Tea-Party Activists Stage Tax-Day Rallies

While some taxpayers were rushing to get their returns filed last Thursday, others attended tea-party rallies across the country to show their dissatisfaction with the American tax system. According to the Wall Street Journal, the organizers chose the tax deadline to hold rallies in order to highlight “onerous taxes and a bloated federal government.”

The activists protested Democratic policies and displayed varying attitudes toward prominent Republicans. Some groups invited marquee conservatives, such as former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who addressed around 500 people in Austin, Texas.

Other organizers refused to invite politicians of any stripe, reflecting the deep distrust many in the movement feel toward elected officials.

In Wisconsin, several tea-party groups protested a decision to let former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson address a rally in Madison. Saying it was "time for new voices and new faces," Mr. Thompson used his speech to announce that he would not challenge Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold in his bid for re-election.

The rallies in town squares and hotel ballrooms from Philadelphia to San Diego came a year after a similar spate of April 15 protests put the small-government, anti-tax movement on the national map.

Continue reading at WJS.com…

Hawaiians Rally For and Against Tax Hike Proposal

In response to a proposal for an increase in Hawaii’s excise tax, hundreds of citizens gathered at the States capital to protest. Hawaii is already one of the most taxed states in the country, so it is no surprise that local taxpayers would strongly oppose any increases. The New York Times posted a new article about the protest; you can find a snippet of their piece below.

More than 200 people gathered at the state capitol to ask lawmakers for a 1-percentage point increase in the general excise tax imposed on goods and services. The tax, known as GET, is currently 4.5 percent on Oahu and 4 percent elsewhere in Hawaii.

They waved colored signs saying ''GET'' and urged lawmakers not to eliminate jobs and services.

''The cuts are too deep. They are damaging the economy,'' the Rev. Bob Nakata, a Methodist minister, told the crowd. ''It's not just the bleeding hearts that are saying this needs to be done.''

Hawaii's money troubles have resulted in less government support for public schools, child protective services, mental health, social service providers and agriculture inspectors. Hundreds of public employees were laid off, and the rest are taking pay cuts through furloughs.

Continue reading at NY Times.com…

4th of July Tea Parties Planned

According to the official TeaPartyDay.com website, there will be tea party protests in over 1,271 cities on the 4^th of July. The group—whose name stands for “taxed enough already”—gained National attention when thousands attended their April 15^th protests.

Now, the organization is ready for their next event with thousands of additional participants and hundreds of new locations. One of the tea party leaders is even planning on running for a seat in the Senate, according to Politico.

If you are interested in participating in a protest then you should definitely read up on the organization by checking out their website. Alternatively, you can find out if any tea party protests are scheduled in your hometown by visiting their locations page.

While I was looking up stories on the TEA protests, I came across this article from Olympian.com on a local chapter’s plans for their Independence Day protest.

More big protests against the Obama administration are planned at the state Capitol on the next two weekends, but a top state Democrat says he’s not yet worried about the effort to build a backlash movement against the new president.

The protests include a June 27 “TEA party” rally at Heritage Park with popular right-of-center motivational speaker Bob Basso, who dresses up as patriot Tom Paine, and longtime Republican political operative Floyd Brown.

The specific targets for both events include efforts by President Barack Obama’s administration to bail out automakers, rescue banks from insolvency, create a cap-and-trade proposal to deal with greenhouse-gas emissions, and establish universal health care coverage.

“This is definitely aimed at Washington, D.C., and reining in the uncontrolled spending. … We’re concerned about how the Constitution is simply being shredded. Laws are being broken. People who run the government don’t seem to understand what the Constitution says,” said Ken Morse, organizer of Saturday’s rally.

If you are interested in learning more about other tax protests, check the blog entry I posted a few weeks ago on the 5 biggest tax protests in US history.

GOP Govs Plan Tea Party Sequel

From Politico.com:

Hoping to recapture the grassroots energy of last month’s “tea parties,” Republican Govs. Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Rick Perry of Texas will host a tele-town hall Thursday that’s being dubbed “Tea Party 2.0.”

The Republican Governors

Association said it is expecting 30,000 people to participate in the town hall, which will take place roughly one month after the much-publicized anti-tax tea party rallies held in hundreds of locations across the country on April 15, the tax filing deadline.

Sanford and Perry will each speak for several minutes before opening up the town hall to up to an hour-long question and answer session.

RGA Executive Director Nick Ayers said that while the effort Thursday will be on a smaller scale than the April tea party rallies, it still represents “a great opportunity to mobilize that support.”

Both Perry and Sanford are favorites among the tax-averse tea party attendees.

Sanford, who attended a tea party in Charleston, gained national notice for his high-profile battle with the White House over his resistance to federal stimulus funds designated for his state. The fate of those funds remains undecided as Sanford continues to battle with state lawmakers over how much of the $350 million in funds allocated for South Carolina his state will accept.

