Russ Diamond for PA Lieutenant Governor

The man who led the fight to overturn the infamous Pay Raise in 2005 and helped launch a reform movement that shook up the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2006 has announced he is running for Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor in 2010.

Russ Diamond is running on a platform of calling for a for a Constitutional convention, elimination of the property tax elimination, and state sovereignty.

Diamond, 46, of Annville, previously launched unsuccessful campaigns for Pennsylvania Governor and the state Legislature. A former Libertarian Party candidate for state and national office, Diamond, is seeking the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania.

From his campaign announcement:

"Pennsylvania needs a strong advocate for reform in the executive branch," Diamond said. "It's easy to talk about reform but there's really only one way to get it - a constitutional convention. But if we want to hold a convention, we need a specific plan to make it happen. I am the only statewide candidate with a legitimate, workable plan in hand."

In 2007, Diamond authored legislation calling for a citizens' constitutional convention and submitted it to the Senate State Government Committee. It was introduced as SB1290 and HB2723 in 2008. The bill was re-introduced with bipartisan support during the current legislative session as SB340 and HB1929.

In response to a recent study published by the Commonwealth Foundation, Common Cause/Pennsylvania, DemocracyRisingPA, and the League of Women Voters, Diamond has improved the plan and is asking the co-sponsors of SB340 and HB1929 to amend them accordingly or introduce it as a new bill.

"This is the only way to attack the roots of corruption, fraud, and budget debacles which have plagued Pennsylvania of late. We need to rebuild the Commonwealth's institutions of government and restore the faith of the people in them," he added.

On eliminating property taxes, Diamond favors a permanent constitutional prohibition that sets a future deadline and gives the legislature ample time to debate the revenue replacement mechanism.

"Some problems are too complex to tackle in one fell swoop," he said. "In order to be as effective as possible, we must separate the question of property tax elimination from the revenue replacement method. If we agreed today to prohibit property taxes as of June 30, 2015, there would be plenty of time for the legislature to weigh competing options for how to best replace this archaic system that drives citizens from their homes and imposes an intolerable burden on taxpayers and local government."

Diamond's focus on defending Pennsylvania from federal intrusion is centered on the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution.

"The 10th Amendment draws a distinct line between state and federal authority, but we also need to consider the practical ramifications of federal intrusion," Diamond said. "For instance, if we weighed the burden of federal regulations on Pennsylvania's public education system against the percentage of education funding Washington provides, would it really be worth it? Every state department and agency receiving federal funds should be tasked with publicizing the two sides of this equation."

Read the full announcement at Diamond's new campaign Web site, http://www.russdiamond.org

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Harrisburg royalty

Critics began referring to the Pennsylvania Legislature as the House of Lords a few years ago. Things toned down a bit after the imperial reign of John Perzel came to an end, but now it appears that Keith McCall, the new Speaker of the House, is attempting to bring back the royal trappings of his office.

From the Whispers column in The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

UPLIFTING ITEM. Talk about a sense of entitlement.

At the state Capitol, one of two elevators on the House side is blocked by a guard when Speaker Keith McCall is headed somewhere important. No one else can get on.

Before Gov. Ed Rendell's budget address to the Legislature last week, people were turned away from one of the lifts because it was being reserved for McCall.

In the past, one of the two elevators on the Senate side has been reserved when senators were heading to session.

McCall isn't the first legislative leader to have an elevator reserved for him. But why should a Democrat legislator from Carbon County -- indeed, why should any legislator -- deserve such royal treatment?

Next he'll be sporting a signet ring.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Newspaper: House Dems vote to undo reforms

The "Year of Reform" is a distant memory in Harrisburg.

With a five-member majority in the state House of Representatives, Democrats moved quickly to reverse most of the reforms enacted last year to prevent the kind of maneuvering that brought middle-of-the-night votes to legalize slot parlors and grant politicians outrageous pay raise.

It's business as usual in Harrisburg as the professional politicians erased rules designed to make the people's business more transparent.

The new House leadership is firmly in control of the same political hacks who have given Pennsylvania the reputation of having the most corrupt state government in the country.

