Russ Diamond, candidate for lt. governor, campaigns in Athens

BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN (STAFF WRITER)
Published: March 2, 2010

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Review Photo/JAMES LOEWENSTEIN Russ Diamond, candidate for lieutenant governor, speaks in Athens Twp.

ATHENS TOWNSHIP - Republican candidate for lieutenant governor Russ Diamond, who had founded PACleanSweep, brought his campaign to Athens Township recently, where he called for a state constitutional convention, the abolition of property taxes, and restrictions on federal involvement in areas such as health care and education.

Diamond, who is a businessman from Lebanon County, held a town hall forum on Sunday at the Athens Township Municipal Building.

Diamond said the main plank in his campaign is the need for limited state constitutional convention, due to "judges accused of selling kids down the river without legal representation in exchange for kickbacks," state budgets that have not been passed on time for the past seven years, and arrests of state legislators.

"There are a lot of people talking about a constitutional convention in Pennsylvania," he said. "Since November 2009, in response to the judicial scandal, the legislative scandal and the executive scandal with regard to the budget, 26 newspapers, six of the state's leading political columnists, and the leaders of four of the state's biggest good government groups have publicly endorsed a constitutional convention to fix what's wrong with state government."

Diamond said the constitutional convention should be a forum for citizens - not politicians or lobbyists - to recommend amendments to the state constitution that would be need to be approved by the voters.

Diamond has written legislation under which the Legislature would authorize a constitutional convention, but so far the bills have not gotten out of committee, he said.

Among the things that could be discussed at a constitutional convention are term limits for legislators, reducing the size of the Legislature, and creating penalties that would be enforced if the Legislature failed to pass a budget on time, he said.

However, Diamond also said he does not agree with the goals of some others in the state who want to hold a constitutional convention.

For example, the Pennsylvania Bar Association is interested in holding a state constitutional convention, and Diamond said he believes the bar association will use the convention to push for a graduated state income tax in the Commonwealth.

"I think that (a graduated income tax) is one more plank in the Communist Manifesto," said Diamond, 46. "It gives the government more power over our freedom to earn money."

Diamond also said that the Legislature needs to craft its authorization for a constitutional convention so that the individual rights guaranteed by the state Constitution are protected.

Diamond told the 16 people at the forum that the second plank in his campaign is to eliminate property taxes, which he said are unfair.

"I don't want to see my parents pulling out their hair trying to figure out how they can afford to pay their property taxes," Diamond said.

He said that proposals to eliminate property taxes in Pennsylvania have failed in the past because there was so much disagreement over the type of revenue the government should use to replace the lost property tax revenue.

Diamond said the solution to that problem would be to pass a constitutional amendment that would eliminate property taxes and give the Legislature a five-year deadline for finding an alternative source of revenue.

The elimination of property taxes "would cause an economic boom in Pennsylvania," Diamond said, which drew a lot of applause from those at the forum.

Diamond said that the U.S. Constitution gives the federal government no authorization to provide for the education of children.

And, he said, "the federal government has no authorization to dabble in our doctor-patient relationship."

James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or e-mail: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com.

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4 posted comments

From the looks of his web site and his past history, he appears to know a lot more about the Pennsylvania constitution than the other candidates for Lt. Governor, and the legislature for that matter. I wanted to see his web site and learn more about him before I made any comments. I'll be voting for Russ Diamond on May 18
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BB,  03/02/10 11:06
Russ Diamond has a plan to save taxpayers homes; once your house is paid for, why should the government continue to charge you "rent" (as in property taxes)for YOUR property? Check out his web site to see his plans & how we can save $$ by voting for him this May & then in Nov.
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was there,  03/02/10 3:13
Carrie, Go to russdiamond.org there you will find out what business he is in and all about his knowledge he has to be lt.gov. Compared to the others running he is very intellegent, not like yourself. Next time research before you open mouth insert foot.
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Russ fan,  03/02/10 11:29
"Businessman from Lebanon County." I want to know just what kind of businessman. I want to know what makes this guy think he is qualified to be Lt. Governor. I suspect he's not qualified at all, and this paper isn't telling us because he's one of it favorites for all the publicity he created for himself back when the politicos gave themselves a raise.
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Carrie,  03/02/10 9:26