Tri-Cities Tea Party aims to halt excessive government spending

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer

Organizers of a protest group calling themselves the Tri-Cities Tea Party say they are a nonpartisan grass-roots group that wants to stop excessive government spending.

"We are not an organization as much as a movement," said Janie McDaniel.

Having no formal board, bylaws or officers, the group does have a mission statement, which espouses free markets, limited government and free markets. Its goal is "to organize like-minded individuals," McDaniel told the Herald's editorial board.

McDaniel, Jerry Martin and Leon Howard said they want the newspaper and public to understand that the Tri-City group does not endorse candidates but vets them for the benefit of its loosely organized members.

Since being formed last February and sponsoring a Tea rally at John Dam Plaza in Richland on April 15, the Tri-City group has gained 118 people registered as website members, McDaniel said.

An estimated 2,000 people attended that several-hour rally.

"We didn't have a voice until then," said Leon Howard, the group coordinator.

"Our goal is to inform people and change the face of Congress in 2010," he said. Approximately 900 people are on the Tea Party's e-mail distribution list.

"We are concerned about fiscal irresponsibility," Howard said, noting that people are upset about the prospect of government-run health care and regulation through cap and trade legislation "being shoved down our throats."

The group doesn't take sides on local issues or candidates, and has seen a need to obtain a nonprofit status, Howard said.

What money the group receives is used to print copies of its brochures and the U.S. Constitution, which are given away at gatherings and events such as the upcoming Veterans Day observances

McDaniel said there is no link between the Tea Party and the Republican Party, nor is there any group that is being targeted for support.

Howard said the Tri-City group is one of about 800 similar grass-roots groups nationwide. They are not a national organization but independent entities.

While some people have come to Tea Party rallies carrying signs that attack President Obama or Democrats, those are individual statements, not the message of the Tea Party organizers, Howard said.

"People are now paying attention to how politicians are voting," McDaniel said.

The Tri-Cities Tea Party stands alone and should not be confused with Tea Party Express, a traveling advocacy group that is making its way across the country to rally interest in bringing political and fiscal change to Congress in 2010.

Martin said he helped the Tea Party Express Rally schedule a stop in Kennewick on Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Southridge High School Auditorium, 3520 S. Southridge Blvd. It will have inspirational speakers and singers in a patriotic celebration.

"Some of us will be there, some will not," McDaniel said.

-- John Trumbo: 582-1529; jtrumbo@tricityherald.com

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Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Tri-Cities Tea Party aims to halt excessive government spending

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer