Protestors gather outside Statehouse to protest the stimulus package
The latest tea party to protest the passing of the federal stimulus package was held outside the Kansas Capitol this afternoon.
The Americans-for-Prosperity-hosted event attracted roughly 150 to 200 protesters, including state legislators, grassroots activists and a wide array of taxpayers- including one Kansas City resident who showed up to the event dressed as a pig.
“Our federal government is acting a little piggish by fattening up on taxpayers’ money,” Robert Leguillon said to Kansas Liberty about his decision to don his pink pig ensemble.
A light rain started minutes after the protested started, but the weather didn't discourage taxpayers from listening to several speakers who urged protesters to continue their peaceful demonstrations against the federal government’s decision to pass the stimulus bill.
“Unless something is done in a couple of years, we can expect to see a stimulus package number two,” Derrick Sontag, state director for Americans for Prosperity-Kansas, told the crowd. “And like any other sequel we can expect it to be worse than the original.”
Amanda Grosserode also spoke at the event. The Lenexa resident managed to organize a tea party with more than 300 protesters outside the office of Rep. Dennis Moore, the lone Kansas lawmaker to vote for the stimulus package in Washington, in less than a week.
“I have two little boys, and I don’t want them to have to pay for what we are doing, and they, along with their children, will have to,” Grosserode told the crowd.
Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, and Rep. Steve Brunk, R-Bel Aire, also spoke at the event. Huelskamp is a candidate for Jerry Moran's First District congressional seat.
In addition to discussing the negative repercussions of the stimulus package, Brunk also briefly discussed the tax reform effort “Proposition K,” which is scheduled for hearings this week in the House Taxation Subcommittee on property-tax-appraisal Reform.
- Holly Smith
This is a reprint of an article that appeared in the Kansas Liberty.
