Tea Party protests planned on Tax Day

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (FOX Providence) - Frustrated Rhode Islanders are taking to the steps of the State House Wednesday afternoon, for a modern-day "tea party."

The demonstration is part of a national movement where protesters all over the country will rally to reduce government spending and taxes.

Many protesters are saying the government has gotten out of control dealing with key issues, including raising taxes at the state and federal levels, and bailing out big businesses.

On Tax Day, April 15th, Providence's 'tea party' will be held on the steps of the State House, from 3 to 6 p.m..

LIST OF SPEAKERS

3:00
Helen Glover - is a radio talk show host on WHJJ who fights the good fight every day. Her dedication is a clear indication that she has had enough. Helen will be the Masters of Ceremony for the event.

3:10
Colleen Conley - is a wife, mother and business person who was so outraged about runaway spending and taxation that she decided to hold a rally in Rhode Island. She, obviously, has had enough.

Introduce the crew. Marina, Kristen, Nan, Cheryl, Rachel, Ron and Bill. We have all had enough.

We would like to take a moment of silence for our troops and to have an inner reflection as you so choose.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Back to Helen - MC

3:25
Bill Felkner - has been a school committee member fighting for school choice, a town councilor fighting for low taxes and is the president of the Rhode Island Association of Scholars and the Ocean State Policy Research Institute, the primary sponsor of this event. Being that involved, clearly Bill has had enough.

3:40
John DePetro - is a radio talk show host on WPRO and rails against the special interest groups on a daily basis. Even though those groups have formally organized against him, he continues to yell, "I have had enough."

3:55
Walter Muzzy - is a descendant of one of the eight militia men killed during the battle of Lexington on April 19th, 1775 and will be reciting the inscription of the shot heard around the world - because he has had enough of a lack of respect for what our founding fathers died for.

4:00
Father Giacomo Capoverdi - is a priest and former assistant to the State Legislature and two Providence Mayors who has watched government grow as it takes the place of family, faith and friends. He has had enough.

4:05
Jason Matera - is a former Roger William University student who now works with the Young Americans Foundation and has had enough of the statist movement that is influencing academia.

4:20
Brian Buongiovanni - is just a regular guy, he works in a print shop and lives a regular life. As a matter of fact Brian is the "Regular Guy" who writes for Motif magazine and you can read his columns weekly as he rants that he too has had enough.

4:25
Justin Katz - is a carpenter who has watched the average working class family fall farther and farther behind. He created an online avenue to influence change called Anchorrising and he travels the state blogging live at town council and school committee meeting so the citizens can become more involved. He has really had enough.

4:30
Ellen Kenner - is a clinical psychologist in private practice, and host of a nationally syndicated radio talk show, The Rational Basis of Happiness. She will read a piece from Ayn Rand because she has had enough.

4:35
Jeff Deckman - is a business man and consultant who has watched businesses leave Rhode Island faster than our pension dollars. He has had enough.

4:40
Bob Cushman - is a business man and has been involved in municipal politics and has had enough of runaway healthcare costs and irresponsible government.

4:50
Edward Hathaway - is a teacher who has watched from the inside how throwing more money at education hasn't gotten the job done - he has had enough.

4:55
Jim Beale - is a retired CEO who runs the Rhode Island State Wide coalition that lobbies the State House because they have had enough of our politicians not listening to us.

5:00
Brian Bishop - is a property owner in Providence who deals with the onerous regulations present in the state. He has had more than enough.

5:10
Stefan Tabak - is a Mechanical Engineer and has worked in defense as a civil servant for 22 years. He is a regional coordinator for Fairtax.org because he has had enough of our tax structure.

5:15
Bob Healey - is a lawyer and businessman who could have saved the state $4mm if he won his race for Lt. Governor because on his first day on the job he would have abolished the office. He has had enough of wasteful spending.

5:25
Chuck Barton - is a businessman who leads Operation Clean Government, a group of individuals that keep an eye on corruption in Rhode Island and they have all had enough.

5:30
Jon Scott - used to work with group home kids in Providence and has seen how the statist government nanny state has destroyed our culture. He has had enough.

5:40
Ambassador J. William Middendorf - has served a number of presidential administrations in high-level positions, including Secretary of the Navy and Ambassador to the European Communities, the Organization of American States, and the Netherlands. He has a unique view of both America and the world and he too has had enough (and has for a long time!).

5:50
Close with the crew (Colleen, Marina, Nan, Cheryl, Rachel, Ron and Bill) and speak about where we go from here. The "Tea Party" will live on - we must make sure they hear our voice and that they respond.

WHAT: Providence Tax Day Tea Party

WHEN: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 from 3:00 to 6:00pm

WHERE: Rhode Island State House (City Side steps across from the Providence Place Mall)

Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Food Drive.

Parking Available at the Providence Place Mall garage.