From an editorial in today's edition of The Pottstown Mercury:

Not only have the House Democrats proven that business goes on as usual in Harrisburg, but they have undone the hope for change their own Speaker's Commission on Reform had begun.

The Democratic leadership and membership in the House have demonstrated just how seriously they view the opinions of Pennsylvania voters.

Apparently, not seriously at all.

Read the full editorial, "House Democrats undo last year's reforms with party-line vote on rules," at the newspaper's Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Baby steps for new open records law

A couple of editorials published in Pennsylvania newspapers this week offer examples of the growing pains for the new Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says the new law doesn't go far enough in requiring school districts to keep the public informed about contract proposals.

From the editorial:

School boards can voluntarily disclose the terms of contract proposals. If they feel like it. So much for transparency.

The General Assembly must solve this perennial problem once and for all by creating overarching legislation demanding that all school district contracts be made public before they are adopted.

Transparency prior to a done deal is the best deal for taxpayers.

Read "Teacher contracts: Let the sunshine in" at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Web site.

The Pottstown Mercury says that the new agency has been flooded by requests, some frivolous, but it's doing the best it can to enforce the state's revised open-records law.

From the editorial:

The Office of Open Records is in place to help people understand those rights and exercise them to become more informed citizens, whether their question is with a local school board or the state Legislature.

Director Terry Mutchler said the office is already overworked, a positive sign that public officials and their constituents are working to make government dealings more transparent.

Keep up the good work.

Read "Office of Open Records has busy start enforcing new public access laws" at The Mercury Web site.

For more about the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, visit its Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

House Dems vote to kill reform

How many freshman Democrats who ran as "reformers" last November voted with the party bosses to kill state House reform measures recommended by a bipartisan commission? All of them.

In a late-night vote Wednesday, Democrats repealed the reform measures instituted in the state House of Representatives two years ago.

The move opens the way for more late-night votes similar to the legislation that legalized casino gambling in 2004 and the pay raise lawmakers gave themselves in 2005.

On the House floor Wednesday night, Rep. Curt Schroder (R-155th Dist.) spoke out against proposed changes to House rules that would restore "the bad old days" before the Speaker's Reform Commission put an end to late-night voting and "gut-and-run" amendments.

From a statement issued by Schroder:

"The Speaker's Reform Commission's goals were to make sure House members, the press and the public could see what legislation was being proposed and have time to study it," said Schroder. "The commission's goal was to ensure transparency. Yes, it takes more time, but it is necessary to ensure openness."

Schroder said the vote by House Democrats to restore the old policies was akin to exchanging openness for expediency.

"This action rolls back and retreats from the rules established by the bipartisan Speaker's Reform Commission a couple of years ago that required 24 hours before an amended bill could be considered on final passage," said Schroder. "We are indeed opening the door to the bad old days. Under the new House rules, legislation may be rewritten at the last minute and brought to the floor for a vote and become law without giving adequate time for legislators and the public to absorb the changes."

In addition to the 24-hour rule change, the new rules pave the way for sessions to go past the 11 p.m. deadline established by the Reform Commission. They also give the Rules Committee more power to manipulate bills.

"The House rules adopted Wednesday night dim the light that was shone on the legislative process by the work of the Speaker's Reform Commission. The rule requiring a 24-hour waiting period to vote a bill after it is amended is now rendered ineffective; gut-and-run, last-minute amendments can once again be passed by the House Rules Committee and the likelihood is now greater that bills will be passed in the middle of the night once again," Schroder said. "The Democrat members of the Reform Commission and first-term Democrats who ran on a reform agenda were party to this destruction of openness."

Also Wednesday night, Schroder voted for an amendment that would have prohibited House members from being employed by lobbying firms. House Democrats defeated it.

This is the result of voters sending a Democratic majority back to Harrisburg despite the fact that 12 people connected with the House Democratic Caucus have been indicted in the "Bonusgate" corruption probe. You wanted business as usual in Harrisburg ... and you got it.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Democrats try to undo legislative reforms

Emboldened by their five-seat majority in the state House of Representatives, Democratic Party leaders are moving quickly to undo many of the legislative reforms enacted in Harrisburg over the past two years.

