"In private industry, somebody's head would roll. This is inexcusable," Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson) said. "I want to see the contract. I want to see the parameters of the contract. I want to see who signed for the contract."
State Rep. Babette Josephs (D., Phila.), chairwoman of the House State Government Committee, which oversees the state Homeland Security office, has asked Rendell to reveal all of the intelligence reports produced for the state, which included information about protests over Marcellus Shale natural-gas drilling, a gay-pride event, and an anti-BP candlelight vigil.
"I think that citizens have a right to see if they have been targeted themselves or been called part of a terrorist organization," Josephs said. "I'm fairly convinced that I probably was surveilled."
Michael Perelman, codirector of the institute, said his company did not watch or follow people.
"We track events, giving law enforcement a heads up for the potential of disorder," he said. "We don't track people."
Perelman added that his company "respects all groups' constitutional rights regarding free speech and assembly. We only provide information on potential issues that may require enhanced security responses in the protection of clients' obligations to public safety."
The team that produces the intelligence reports is made up of former military, law enforcement, and intelligence professionals who compile data from analysts throughout the world, according to information provided by Perelman.
The company has no other state contracts and has no federal contracts, Perelman said.
The governor's office is gathering reports the institute provided to the state and intends to release them, spokesman Gary Tuma said.