Perry spoke at three tea parties across Texas and helped promote the rallies during numerous radio and television interviews prior to the events.

The Texas governor generated widespread publicity after endorsing a state House resolution reaffirming the state’s sovereignty, a veiled shot at the president’s stimulus package.

“I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,” Perry said at the time.

Perry drew praise from the conservative media for the move, but was widely derided by the left for suggesting that Texas may consider seceding from the union in protest of the stimulus.

Ayers said both governors “heard the frustration” of the tea party attendees and “understand that our Republican governors are the best positioned to lead on these issues."

The RGA, Ayers said, is hoping to use the town hall as a springboard for organizing support and fundraising for key gubernatorial races this year in Virginia and New Jersey.

“We don’t have to wait until 2010 to send a message to Democrats in Washington that they are spending too much and borrowing too much,” he said. “We’ll have an opportunity to do that this year.”

The 5 Biggest Tax Protests in U.S. History

There have been many instances throughout United States history where citizens and taxpayers have stood up to revolt against taxes they felt were being unfairly imposed. Recently, we saw the libertarian and conservative inspired “Tea Party” rallies on tax day, but this was neither the first nor the last time we will hear about tax protests. As long as governments are levying taxes, there are always going to be people who do not want to pay them. To help my readers gain a better understanding of the history of tax protests, I have put together the following list of the 5 biggest tax protests in US history.

The Stamp Act of 1765

After the British victory in the Seven Years War, the British government felt the American colonies should pay off some of the war’s debt with a new tax. They chose to tax a wide selection of printed materials, such as stamps, to repay the debt. Since the English bill of rights – the Magna Carta – granted citizens the right to only be taxed with proper consent, the colonists felt the new tax was unfair and revolted. By 1766, the tax was repealed, but not before the British Parliament was given the power to legislate over the colonists in the future, which would lead to the American Revolution.

The Boston Tea Party

One of the most famous protests in history, the Boston Tea Party, has become a symbol of American independence. The historic event took place when hundreds of Boston residents dressed as Native Americans and threw hundreds of pounds of East India Trading Company tea bags in to the sea. There were several different reasons they did this, but the most common of which was the lack of colonial representation in the British government.

The Whiskey Rebellion

In 1791, during Washington’s presidency, taxes were raised in the U.S. on whiskey to pay off a national debt. The Secretary of Treasury at the time (Alexander Hamilton) said it was both a way to raise revenue and to enforce social policy. However, it upset the American public enough to start a tax rebellion that led to a series of violent protests.

Proposition 13

The people of California approved Proposition 13 in 1978, which resulted in a cap on property tax rates in the state, reducing them by an average of 57%. In addition to lowering property taxes, the initiative also contained language requiring a two-thirds majority in both legislative houses for future increases in all state tax rates or amounts of revenue collected, including income tax rates. It also requires two-thirds vote majority in local elections for local governments wishing to raise special taxes. The act of passing the legislation is claimed to be one of the most successful acts of tax protest in American history, and pre-saged the election of Ronald Reagan to the U.S. presidency in 1980. It was upheld as constitutional by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Nordlinger v. Hahn in 1992.

The Tea Party Protests of 2009

The recent “Tea Party” protests have been called the biggest protest in the country’s history. However, there has yet to be any official confirmation on the exact number of participants. Estimates say that roughly 650,000 decided to protest federal taxation on April 15, 2009. The people involved stated many reasons for their protests, including but not limited to out-of-control federal government spending and federal bailouts. The protesters also objected to alleged future tax increases, including those on capital gains and dividends, energy, death tax, and those earning more than $250,000 a year. As of late, there have been calls by party organizers to host another round of protests on July 4, 2009.

The Tax Lady Talks Tea Parties

Over the last few weeks there has been a lot of discussion of the tax day protests, termed “Tea Parties.” Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, I think we can all be proud that our fellow citizens are taking an interest in government, and how their taxes are spent. The fastest route to government corruption is a disinterested constituency. By taking an interest and making our needs known, we are demanding accountability from our elected officials.

While the overall goal of these tea parties, and whether there will be any long reaching effects, is up for debate, we can all use this as a message to keep a close eye on government. These tea parties were held by libertarians and conservatives, yet most admitted that the problems did not start with President Obama, and that our fiscal policy has been on the wrong track for quite some time. This kind of rallying, with some hint of historical perspective, is a good sign.

And while the Boston Tea Party protested taxation without representation (American colonists having to pay British taxes, yet not having say in British government), this year’s protests focused on our democratically elected officials’ policies. What that says about our bicameral government is interesting to say the least. Under the eight years of Bush’s presidency, Democrats and liberals commented “not my president”. While we can argue all day that both Bush and Obama were elected, it illustrates that whoever is in charge, the other party feels disenfranchised.