DemocracyRisingPA, the reform watchdog group, has issued an "urgent alert" warning that "when the House resumes session on Tuesday, the Democratic majority will propose new rules that will turn back the clock to the bad old days of the Pay Raise of 2005, the slots gambling law and other stealth lawmaking. A summary - not an actual draft - began circulating in the Capitol at the end of last week, but it is not available to the public on the House web site. Members of the 2007 Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform received a briefing on the changes last Wednesday, according to House sources."

Citizens and media who want to know how their representatives plan to vote and why will have to act fast, DemocracyRisingPA says. "Although the current temporary House rules don't expire until February 6, Democratic leaders plan to rush the new rules to a vote on Tuesday. If House Democrats have their way, it may be the last time citizens are able to ask such questions about any important legislation before it's too late," DemocracyRisingPA says on its Web site.

From the DemocracyRisingPA post:

The Bottom Line

The Democrats' proposals will make it much harder for citizens to know what their government is doing in time to express their opinion either for or against proposed laws. They would repeal reforms adopted with great fanfare just two years ago through the Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform. Among dozens of proposals, House Democrats propose to:

* Render meaningless the rule requiring the House to stop session at 11:00 p.m. unless three-fourths of the members vote to continue.

* Repeal the rule allowing citizens and their representatives at least 24 hours to see amendments before voting on them, at least 24 hours to consider bills after their last amendment, and at least 24 hours before a vote on a report by a conference committee. Conference committee reports, such as every budget and the Pay Raise of 2005, are often the most complicated, controversial and important laws proposed in any session. As in the past, the proposal would allow action after as little as six hours.

* Repeal the rule prohibiting the Rules Committee from amending bills after they have been considered by another committee.

Read more and learn how you can fight the effort to turn back the reform movement at the DemocracyRisingPA Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Something familiar about Todd Eachus

Reform advocate Eric Epstein, a veteran observer of the Harrisburg scene, is not impressed with the "new" Democratic House leadership in the state Legislature.

Epstein is very familiar with Rep. Todd Eachus, the new House majority leader.

From Epstein's Capitol Domes blog:

On Monday, the Pennsylvania Legislature's "new" majority leader, Todd Eachus, announced that the House of Representatives was under "new management." The same day, the "new" majority whip, Bill DeWeese, introduced HB 21 to promote table games at Pennsylvania casinos. The next day, Dan Surra, former majority caucus administrator, landed a "new" job during a hiring freeze.

Alakazamm! Whoosh! Everything is fine.

Wait a minute. I think we've seen this magic act before.

Who is the new magician?

Eachus voted to increase his salary 22 percent from $69,648 to $85,102, defended the pay grab and kept the money. Mr. New Management never paid back the unconstitutional pay raise.

Eachus is a protégée of indicted former Whip Mike Veon. In fact, it was Mr. New Management who retired Veon's campaign debt. "Mike's contribution as a leader to our collective effort meant a lot to us," said House Majority Policy Chairman Eachus of Luzerne County, who chairs the campaign committee. But the committee's other three leaders -- Reps. Joe Preston, Dan Frankel and Jennifer Mann -- apparently had no knowledge of the two payments

As that great British philosopher Pete Townshend once said, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

Read Epstein's full blog posting, "Todd Eachus: New boss, same magic tricks," at Capitol Domes.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Reforms move forward in GOP Senate

Republican lawmakers in Harrisburg continue to push for ways to reform state government. Unfortunately, the Democrats who control the state House continue to put up obstacles for reform measures.

Barry L. Kauffman, executive director of Common Cause/Pennsylvania, reports that the Senate State Government Committee passed two important government reform bills on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 346 upgrades the way that legislative and congressional districts would be redesigned after each Census, Kauffman says.

Changing the way Pennsylvania politicians draw political boundaries is "considered one of the critical pillars of reform," Kauffman says.

SB 346 moved out of committee by an 8-3 vote.

