U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is being heckled from beyond the grave.

So profound was her distaste for Reid, D-Nevada, that Charlotte McCourt 's family took the unusual step of dissing him in the 84-year-old woman's obituary published Tuesday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The homemaker and grandmother apparently spent her final days appalled that she was a one-time supporter of Reid, who is facing a re-election challenge from Republican Sharron Angle .

Her obituary read in part: "We believe that Mom would say she was mortified to have taken a large role in the election of Harry Reid to U.S. Congress. Let the record show Charlotte was displeased with his work. Please, in lieu of flowers, vote for another more worthy candidate."

Don't underestimate the impact the obit might have, Review-Journal writer and blogger John L. Smith advised. "It's the kind of small story that has the potential to ricochet like a bullet through the campaign showdown between (Reid) and (Angle)," he wrote.

BE-LABORING THE POINT?

Curious how state Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Sandi Vito just happened to send out a proposed op-ed to newspapers Monday that took issue with "the claim that businesses can't find people to work for them, because they would rather collect unemployment benefits."

That ended up being the thrust of a news conference that same day by Dan Onorato , the Democrats' nominee for governor. He blasted Republican nominee Tom Corbett for repeating anecdotal tales from some employers that some employees don't look for work until their unemployment benefits are about to expire.

Despite the nexus, Vito spokesman Troy Thompson denied any coordination with the Onorato campaign, which, of course, would be a major league ethical (if not legal) no-no.

The op-ed was ready for release on July 9 but was held until last Monday so as to not miss "the news cycle," Thompson said.

"In no way shape or form are we coordinating any of our activities or public messaging with those of any campaign," he told the Trib in an e-mail, responding to a direct question.

We'll take Thompson, for Vito, at his word. But it sure looked hinky to us, especially considering the like sentiments expressed. We're just sayin' ...

GANG GREEN PROBLEMS FOR DeWEESE, VEON. At least this time they're just defendants in a civil lawsuit.

State Rep. Bill DeWeese , D-Waynesburg, and former state Rep. Mike Veon , D-Incarcerated, were among numerous Democrats targeted in the lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Scranton by Carl Romanelli , the Pennsylvania Green Party's 2006 U.S. Senate candidate.

Romanelli is accusing the Dems of using public resources to successfully challenge his nominating petitions and get his name removed from the ballot to enhance the electability of Bob Casey Jr., the Democrats' Senate nominee.

Casey defeated Republican incumbent Sen. Rick Santorum after Romanelli was tossed from the ballot.

Romanelli is asking for more than $300,000 in damages.

The lawsuit adds to DeWeese's and Veon's already substantial legal woes.

Veon is in jail after being convicted of using state resources for political campaigns. DeWeese has an upcoming preliminary hearing on charges he used public dollars to hire two campaign operatives.

A CURIOUS CONNECTION. Teresa Heinz is a pickle heiress from Pittsburgh. Her husband, John Kerry , is a U.S. senator hailing from Boston.

Given that familial geography, Heinz's involvement in any political campaigns in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts would be understandable. But we're frankly flummoxed over her interest in the New York attorney general's race.

Heinz donated $5,000 to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice , one of four candidates vying for the state job, New York City public radio station WNYC reported.

Heinz wasn't Rice's only high-profile donor; real estate magnate and TV personality Donald Trump kicked in $25,000. But that sizable donation was a bit more understandable than Heinz's, as Trump actually maintains a residence and owns several skyscrapers in the Big Apple.

LOOKING AHEAD. When Westmoreland County Republicans begin lining up to run for two county commissioners seats in 2011, Hempfield Township Supervisor R. Douglas Weimer is telling acquaintances he'll be among the hopefuls.

Former Democrat, recently turned Republican Unity Township Supervisor Mike O'Barto also is expected to be among a potentially crowded Republican field.

Weimer was first elected in 2001 and was re-elected to a second term in 2007. O'Barto has been a supervisor since 1993.

PENSION CHANGES. Westmoreland County state Rep. Tim Krieger has proposed a change in the pensions of state elected officials, including his own.

Krieger, a Delmont Republican, said with the state's two public pension systems estimated to need $5.9 billion to cover unfunded liabilities, members of the General Assembly should practice what they preach.

He plans to introduce a bill to convert legislators' pensions from the current defined-benefit plan to a defined-contribution plan as of Dec. 1.

But Krieger's opponent for the 57th District, Mike Kester , a South Greensburg Democrat, recently complained Krieger was among just six legislators in Pennsylvania voting against a pension reform bill in June. Kester, who works in the county controller's office, said House Bill 2497, if enacted by the Senate, would save taxpayers $25 billion.

"While more can be done to reform the state pension system in the future, this bill is a major step in the right direction," Kester said.

Critics of the House bill, now in the Senate Finance Committee, said it only stretches out payments to lower costs over the next few years and increases them later. They lament the House plan will lessen the affect of the near-term tax hikes needed to cover the pensions but cost homeowners more down the road.

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