About 200 grassroots activists gathered on the steps of Ohio’s state capital Saturday, to deliver the message that the time has come for Ohio to stop placing burdens on its productive citizens and craft a budget that will allow Ohio to live within its means. AFP-Ohio organized the Columbus tea party which gathered on Columbus’s Capital Square outside Governor Strickland’s office.

The crowd was addressed by Congressman Jim Jordan (OH-4), a stalwart friend of the American taxpayer and of Americans for Prosperity. Cong. Jordan thanked the crowd for their support and criticized the administration for attempting to make not one but 5 fundamental increases in governmental interference in the economy, all in the teeth of a serious economic downturn. He encouraged the crowd by quoting his colleague and friend, Mike Pence, “I’m a conservative and I’m not mad about it.”

Other speakers included Delaware County Prosecutor, Dave Yost, Columbus City Council candidate, Matt Ferris, and Ohio State College Republican Secretary Danielle Gagliardi.

AFP student activist and blogger, Justin Higgins acted as master of ceremonies and introduced AFP-Ohio State Director Jack Boyle who congratulated the crowd on the creativity and incitefullness of their signs.

He reminded everyone that while the Obama Administration and the Democrats in Congress deserved their criticism, that the problem was really a general culture of irresponsibility in Washington and Columbus that infected both parties. He pointed out that 40% of the earmarks in the $400+ billion budget package came from Republicans, that not one spending bill in the new congress would have passed without Republican votes, and that Ohio’s $1.5 billion “stimulus” boondoggle, passed in 2008, had been passed with Republican majorities in both houses of the General Assembly and with the active support of the Republican leadership.

Boyle introduced AFP-Ohio’s new web site www.FeesAreTaxes.com and urged everyone to sign the online petition urging Ohio not to accept federal stimulus funds that come with future spending strings attached and not to pass a budget with more than $1.25 billion in revenue enhancements disguised as fees. He asked them to return for the even greater tea party on April 15.