Kauffman complimented Committee Chairmen Jeffrey Piccola and Anthony Williams for working together to get the bill moving and give it a chance to meet the mid-July constitutional deadline.

"This redistricting reform bill is crucial to making Pennsylvania's legislative and congressional elections meaningful again. When SB 346 becomes law, there will be much greater likelihood that voters will have meaningful choices on election day, and therefore have a greater ability to hold their elected officials accountable." Kauffman said.

A companion piece of legislation is bogged down in the House, where the Democratic chairwoman of the House State Government Committee, Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., is refusing to allow a vote on the measure.

The Senate committee also unanimously approved Senate Bill 1488, which would make it illegal for lobbyists and those who hire lobbyists to provide gifts, hospitality, entertainment, meals or lodging to state-level officials and employees, Kauffman says.

The bill contains a reasonable exemption for plaques and also permits an official to participate in a group meal when speaking at a major organizational event that pertains to official duties, according to Kauffman.

"The Piccola gift ban proposal largely closes one of the big loopholes in the recently passed lobbyist disclosure; and in so doing ends a practice that appears to have raised serious concerns with most citizens. Lobbyists themselves have raised concerns about demands from officials for gifts and meals, while most citizens want to feel assured that their officials' loyalties lie with them rather than with special interest lobbyists that provide the largesse," Kauffman says.

If it ain't broke, why fix it?

Check out this editorial from The Philadelphia Inquirer about a move in the state Legislature to allow government entities to place public meeting notices and other legal advertisements in shopping circulars and online instead of newspapers with widespread circulation in a community.

It's another effort by politicians to keep residents in the dark. For every door that opens on Pennsylvania's antiquated Sunshine Law, another one closes.

Politicians want residents to remain in the dark so they don't see how tax dollars are spent.

"The biggest and most important issue is the public's right to know and how best to get the information distributed to the broadest audience," the Inquirer writes. "Newspapers face many challenges these days, but they remain the cheapest and most reliable way to keep the public informed."

Tell you legislator to start working on real problems like property taxes, repairing roads and bridges and providing affordable health care instead of spending time on something that doesn't need fixing.

Read the full editorial, "Public Notices: Keep them where the audience is," here.

Property Tax Elimination Rally!

From the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition:

This is just a short note today to remind you about the school property tax elimination rally that will be held in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg on Monday, June 2, from 11:00 AM – Noon. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to take our demands to the unwilling politicians in their own house and to meet and show our support for those lawmakers who understand this vital issue and are who are working for us.

This is shaping up to be a terrific event with a number of great speakers and a lot of taxpayer participation. To make the greatest impression on reluctant lawmakers we need as many folks as possible to attend to voice their support for HB 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act.

Please do all that you can to join in this event and please help to spread the word to others who will be willing to attend. The time for action is NOW!

For those of you who might need transportation to the rally there are a number of bus trips planned in east and central Pennsylvania that still have seats available. This is a convenient way to get to the capitol and to establish camaraderie with others who are working for true education finance reform. A list of available buses and contact names are listed below my signature; all are $20 or less depending on location and will be reserved on a first-come basis.

I hope to meet all of you on June 2!

David Baldinger
PTCC Administrator

Pottstown Area:

Bus will be leaving from the Wal-Mart in the Pottstown Center on Shoemaker Road at 8:30 AM. Contact Gene Endress of the PCTA's Owen J. Roberts taxpayer group at gendre1@comcast.net

Reading Area:

Bus will be leaving from the K-Mart at Rt. 222 and Rt. 724, Shillington, at 8:30 AM. Contact David Baldinger of the PTCC at taxrally@mail.com

Lancaster County Area:

Bus for the Eastern Lancaster County/Western Chester County area will be leaving from the Christiana Fire House at 8:30 AM with a pickup stop in Lancaster city. Contact John McCartney of the PCTA's CLASTA group at johnjhere30@comcast.net

York County Area:

Bus will leave from the Southeastern York County area (Delta, Fawn Grove, Peach Bottom) with a pickup stop near York City. Contact Margie Lavin of the PCTA's SETRC group at info@setrc.net or Warren Bulette of the PCTA's YCTC group at bulette@juno.com

Rohrer wants Rendell to curb state spending

State Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-Berks, writing an op-ed in The Philadelphia Inquirer, is urging Gov. Ed Rendell to curb his voracious appetite for increasing state spending and debt.

