Texans tote teabags to tax protest

U.S. Representative Joe Barton addresses tax protest. Submitted photo ARLINGTON: Congressman Joe Barton (R-Ennis/Arlington) pledged to thousands of angry taxpayers at TEA parties in Arlington and Fort Worth on Wednesday evening that he would be on the legislative frontlines fighting against the Democrats' wasteful spending spree in Washington.

"We can't borrow and spend our way out of this recession. We are mortgaging this nation's future and saddling the next generation with massive amounts of debt. I share the frustrations and feel the same anger as all of the people at the rallies being held around Texas and across the nation," Barton said.

Hundreds gathered for the TEA Party (which stands for Taxed Enough Already) in Arlington and close to 5,000 packed LaGrange Stadium in Fort Worth. Governor Rick Perry also attended both rallies. The protestors are outraged over the recent rampage of federal spending, which includes the bailouts, the $787 billion stimulus package and President Obama's budget. In fact, recent expert estimates show that if the President's budget plan is fully implemented the nation's debt could double to the unprecedented level of $20 trillion.

"Every Republican voted against the President's budget. Did you know that for the next 10 years its yearly deficit never gets below $800 billion? That is not acceptable. It's just not acceptable…and I am pledging to you that I am going to go back to Washington and do more than just mouth off…I will be a part of the leadership team that puts together a package that balances the budget over time, without sacrificing essential services that are necessary in our country. We can take care of the less fortunate and the elderly, while at the same time looking out for the taxpayer and younger generations."

When Barton finished this line, the crowd burst into applause. He then criticized the Democrats Cap and Trade plan, describing it as nothing more than an energy tax dressed up as environmental policy. He warned protestors that while it is being sold as a way to save the planet by taxing "emitters", but it will kill the economy and crush the average family's budget by increasing the costs on everything from food to electricity by as much as $3,100 a year.

Rep. Barton also addressed the claims by liberal commentators and politicians that these TEA Parties were nothing more than insignificant gatherings of angry fringe activists.

"What is it that they are calling us know? Right-wing extremists? Well, I am going to have to get a button that says that…I don't see any fat-cat Republicans here. But if we don't do something to stop the free spending ways of President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, all of us are going to see our bank accounts get a lot skinnier regardless of our political affiliation…When I get back to Washington I plan to tell all three of them, 'Y'all may be unaware of what happened at those TEA Parties, but the country noticed, and those of us who represent those taxpayers in Congress noticed and it is time to roll up our sleeves and start slashing wasteful spending,'" Barton said.

The TEA Parties found their roots in one of the original anti-tax protests - the Boston

Tea Party. The goal was to pressure the President and Congressional Democrats to reject government spending as a way out of the recession and build an anti-spending coalition around regular taxpayers. What started out as a handful of people blogging about their anger over rampant Washington spending grew into an estimated 260,000 people gathering at different locations nationwide on Wednesday - the deadline for filing federal income tax returns.

Rep. Barton urged everyone who showed up to stay politically active and make sure their voices echoed from the park in Arlington and the baseball field in Ft. Worth all the way to the halls of the nation's Capitol in Washington D.C.

"I am sure we can make this happen with the support of people like you. I say God Bless you and thank you!"