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PACleanSweep today responded to an alleged internal Senate memo leaked by Drew Crompton, General Counsel to Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer, to Allentown Morning Call reporter John Micek. The memo alleges PACleanSweep founder Russ Diamond and other individuals involved in the public outcry over the unconstitutional pay raise of July 7 should have registered as lobbyists under Senate rules.

"We don't lobby Senators - we seek to unseat them," said Diamond. "I am merely exercising my right to free speech on public property. I also speak on behalf of thousands of other Pennsylvanians who've joined the PACleanSweep movement. Crompton's leaked memo is a transparent attempt by the ruling class to intimidate us into silence. It won't work."

Parts of the memo were published on a number of websites and Diamond revealed he was aware of its existence before it was leaked.

"We heard earlier in the week that this sort of thing was floating around in the Senate," he added, "But what puzzles us is why we have not seen any official notification. If Crompton believed we were actually doing something wrong, then there would be some official action, not a leak to a capitol reporter."

No agent of PACleanSweep was authorized to contact any particular Senator regarding specific Senate actions during the four-month pay raise saga. No Senator was entertained, offered a meal or otherwise influenced to make any decision on behalf of PACleanSweep.

All officers and supporters of PACleanSweep work strictly on a volunteer basis. Reimbursement for any personal expenses is available from the PACleanSweep PAC, which is properly registered with the PA Department of State. All reimbursements must be vouchered, or documented, in accordance with reporting requirements of the PA Election Code.

"If this is the kind of legal thinking that goes on inside the Senate, then I'm beginning to understand how they thought a mid-term pay raise was OK," said Diamond. "If I'm a lobbyist, then I guess unvouchered expenses and extra money for service upon committee are constitutional.

"This is further evidence of the desperate position members of the General Assembly are in since the people have realized they are not governing according to the Constitution. They're in serious danger of losing their jobs, and it looks like they'll stoop to any level to keep them."

Neither Diamond nor any other PACleanSweep volunteer intends to register as a lobbyist with the Senate. SR 2, which governs Senate lobbyists and was adopted on January 4, 2005, defines lobbying as any action "for the purpose of advancing the interest of the lobbyist."

"The only interest we wish to advance is the restoration of constitutional rule in Harrisburg. That's an interest all Pennsylvanians share equally. It also happens to be the only thing lawmakers have sworn to but have failed to abide by. Perhaps a quick review of Article I, Section 7 of the PA Constitution is in order for Mr. Crompton and his employer," concluded Diamond.