HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement regarding Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Joe “Says Tax” Sestak’s failure to honor his pledge to refuse any campaign contributions from recipients of his earmark requests.

“Apparently, the Joe Sestak way of doing business is ‘do as I say, not as I do,’” Gleason said. “For months, Joe Sestak has tried to portray himself as a man of principle, only to flip-flop on one of his highly-touted ethical pledges at the first sign of political inconvenience. If he refuses to hold himself accountable to his constituents as a Congressman, how can we trust him to be an ethical U.S. Senator?”

“Joe Sestak continues to strike out with Pennsylvanians who are sick and tired of the ‘business-as-usual’ style of politics.  It’s time for Joe Sestak to stop this taxpayer-funded charade and return any and all campaign contributions from recipients of his earmarks!”

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Joe Sestak is refusing to return $62,000 in campaign contributions from individuals and corporations that have benefited from his earmark requests, and is quoted as saying that “I guess the lesson is it’s hard to take that extra step.”(Mike Wereschagin, “Donations Pit Senate Hopefuls, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 7/20/10,http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/state/s_691143.html)

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Contact: Megan Sweeney
Press Release