Rohrer writes: After increasing spending by more than $7 billion in only five years, the governor is once again clenching his fists and demanding that Pennsylvania taxpayers allow him another opportunity to "strategically invest" at least $2 billion more of our hard-earned money in order to "stimulate" the economy.

If state government has failed to deliver a tangible rate of economic return for Pennsylvania's families in terms of property tax relief, job creation, improved roads and bridges, and reduced energy prices with $7 billion over five years, what reputable financial institution would hand over an additional $2 billion based on even more empty promises? How much spending is enough?

Read the full column here.

PA GOP applauds Supreme Court ruling on Voter ID

Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Robert A. Gleason Jr. supports the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling Monday that upheld the Constitutional right of states to require voters to produce photo identification before casting their ballot to combat voter fraud and uphold the integrity of our elections.

"The Republican Party of Pennsylvania was ecstatic to learn of the Supreme Court's ruling that allows states to run fair and honest elections by using photo identification," Gleason said in a written statement. "Ensuring the integrity of our elections is paramount, and I believe requiring voters to show a form of identification is an important tool in combating voter fraud. Many Americans are made to show photo identification before they board a plane, drive a car, cash a check, or even rent a movie, so we agree with the Supreme Court that it is acceptable to check identification before they cast their vote."

In 2006, Gov. Ed Rendell vetoed House bill 1318 that would have required voters to produce photo identification here in the Commonwealth. Under this bill, voters would have had to produce either a driver's license, passport or other photo ID or even something with the person's name on it, such as a utility bill.

"If Pennsylvania is serious about conducting fair elections, our legislature should pass a bill requiring voters to show photo identification and Gov. Rendell should sign it immediately," Gleason said.

11th Senate District reformer launches Web site

Republican Steve Fuhs, who is challenging incumbent Democrat Mike O'Pake for the 11th state Senate District, has launched a Web site.

Fuhs, a city council member in mostly-Democratic Reading, is hoping to end the 36-year reign of O'Pake as a state senator from Berks County.

"Career politicans are failing us in Harrisburg," Fuhs proclaims boldly on his new site. "Now, it's time for real change."

Fuhs may be right about O'Pake, who got half the votes of the presidential candidates on top of the Democratic ticket in the April 22 primary.

Fuhs wants to eliminate property taxes, end the tax-and-spend culture in state government and restore integrity to Harrisburg.

Check out where Fuhs stands on the issues at http://fuhsforpa.homestead.com/

99 Candidates Commit to Integrity Actions

Democracy Rising PA has posted on its Web site the results of a questionnaire completed by 99 candidates for the General Assembly in the April 22 primary election.

The questionnaire was co-sponsored by Common Cause/PA, the Commonwealth Foundation, the PA Council of Churches, Rock the Capital and PA Citizens for Legislator Accountability, as well as Democracy Rising PA.

"In every area of public integrity, this questionnaire found dozens of candidates willing to pledge that they will take specific actions to achieve higher standards of public integrity during their term of office," DR Co-founder Tim Potts said.

The questionnaire asked candidates whether, if elected, they will take any or all of seven specific actions on 33 different proposals to improve public integrity. Those actions are:

* Introduce legislation
* Co-sponsor legislation
* Advocate publicly for votes in committee within three months of referral to the committee
* Advocate publicly for vote in the full House or Senate within one month after referral from a committee
* Sign a discharge resolution to remove bills from committee and get a floor vote
* Advocate publicly for the specific proposal
* Base votes for leadership on the leadership candidate's commitment to action on the issue

The issues presented ranged from open records and lobbying control, to Constitution amendments on re-districting and lame-duck session, to changes in how PA conducts elections and candidates fund their campaigns.

