By Robbyn Mitchell, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Michael Capira, 57, of Tampa, inscribed the bus with the message, “The spending buck stops here,” on Thursday at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference and Banquet Center.
TAMPA — Every speaker at Thursday's rally to cut government spending said voters need to get active for the future of the country and its children.
The fiery speeches came as part of a cross-country "Spending Revolt" bus tour sponsored by activism organizations Americans for Prosperity, the 60 Plus Association, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste and Concerned Women for America.
A crowd of a couple of dozen organization members and supporters gathered at the Dr. Blaise Alfano Center on N 40th Street near Fowler Avenue and heard from six speakers trying to convince them that their mission of cutting government spending goes beyond November's elections.
"Washington, D.C., and the political elite, they don't get it," said Atlanta radio host Herman Cain. "Whoever controls Congress in January, we're going to hold them accountable."
Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, said there have been major victories in the defeat of cap-and-trade environmental policies and the disappearance of a proposal to do away with private ballots when workers are voting about unionizing.
Phillips said that the next goal is to have Congress repeal the health care overhaul law, or not fund its initiatives.
"We don't support one party or candidate. What we do is educate voters on where they stand," Phillips told the crowd.
The bus has been signed thousands of times by voters attending rallies in other cities.