Hundreds gather for Kalispell Tax Day rally
Michael Wise and Terry Faris, both of Kalispell, hold flags and wave to passing motorists at the Tax Day tea party on Thursday. Faris carries a flag with 13 stars that he bought in Spokane. "I think we need to get back to basics with our government," said Faris. "We seem to have forgotten the constitution."
Tyler Schultz, 9, holds up a sign while standing in a tree in Depot Park during Thursday's Tax Day Tea Party rally in Kalispell.
Dianna Soderholm of Marion waves to the vehicles passing by the Tax Day tea party at Depot Park in Kalispell on Thursday afternoon.
Jessica Sneddon, formerly of Kalispell, takes part in the Tax Day tea party on Thursday at Depot Park. Sneddon, a college student in Idaho was home visiting family and decided to take part in the rally.
A crowd of more than 300 people rallied for a Tax Day tea party in Kalispell Thursday, with a broad message protesting government growth, spending and taxation.
Although those in the crowd at Depot Park were mostly cheerful, their signs reflected deep frustration with Washington, D.C., and an emphasis on taxes on the day of the April 15 income tax filing deadline.
“Taxed Enough Already Party,” read one sign.
“Beware VAT In the Hat,” read another, referring to speculation that Congress will pursue a value-added tax. There also was a big dose of anti-incumbency: “Remember in November” and “Clean the House and Senate.”
“Basically, they’re not listening to us in Washington,” said Linda Johnson, an organizer with Northwest Montana Patriots. “And the frustration and determination to be heard is here.”
Johnson said the rally had strong turnouts from the Bigfork Tea Party group and Freedom Action Rally, but she stressed that they are loose networks and the event was attended by people not involved.
“We’re not part of any party. That’s the beauty of the Tea Party movement,” she said.
“We've got a good-sized crowd for a small town, and this is going on in cities across the country,” Johnson said. Similar rallies were held across Montana and the nation, including a large gathering in Washington.
The intersection at Main and Center streets in Kalispell was a noisy place, with most passing drivers honking horns in support of the rally.
“If you pay attention to the people who drive up and down here honking, it’s the business people,” said Dottie Maitland, a longtime owner of a travel and consulting business in the Flathead Valley.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., sent out an e-mail message Thursday pointing out tax breaks that benefited most Americans last year.
“Some folks would have you believe that taxes on working families have gone up. Nothing could be further from the truth,” Tester wrote. The letter contends that 99 percent of Montanans had tax cuts last year, averaging about $1,015 per worker.
The Associated Press reported Thursday that Americans across the country are paying lower taxes, even with state taxes that have been recently added.
But tea party-goers are concerned about looming tax increases to pay for government spending and deficits that have been vastly expanded.
Government is just “too big,” said Michael Wise of Kalispell. “It’s just upside down ... it can’t be sustained.”
“I think you need to pay taxes, but we need to do our taxes differently,” said Terry Faris, who pointed to recent news reports that nearly 50 percent of American families pay no taxes. Faris favors a flat percentage tax that would apply to everybody.
Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com