One of hundreds of events held across the state and nation

Harrisburg, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today hosted the Harrisburg Tax Day Tea Party on the State Capitol steps.  Over 2,000 people attended despite pouring rain and just above freezing temperatures to send a loud message to elected officials in Harrisburg and Washington to “Stop the Wasteful Spending.”

“Today’s peaceful assembly  was part of a nationwide movement on Tax Day to protest out-of-control government tax and spend policies," said Matthew J. Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth Foundation, the organizer of the Harrisburg Tax Day Tea Party.  “This gathering of thousands of citizens of all political stripes is a clear demonstration of the rising opposition to fail economic policies that tax too much, borrow too much, and spend too much.”

In addition to delivering thousands of tea bags to Gov. Ed Rendell's office, attendees provided Bethesda Mission with two van loads of food to assist the needy in our community.

Speakers at the event included R.J. Harris and Bob Durgin of WHP 580 AM, Gary Sutton of WSBA 980 AM, Gene Stilp of Taxpayers and Ratepayers United (and guardian of the giant pig wearing the sign, “Cut the Pork!”), Sen. Mike Folmer,  Rep. Sam Rohrer, and Matt Brouillette.  Musician Ray Owen also performed “If 10% Is Good Enough For Jesus, It Ought To Be Good Enough For Uncle Sam.”

Visit PolicyBlog for pictures and videos from the Harrisburg Tea Party. For more information on Tea Parties across Pennsylvania, go to www.PaTeaParties.com.

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The Commonwealth Foundation (www.CommonwealthFoundation.org) is an independent, non-profit public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg, PA.