Report from Today's Tea Party Express Rally in San Diego
Wow -- what an incredible turnout today at the tea party rally and the kickoff to the Tea Party Express II nationwide tour. Thousands of Californians gathered to make our voices heard opposing higher taxes, and a bigger, more imposing government in Washington, and Sacramento. KOGO Radio's photos from the rally My photos
Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies in Washington dismiss these patriots as "astro-turf," a DC term referring to a type of phony grassroots advocacy ginned up to pressure Congress. I know astro-turf, and believe me, this isn't it. The Californians I saw this morning are genuinely concerned about the tax increases, bailouts, government takeovers and debt that have defined this increasingly unpopular government in Washington.
As someone who's been active in the taxpayer movement for years, I particularly appreciated the opportunity to address today's rally. It was a real honor.
I grew up in New York, and remember year after year the pressures the annual property tax bill put on my parents. Thankfully, in California we have Proposition 13 protecting us. To give you an idea of how high property taxes can get without such protections, my parents in New York paid about $5,000 each year in property taxes on a home that was worth under $100,000. That's an effective property tax rate at least five times higher than we have here in California under Proposition 13.
No wonder why the Sacramento liberals are always looking for ways to do away with Proposition 13.
Back to today's rally, it was great to see Roger Hedgecock, Howard Kaloogian, Peter Foy, and so many other leaders and activists on hand to show their support for this important movement.
In my comments, I noted that the Republican Party that will take back the Speaker's gavel from Nancy Pelosi next year will be a stronger, more disciplined party than the one that lost it in 2006, thanks in large part to the support for lower taxes and limited government that so many people active in the tea party and taxpayer movements have provided.
I noted today that Republicans should continue to oppose all tax increases as a matter of principle, oppose the dangerous cap and trade scheme supported by Barack Obama, and that no "Czars" in this administration should be funded unless and until they are confirmed to their positions by the United States Senate.
Thanks again to everyone who turned out in San Diego today.
Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies in Washington dismiss these patriots as "astro-turf," a DC term referring to a type of phony grassroots advocacy ginned up to pressure Congress. I know astro-turf, and believe me, this isn't it. The Californians I saw this morning are genuinely concerned about the tax increases, bailouts, government takeovers and debt that have defined this increasingly unpopular government in Washington.
As someone who's been active in the taxpayer movement for years, I particularly appreciated the opportunity to address today's rally. It was a real honor.
I grew up in New York, and remember year after year the pressures the annual property tax bill put on my parents. Thankfully, in California we have Proposition 13 protecting us. To give you an idea of how high property taxes can get without such protections, my parents in New York paid about $5,000 each year in property taxes on a home that was worth under $100,000. That's an effective property tax rate at least five times higher than we have here in California under Proposition 13.
No wonder why the Sacramento liberals are always looking for ways to do away with Proposition 13.
Back to today's rally, it was great to see Roger Hedgecock, Howard Kaloogian, Peter Foy, and so many other leaders and activists on hand to show their support for this important movement.
In my comments, I noted that the Republican Party that will take back the Speaker's gavel from Nancy Pelosi next year will be a stronger, more disciplined party than the one that lost it in 2006, thanks in large part to the support for lower taxes and limited government that so many people active in the tea party and taxpayer movements have provided.
I noted today that Republicans should continue to oppose all tax increases as a matter of principle, oppose the dangerous cap and trade scheme supported by Barack Obama, and that no "Czars" in this administration should be funded unless and until they are confirmed to their positions by the United States Senate.
Thanks again to everyone who turned out in San Diego today.
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