Candidate Consensus

Responses show a clear consensus among candidates for the questionnaire's proposal to "Enact the highest standards of public integrity in America for public access to government documents in all three branches." This proposal had the highest level of support in six of the seven actions candidates pledged to take. Altogether, 41 candidates pledged to introduce legislation, and 67 pledged to co-sponsor such legislation.

A proposal related to openness and accountability beat open records in one action category and tied open records in another. Thirty-eight candidates promise to introduce legislation to "Require all roll call votes, including procedural votes, to be posted online within 24 hours with links to the language actually voted upon and the final outcome of the vote."

Another consensus finds that on every action category, the proposal with the least support is to "Convert to non-partisan voter registration," which would allow all voters to participate in primary elections without having to declare a party preference when registering. Yet even with a relatively low level of support, nine candidates promised to introduce legislation, and double-digits of candidates said they would take every other action to advance the proposal.

Strong Seconds

Beyond the most and least favored proposals, there is strong support for a broader range of issues. Thirty-six candidates said they will introduce legislation to fix PA's second-worst in the nation system for drawing legislative boundaries, and 35 said they will prime sponsor a bill to prohibit all forms of unvouchered expenses.

For more on the issue of legislative districts, which requires action on a Constitution amendment by June 23, visit the League of Women Voters at www.palwv.org

Fifty-four candidates say they will put their names on bills to "Ban lobbyists from providing gifts, hospitality, travel, entertainment or any other benefit to any public official."

Forty candidates said they will use their power to force a floor vote for a bill to "Provide a monthly online accounting for each legislator detailing the cost of all salary, benefits and expenses paid during the previous month and including the accounts used to pay the expenses." (For more on this issue, click here to see the April 10 edition of DR News.)

Candidates showed their lack of information about, or lack of support for, some issues - all affecting how the candidates would win election and conduct themselves in office - by not responding. At least 60 candidates skipped five proposals:

1) "Convert to non-partisan voter registration." (68 candidates)
2) "Examine whether to continue taxpayer-funded primary elections for political parties." (66 candidates)
3) "Limit the amount of money legislative candidates can raise from sources outside the district they seek to represent." (61 candidates)
4) "Prohibit fundraising events outside of a candidate's or incumbent's district within one week of a legislative session day." (60 candidates)
5) "Prohibit legislators from providing any service to citizens that is already provided by an executive agency under state or federal law." (60 candidates)

Challengers participated in the questionnaire more often than incumbents, 31.6% to 12.4%.

Incumbent House Republican candidates had the highest participation rate, 35.8%.

Incumbent House Democrats had the lowest participation rate, 9.7%.

REFORM CANDIDATES FOR PA LEGISLATURE

There's an updated list of reform candidates for the Pennsylvania Legislature at TONY PHYRILLAS, which again is ranked the No. 1 most influential political blog in Pennsylvania.

The list includes the candidates below. You can find links to each site at TONY PHYRILLAS

* Aaron Durso for 130th House District
* Allen R. Cerullo for 187th House District
* Anne Dicker for 1st Senate District
* Byron Davis for 198th House District
* Chris Voccio for 72nd House District
* Dennis Baylor for 29th Senate District
* Doug McLinko for 23rd Senate District
* Doyle Heffley for 122nd House District
* Gary Hornberger for 125th House District
* Greg Hopkins for 50th House District
* James E. May for 117th House District
* Jason Owen for 3rd House District
* Jim Christiana for 15th House District
* John Schickram for 124th House District
* Lance Rogers for 17th Senate District
* Lisa Paolino for 17th Senate District
* Lon Emenheiser for 95th House District
* Lowell Gates for 88th House District
* Mike Welsh for 132nd House District
* Richard A. Stine for 187th House District
* Richard Gokey for 130th House District
* Ron Shegda for 136th House District
* Ron Shegda for 136th House District
* Russ Diamond for 101st House District
* Shannon Royer for 156th House District
* Steve Kantrowitz for 19th Senate District
* Steve McDonald for 13th Senate District
* Wally Zimolong for 182nd House District

PA Club for Growth releases list of endorsed Legislative candidates

A leading Conservative Political Action Committee has released its list of endorsements of candidates seeking Pennsylvania legislative seats in the April 22 primary election.

