Outraged with the check-bouncing scandal at the U.S. House bank, local lawmakers say the political damage may be irreversible.

"People are embarrassed and outraged at the fiscally irresponsible conduct of some members of Congress," said state Rep. Lynn Herman, R-Centre.

Because Americans are angry at Washington during this election season, the future of several political careers may be at stake, said state Rep. Ruth Rudy, D-Centre.

"People have every right to be angry," Rudy said. "Taking advantage of their own banking system is unconscionable."

In states where the congressional redistricting process isn't complete, an incumbent weakened by the scandal could prove a tempting target for elimination, Rudy added.

The House of Representatives voted last week to disclose names of 355 current and former lawmakers who wrote checks for more money than they had in their accounts at the House bank.

Yet if the rubber check scandal alone did not concern the public, the accumulation of other recent congressional abuses sounded an alarm across the nation, said Vernon Aspaturian, Evan Pugh professor of political science.

"By itself, the scandal may have passed with little concern," Aspaturian said. "But on top of the S&L scandal involving some senators and a secret vote on salary increases last year, Americans are outraged."

The public perceives that politicians are serving themselves rather than representing their constituents, he said.

The political consequences go beyond public outrage.

"The House is paralyzed by an internal scandal and the abuse of power by many of its members," said U.S. Rep. William F. Clinger Jr., R-Warren, in a recent news release.

Rudy disagreed, saying the scandal will not affect Congress' lawmaking powers. The House will be more careful in the future, she added.

The political cost will fall heaviest on Democrats because of their 100-seat majority in the House, Clinger said, adding that he never bounced a check.

"The atmosphere that allowed this scandal to brew was created by the leaders of the House and the officers they installed to manage the institution," Clinger said.

David Fuscus, Clinger's news secretary said, "The Democrats have run the House since 1955 --Clinger feels it's time to give the Republicans a chance."

But Republicans are by no means immune to the political backlash, Rudy said.

"The top abusers came from both parties," she said.