Russ Diamond for Lt. Gov.

Founder & Chairman - PACleanSweep, 2005-2009 | Golden Dot Award - George Washington University, 2005 | Citizen of the Year - Philadelphia Inquirer, 2006
Public Service Achievement Award - Common Cause/PA, 2006 | Communicator of the Year - International Association of Business Communicators (Harrisburg), 2006

Dedicated to reforming state government through a limited constitutional convention, eliminating property taxes once
and for all, and defending Pennsylvanians from federal intrusion by enforcing the 10th Amendment from Harrisburg.

01.28.2010

72 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Diamond's Main Campaign Plank

Russ Diamond is the only statewide candidate with a plan for a constitutional convention.

ANNVILLE - New Franklin and Marshall College polling data reveals overwhelming support among Pennsylvanians for the reform plank highlighting Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate Russ Diamond's campaign platform.

Diamond is the only candidate running for any statewide office who has endorsed a constitutional convention and has written a legitimate, workable plan detailing how such a convention would work. His legislation is currently in the General Assembly as SB340 and HB1929 with Republicans as prime sponsors and has garnered bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House.

The poll, conducted between January 18-24, 2010, reveals that 78 percent of Pennsylvanians believe state government needs reformed. 76 percent say they support reforming the structures and operations of the state legislature. Most significantly, 72 percent say they support a constitutional convention as a method to address these issues.

"The evidence is stunningly clear," said Diamond. "Add these results to all the other public calls for a convention issued over the last three months and we simply cannot deny that this is the answer to Pennsylvania's crisis of confidence. Nor should we deny citizens the opportunity to alter or reform their government. This is one of our most fundamental rights."

Since November 4, 2009, 25 state newspapers, five leading columnists, the leaders of the Commonwealth's four major good-government groups and two of Pennsylvania's top political analysts have publicly endorsed a state constitutional convention.

Diamond's plan would allow for a citizen-controlled, limited convention where all structures of Pennsylvania's government are subject to review while individual rights remain specifically protected.

"It's crystal clear that individual rights are not the cause of Pennsylvania's problems, so they should absolutely not be subject to review at a convention," Diamond added. "Problems within the institutions of government are what have caused our state to become so dysfunctional. We deserve a chance to enact remedies and rebuild faith in this Commonwealth."

Diamond has been traveling across the state in recent weeks and intends to maintain a rigorous schedule to deliver his reform message to Pennsylvania's Republican voters in the months leading up to the May 18 primary election.

01.13.2010

Leading Experts Madonna & Young Validate Diamond's Reform Platform

Lieutenant Governor candidate has already authored detailed constitutional convention legislation.

HARRISBURG - Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate Russ Diamond's platform for reforming state government was validated by yesterday's edition of "Politically Uncorrected," a twice-monthly column authored by Dr. G. Terry Madonna and Dr. Michael Young. Madonna and Young are perhaps Pennsylvania's most respected and celebrated political analysts, known for their non-partisan, unbiased research into Keystone State government and politics.

In their column, the pair cite a December Quinnipiac Poll indicating that "only one in four voters approve of the job the state legislature is doing" and point to a constitutional convention as "probably [the] most important" step in resolving the state's crisis in confidence.

"Pennsylvania in 2010 is running a 21st century government with 19th century processes and structures. There is really only one way to fix things. Pennsylvania needs a constitutional convention," Madonna & Young wrote. "Probably nothing would go further toward truly restoring confidence in state government than a clear indication of support for constitutional reform from the legislature."

"I'm thrilled to learn that Pennsylvania's top political analysts have endorsed a constitutional convention to reform our Commonwealth's broken legislative system," said Diamond. "History has proven that governments falter and fail when citizen confidence in them is shattered. Three quarters of Pennsylvanians disapprove of the job the General Assembly is doing. It's time to repair our system and restore public confidence."

Diamond is the only candidate who has pledged to use the bully pulpit of the Lieutenant Governor's office to help bring about a state constitutional convention. He is also the only candidate to author legislation that has already been introduced in both chambers of the General Assembly - SB340 and HB1929 - detailing the specifics as to how such a convention would function.

Diamond's legislation was recently called the "most sweeping constitutional convention bill" before the General Assembly by the Commonwealth Foundation's Nathan Benefield.

"SB340 and HB1929 represent the only legitimate, workable plan to reform the structures of government while protecting our individual rights," says Diamond. "The bill provides for a careful, deliberative convention where only the best reforms would be submitted to the electorate for consideration.

"My campaign for Lieutenant Governor is dedicated to enacting a state constitutional convention, eliminating property taxes, and protecting Pennsylvania from intrusive, unfunded federal mandates that cost our state and local governments a fortune and hurt Pennsylvanians," added Diamond. "I look forward to taking my message to all 67 counties to enlist support for a serious reform agenda."

01.05.2010

Russ Diamond Launches Bid for Lieutenant Governor

Constitutional convention, property tax elimination, and state sovereignty focus of campaign.

ANNVILLE - Reform leader Russ Diamond today launched a campaign to win the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. His platform includes a plan for a citizens' constitutional convention, the elimination of property taxes, and defending Pennsylvania from federal intrusion.

"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. The proposed language is posted on his campaign website.

“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."

Diamond also noted the fiscal stress caused by Washington's unfunded mandates on Pennsylvania's school districts, counties, and municipal governments.

"Unfunded federal mandates consume limited public resources, tie the hands of local officials, and represent a major obstacle to conquering runaway spending and fiscal recklessness," he said. "If elected Lieutenant Governor, I'll work to help local government leaders, school district officials, and state agency heads compile no-nonsense lists of unfunded federal mandates that ought to be cancelled or opted out of immediately."

Diamond, 46, founded PACleanSweep in July 2005 in response to that summer's legislative pay raise. The organization recruited over 110 candidates for legislative seats and assisted over 40 percent of the challengers during the historic 2006 primary election. Thirteen individuals who signed the group's candidate declaration were elected to the House of Representatives. The pay raise was repealed as a direct result of public outrage and electoral pressure provided by the organization. The group was also instrumental in Pennsylvania's first ever non-retention of a Supreme Court Justice.

In January 2006 Diamond was named one of three Citizens of the Year by the Philadelphia Inquirer for his efforts with PACleanSweep. In July 2006 he received the Public Service Achievement Award from Common Cause/Pennsylvania. In November 2006, he was named Communicator of the Year by the Harrisburg chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators.

Diamond has owned and operated Raintree, a nationally known CD and DVD duplication service located in Annville, since 1992. A licensed private pilot since 2001, he serves as president of the Annville Flight Club.

Paid for by Russ Diamond for Lieutenant Governor.