"Pennsylvania voters spoke loud and clear during the 2006 election demanding change in Harrisburg," says Kathryn English, president of the Pennsylvania Club for Growth, adding that her group's endorsed candidates "have the principles needed to make sure the voters voices are carried through this years election."

"Pennsylvania Club for Growth is confident their endorsed candidates, when elected will cast votes based on what is best for the Commonwealth and not on what is best for their incumbency" English said.

Here is a list of endorsed candidates:

Aaron Durso for the 130th House District - "Count on Aaron to be a strong voice against higher taxes" stated English. If elected, Durso said his main goals in Harrisburg would be to eliminate school property taxes and bring fiscal discipline to state government. "Pennsylvania is taxing its best resources, its hardworking residents out of the state," Durso said.

Dave Huffman in the 83rd House District - After announcing his candidacy, true to his philosophical roots, Dave immediately stated he will always say NO to higher taxes and has pledged to support the passage of the "Taxpayer Protection Act" which seeks to hold the line against runaway government spending. As a school board member Huffman has a proven track record of voting against all tax increases.

Lowell Gates in the 88th House District - "A business man in Pennsylvania, Lowell has first hand knowledge of the need to reduce taxes and cumbersome regulations that prohibit businesses from locating in Pennsylvania" said English. "We need more legislators who realize the need to grow the economy and not the government."

Jim Taylor in the 33rd state Senate District - "Jim is the kind of legislator we need in Harrisburg" stated English. Taylor has committed to vote against all tax increases, reform state government and stop expensive benefits that legislators vote themselves. Through out the campaign trail Taylor has stated, "I will never forget that I work for the people; the people don't work for me".

Doug McLinko in the 23rd state Senate District - Doug McLinko calls his brand of politics, "Blue Collar Conservatism" - a phrase that defines a lean, low-spending government that stays out of the way of hardworking families and entrepreneurs. English stated "McLinko believes like PACFG, government can't grow any faster than the growth of our economy in general."

Pennsylvania Club for Growth for the first time is also endorsing three incumbents: Daryl Metcalfe in the 12th House District; Kathy Rapp in the 65th House District and Brad Roae in the 6th House District.

"These three incumbents have continually voted for a pro economic growth agenda for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," English said. "PACFG feels it is important for Pennsylvania to have these house representatives continue to have a strong voice for the taxpayers of this Commonwealth. It is crucial we help keep these elected officials in office as they continue to serve the people and not the special interest groups."

Pennsylvania Club for Growth previously endorsed James May in the 117th House District. "Mays opponent has a history of voting for bigger government and most recently voted with the Democrats for Ed Rendell's $1.2 billion health care plan ... called by GOP leaders 'a tax increase waiting to happen.' If we are to see less government growth and more economic growth in Pennsylvania, we need leaders like James May who will vote against Governor Rendell's big government agenda," stated English.

For more on the Pennsylvania Club for Growth, visit its Web site, http://www.paclubforgrowth.com/

Democracy Rising Marks 1,000 Days Since The Pay Raise

From Tim Potts at DemocracyRisingPa:

Reality Check
1,000 - Days since the Pay Raise of 2005.
2 - Laws enacted to improve government integrity. See the cartoon.
0 - "Best-in-America" laws enacted. See the campaign.
See the full April edition of "Reality Check" on the web.

1,000 Days
It's been 1,000 days since the Pay Raise of 2005, and this could be the last time we mention it. But we have to observe how little state government has done to remove corruption and raise standards of public integrity.

This is especially poignant for those who remember the 1,000 days of President John F. Kennedy's Administration. At a time when the Soviet Union, America's Cold War adversary, had dramatically demonstrated superiority in missile technology, Kennedy announced our determination to "put a man on the moon and return him safely to earth" by the end of the 1960's. He created the Peace Corps and the Food for Peace program to prove that America could use peaceful means to compete with the Soviet Union for the hearts and minds of people in developing nations.

