Newly emboldened by his double-digit re-election win, state Rep. Bryan Lentz (D-Swarthmore) has stepped up his criticism of embattled House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese (D-Greene County).

"I wish hewould follow the example of Cicero and go into exile," Lentz told The Inquirer. "I believe in redemption, but don't believe you reinvent yourself and continue doing the same things."

DeWeese, who almost lost his House seat because of the Bonusgate scandal, is almost certain to lose his leadership post today when Democrats elect a new speaker and majority leader. He has signaled his intention to try and stay in party leadership by pursuing the majority whip position.

Lentz, who beat Republican Joseph Hackett by 10 points in the 161st Legislative District this month, had previously refrained from joining a handful of other House Democrats in publicly  calling for DeWeese's resignation from the leadership. But now, given the outcome of his first election in an increasingly Democratic district in Delaware County, Lentz's hardest electoral battle in the state House may now be behind him.