HARRISBURG -- A hearing tomorrow on motions filed in a government corruption case is scheduled to last through Wednesday, but could go much longer if defense attorneys call all 43 witnesses they subpoenaed.

"This is the first day we get to be affirmative in this matter and call our own witnesses to answer questions," said attorney Michael Palermo, who represents defendant Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink and coordinated subpoenas for all 11 defendants.

The case revolves around former House member Mike Veon and 11 others associated with the House Democratic caucus, including Ms. Perretta-Rosepink who worked in Mr. Veon's Beaver Falls office. They are accused of using state resources to run Democratic incumbents' political campaigns.

Spokesmen for House caucuses confirmed that subpoenas went to about a dozen Republican lawmakers including Minority Whip Mike Turzai of Bradford Woods, and at least four Democratic lawmakers including Majority Whip Bill DeWeese of Waynesburg. Another subpoena recipient is state Revenue Secretary Steve Stetler, a former state representative and former officer of the House Democratic Campaign Committee.

Mr. Palermo said subpoenas also were issued to several legislative staffers.

Motions filed last month in Dauphin County Common Pleas Court show that defense attorneys are trying to prove that Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett singled out political opponents while ignoring similar deeds by others including many within the GOP.

"That's one of the big issues for us," Mr. Palermo said.

Mr. Corbett's office has said the investigation is continuing, that it includes all four caucuses of the Legislature and that more arrests are expected.

Kevin Harley, spokesman for Mr. Corbett, said it's unusual for defense attorneys to call so many witnesses for motion hearings, which usually center around points of law, not evidence.

"This is a lot of political grandstanding by Mr. Veon. Perhaps he enjoys making court proceedings into a carnival atmosphere," Mr. Harley said today.

Mr. Palermo said 43 isn't a large number of a witnesses for a case involving 12 defendants.

Three already have agreed to plead guilty. The others are scheduled for trial in September.

The motion hearing was expected to held tomorrow morning before Dauphin County President Judge Richard Lewis.