'Tea party' protests taxes

SANDPOINT — Uproar over what organizers see as excessive governmental spending is triggering a nationwide “tea party” protest today.

Local residents Joanne Martin and Doris Hunsaker heard about a number of tea parties in other parts of the country and decided to organize their own event in Sandpoint.

“The government is out of control,” Martin said. “We do not like the kind of taxation and spending that they’re doing and we just want them to know that they need to rein it in.”

The event will feature speakers, educational material and a symbolic showing of tea, which will be sent to the state’s legislators in Washington, D.C.

Martin said the tea party should not be viewed as a partisan event, but rather a day to educate people of all political stripes about how their tax dollars are being used.

“We’re not really targeting Obama,” she said. “This isn’t political. I’m sure there are people all across the spectrum who are interested in what’s going on and don’t want to see America go down the tubes like it is.”

The tea party is scheduled for noon today at the Veterans of Foreign Wars parking lot at the corner of Pine and Division. Attendees are encouraged to bring signs and tea bags.