Welcome to Capitol Notes, an online-only, easy-to-swallow digest of Capitol news that didn't make it into newsprint.

HARRISBURG ROCKS
Just kidding. It's actually kind of boring in the summer. The legislators have gone home, everybody in the newsroom is on vacation, and nobody returns phone calls because they're all spending the week in Barbados or wherever. (On the bright side, you don't have to wait nearly as long for a table at a restaurant).

What we meant to say was: Harrisburg has rocks. Plenty of them. And they're just giving them away! Can you imagine? Giving away rocks? Why, you won't even need a pension now!

Pardon us. We get sarcastic during slow news weeks. And technically, they're not giving away the rocks so much as they are selling them. We're referring to this press release from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:

"Are you a budding rock hound or geologist looking to study rocks as you head back to school? Whether you are a student or a teacher, DCNR has a great tool to help you. DCNR's Pennsylvania Geological Survey offers Pennsylvania Rock Hound Kits that contain 12 samples of Pennsylvania rocks, and spaces for six more of your own rocks that you collect."

Interested in the rocks? It will cost you $15 with a $4.95 shipping fee. Visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us or call 717-702-2017 for more details.

GRATUITOUS PLUG FOR A COLLEAGUE
On your dime -- actually, it was about 1.5 million of your dimes -- members of the state Legislature were in Seattle over the weekend to attend the annual conference of the National Conference of State Legislatures. In case you were wondering what was on the menu, we have a report from "Capitol Ideas," a blog over at The Morning Call of Allentown Web site, run by Capitol reporter and new father John Micek:

"The menu at one shindig in the shadow of Seattle's landmark Space Needle included grilled chicken, grilled eggplant and mushroom, tortellini and some other stuff. Kids, on the other hand, got to munch on burgers and hotdogs. A jazz band played. The tables had tablecloths and candles. The weather was unseasonably cool."

Want more? Visit the blog at www.mcall.typepad.com/capitol_ideas

ALLITERATION AHEAD
Pennsylvania plans to put in place a pilot project probing the possible use of hybrid vehicles -- those that use both electricity and gasoline -- in the state's vehicle fleet.

Gov. Ed Rendell's office announced a plan that would add 30 hybrid vehicles to the state's Department of General Services fleet by 2006, and 50 vehicles for the 2008 model year.

DIAMOND IN THE GRUFF
Russ Diamond, the man in charge of the "Operation Clean Sweep" Web site that seeks to oust all of Pennsylvania's incumbent legislators because of their pay raise vote, isn't backing away from his goal of finding an opposition candidate for every legislative district in 2006.

But during a luncheon on Monday, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Press Club, Diamond said he'd be thrilled if he could upend just 10 or 20 of the incumbents. In 2006, all 203 House members are up for grabs, and 25 of the 50 Senate seats.

Diamond set up his Web site, www.pacleansweep.com, in response to the pre-dawn pay raise that legislators gave to themselves on July 7. His strategy, he said, is to find a candidate for every race -- that way, the Republican and Democratic leaders can't funnel all of their campaign money to specific races.

They'll have to spread the money around, Diamond hopes.

So far, he's recruited 13 candidates, all of whom have taken the "Clean Sweep" pledge. Interested in running? Here's the pledge:

I, the undersigned, hereby declare my commitment, upon election to the Pennsylvania General Assembly by the citizens of my legislative district, to sponsor and/or vote to enact legislation to specifically meet the following goals:

1. the repeal of House Bill 1521, effectively returning compensation for members of Pennsylvania's legislative, executive and judicial branches to pre-HB 1521 levels;

2. establishing a policy whereby all future compensation changes for Pennsylvania's legislative, executive and judicial branches shall be subject to voter approval by referendum; and

3. establishing a policy whereby no legislation in the General Assembly shall be considered for final passage until the citizens of the Commonwealth have been given no less than 10 business days to review such legislation and provide comment to their respective legislators.

I also declare that while my party affiliation and/or personal ideology may differ from others who have signed or will sign this declaration, those differences are far less important than the primary need to reform the Pennsylvania General Assembly into a body which is more responsive and accountable to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

I agree to meet all requirements set forth by the Commonwealth in order to qualify to appear on the ballot for the office listed below in the 2006 election year.

Finally, I declare that, upon taking the oath of office, the pursuit of the above stated goals shall take priority over all other legislative issues.

REMEMBER THE PAY RAISE!
The Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania, led by Duquesne Law School grad Chris Lilik, says it's raised more than $10,000 in 10 days, money that will go toward billboards condemning the pay raise and "Remember the Pay Raise" bumper stickers.

The group's Web site is www.informedpa.com.

GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL
The state's Commonwealth Court has decided to not get involved in a dispute between the Department of General Services and eight companies that helped to build the new $140 million Forest County state prison. Those companies have filed $16.6 million in overrun claims against the state, according to our friends at capitolwire.com, a state news Web site. The state says it doesn't have the money to pay those claims.

The matter will now be decided by the state's Board of Claims.

HOUSE RESOLUTION OF THE WEEK
Resolution No. 410 honors "the historical significance of the USS Pittsburgh for the valiant role the ship and its crews have played in service to this nation." The ship received two battle stars for its service during World War II, in support of the battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

SENATE RESOLUTION OF THE WEEK
We give them a pay raise, they give us this sort of tripe in return -- in response to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, the 18-year-old Alabama girl who disappeared on her class trip to the Caribbean islands, Senate resolution No. 157 would urge the U.S. Department of State to issue a warning to Americans traveling to Aruba.