Kennedy also had his failings. The attempt to overthrow Cuba's Fidel Castro at the Bay of Pigs hurt America's image and strengthened Castro. He expanded America's disastrous involvement in Vietnam. While Kennedy sympathized with African-Americans' quest for equal rights, he did not lead the fight before his assassination as Lyndon Johnson did when he became President.

Back to PA. It's safe to say that voters have done more than their public officials to improve state government in the past 1,000 days. Beginning with the defeat of former Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro that forced the repeal of the pay raise in 2005, voters turned out in higher numbers than expected to replace four legislative leaders and dozens of rank-and-file lawmakers a year later. In January 2007, 56 new lawmakers took office, replacing 24 who were defeated; 31 who retired rather than face the voters; and 1 who left for another job.

Before the 2008 elections, another 25 lawmakers are retiring, and two (potentially three) have been removed from the ballot because of flawed nominating petitions. So between November of 2006 and January of 2009, voters will replace at least 83 incumbents. That's one-third of the General Assembly, creating new opportunities for improving state government.

What has state government done? It ended our reign as the only state, for five years, that had no law to control lobbying. But our new law is weak and does not do what two-thirds of Pennsylvanians want: prohibit lobbyists from providing gifts, meals, travel and other inducements to public officials.

We have a new open records law for the first time in 50 years, but it too is weak. It allows the legislature and judiciary to police themselves, inviting corruption, and penalties for public officials who violate the law are just about meaningless.

Nothing that the legislature has done in 1,000 days gives PA bragging rights for the best that American representative democracy has to offer. Among many other things, there have been no improvements in:

* Changing our second-worst system for drawing legislative districts (see below)
Prohibiting lame-duck session, favored by 82 percent of PA voters
* Making elections accurate, reliable and verifiable as well as leveling the playing field for all candidates
* Auditing the legislature according to generally accepted auditing principles
Revising one of the weakest campaign funding laws in America
* Authorizing a Constitution convention to debate and decide reforms that lawmakers cannot force themselves to adopt

Nor has anything changed to prevent another Pay Raise of 2005. The General Assembly still can suspend the rules to adopt gut-and-replace laws, and they have refused to act on proposals for an independent body to study and recommend compensation for public officials. They are just biding their time.

Something Everyone Can Do
The competition of candidates and ideas is the heart of democracy, but PA's system for drawing legislative districts intentionally stifles competition. This year, the number of legislative districts with no competition in the primary is three to five times the number that do have competition. Unless third party candidates claw their way onto the ballot, half of the House seats and three-fourths of the Senate seats will have no competition in November.

It's just 84 days until June 23, the deadline for the House and Senate to improve how PA draws legislative districts. Make your voice heard now in newspapers, groceries, bars, beauty salons, civic groups, on radio - everywhere that creates a buzz lawmakers will hear.

Another decade of the worst - or the best - system is at stake.

Reform candidates for Pennsylvania Legislature

There are links at the TONY PHYRILLAS blog to Web sites for reform candidates running for the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2008.

Some are running in the April 22 primary, others will be on the ballot in Novemeber, challenging incumbents.

If you live in any of the legislative districts below, do yourself a favor and learn more about these candidates.

REFORM CANDIDATES FOR PA LEGISLATURE

Aaron Durso for 130th House District
Anne Dicker for 1st Senate District
Chris Voccio for 72nd House District
Doyle Heffley for 122nd House District
Doug McLinko for 23rd Senate District
Gary Hornberger for 125th House District
Greg Hopkins for 50th House District
James E. May for 117th House District
Jason Owen for 3rd House District
Jim Christiana for 15th House District
John Schickram for 124th House District
Lance Rogers for 17th Senate District
Lowell Gates for 88th House District
Richard A. Stine for 187th House District
Richard Gokey for 130th House District
Ron Shegda for 136th House District
Russ Diamond for 101st House District
Shannon Royer for 156th House District
Steve Kantrowitz for 19th Senate District
Steve McDonald for 13th Senate District
Wally Zimolong for 182nd House District