Another interesting note was the tea parties’ distinction from the Republican Party. Leader of the GOP, Michael Steele, asked to speak at one of the protests and was told he could attend, but would not be allowed to speak. This political snub speaks to the fact that there is a marked division within the party. Again, how this affects future GOP candidates and platforms remains to be seen.

And one more note, there was a separate tea party protest on tax day. Join the Impact MA threw IRS form 1040s into Boston Harbor, protesting unequal treatment by the IRS of legally married same-sex couples. Several states, including Massachusetts and Iowa, have legalized same-sex marriage, which entitles those couples to file joint tax returns (which can be financially beneficial) in their state. However, the federal government has not recognized those marriages and the IRS does not allow those married couples to file jointly.

I think these protests signal a higher consciousness of government spending and taxation policy. And as you all know, I am a big proponent of people getting involved and informed on their taxes.

Tax Official Predicts More Protests Of Home Values

A Colorado tax administrator is predicting that more tax protests will take place in the coming months due to real estate values. You can find a snippet of the Associated Press story below, or read the full story at Forbes.com.

Colorado's property tax administrator expects to see more people challenging how much their homes are worth this year, as home prices tumble around the country.

By May 1, property taxpayers will have received notices of the assessed values of their homes as of June 30, 2008. They have until June 1 to protest the value to county assessors. Properties are reappraised every two years.

When the economy was stronger, Colorado housing values generally didn't soar as high as in coastal areas, so they had less room to fall, said JoAnn Groff, property tax administrator for Colorado. Yet some homeowners may question why their values didn't fall more.

"We suspect there will be more protests this year because of national news about declining value. If people don't see a decline, they're going to wonder why," Groff said.

Some homeowners might protest their assessments in a bid to lower tax bills, said Todd Davidson of PropertyTaxSlash.com, which analyzes property values.

In 2007, county assessors received 129,234 protests of different kinds of properties including homes, according to state figures.

Values can vary widely by region and neighborhood.

Hundreds protest tax increases at Calif. Capitol

From the MercuryNews.com:

Thousands of sign-waving protesters turned out Wednesday for a tax day rally that included attacks on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and California lawmakers by a congressman and a son of former President Ronald Reagan.

"I knew Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was not only a friend, but he was my father. And Arnold, you are no Ronald Reagan," talk show host Michael Reagan said to cheers from a crowd that spilled out from the front of the Capitol.

Reagan and other speakers urged the crowd to reject Proposition 1A. The measure on the May 19 special election ballot would create a state spending cap and strengthen a rainy day fund while extending sales and income tax increases the Legislature passed earlier this year to help close a $42 billion budget deficit.

The budget package also included $15 billion in cuts to state programs and hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate tax breaks.

"My father would say to you, 'On May 19, go out and please win one again for the Gipper,'" Reagan said.

Reagan's speech relied on a selective reading of history. Before he became president, Ronald Reagan served two terms as California governor in the 1960s and 1970s. One of his first acts upon taking office was to increase taxes.

Two Republican state lawmakers who voted for this year's tax increases even invoked the image of Ronald Reagan to defend their decision, saying he campaigned against higher taxes but then raised them when confronted with political reality.

On the Senate floor in February, Republican state Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria displayed a 1972 photograph showing Reagan signing a bill to increase California taxes.

A spokesman for Schwarzenegger, Aaron McLear, defended Proposition 1A, saying it was part of the Republican governor's attempt to fix "broken government."

Rep. Tom McClintock, a Republican congressman whose district runs from Sacramento's northeastern suburbs to the Nevada and Oregon borders, also criticized Proposition 1A and urged the crowd to support an attempt to recall Assemblyman Anthony Adams, R-Hesperia.

Adams was among the handful of Republican legislators who supported the February tax increases.

"We are going to actively and methodically go after those politicians" who backed the $14 billion in tax hikes, McClintock said.

A spokeswoman for Adams did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

McClintock, 52, has held taxpayer-funded jobs for most of his adult life. He was an aide to a state senator from 1980 to 1982, when he won his first race for the state Assembly. He lost campaigns for Congress in 1992 and state controller in 1994 but was re-elected to the Assembly in 1996. He moved to the state Senate in 2000 and was elected to Congress in 2008.

4,000 Protest Taxes & Spending at Michigan Capitol

From The Associated Press:

About 4,000 people protested government bailouts and tax increases outside the Michigan Capitol.

The featured speaker at Wednesday afternoon's protest was Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher, who made news during the presidential campaign when he asked Barack Obama about taxes.

Wurzelbacher urged activists to push for "commonsense" tax and spending policies.

The "tea party" was one of many being held around the country on the last day to file federal income tax returns.

Activists say government is borrowing too much money to bail out corporations. More people showed up than expected by anti-tax groups organizing the event.

The Capitol's director of facility operations made his crowd estimate by measuring how far the crowd extended out from the Capitol steps.