in January—to take advantage of Gov. Corbett’s last days in office—is inappropriate, unprecedented and inexcusable. The citizens have spoken, and they have chosen a different governor with new ideas to move Pennsylvania forward.

“The ill-conceived idea to empower and use an unaccountable governor in his last days in office to revive already rejected policies would be viewed as an act of desperation and a serious blow to reform. I would be very surprised if Gov. Corbett would allow himself to be used by Republican leadership in this way.

“The voters of Pennsylvania spoke loudly and clearly that they wanted Gov. Wolf to work with lawmakers on solutions, not to perpetuate gridlock. The idea that a January lame-duck session would be productive is ludicrous and counter to any conceivable measure of good government.”