FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 17, 2007
Contact: Mark Block (262) 617-2716 or Annie Patnaude (202) 441-5193

MADISON – Hundreds of flag- and sign-waving citizens from around Wisconsin today called for a budget that doesn’t raise taxes at a rally in front of the state capitol organized by the Wisconsin chapter of the grassroots free-market group Americans for Prosperity (AFP). Citizens came from over 50 Wisconsin towns and many traveled hours to attend the rally, some riding on buses and others in their own vehicles.

“The Governor and his allies need to stop playing political games in order to ram through a bloated budget with tax hikes and start seeking common sense solutions for Wisconsin’s budget crunch like cutting back wasteful spending,” said AFP Wisconsin Director Mark Block. “Wisconsinites cannot afford a billion-dollar tax hike that will force businesses and jobs out of our state. Wisconsin workers should not be taxed to pay for lavish government benefits and salaries they cannot afford themselves.”

“Citizens are sick and tired of the expensive focus on bigger government instead of better government,” said AFP President Tim Phillips. “The question in Wisconsin is one being faced by taxpayers around the nation – is government spending their money wisely and efficiently? Taxpayers don’t think so and they don’t want to dish out more money until the state becomes a better steward of the tax dollars it already consumes.”

In addition to Phillips and Block, the rally featured speeches from citizens from all walks of life. Those who addressed the crowd included radio talk show hosts Vickie McKenna of Madison and Pat Snyder of Wausau, bloggers Fred Dooley (“The Real Debate”) and Owen Robinson (“Boots and Sabers”), small-business owners Tom Tiffany and Dan Curran, University of Wisconsin student Katie Schanen, farmer Steve Loehrke, union member and single mother Hafeezah Ahmad, and state Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus.

“Decades ago Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen said of the grassroots, ‘When I feel the heat, I see the light.’ We’re here today to turn up the heat, and remind Governor Doyle of his promise not to raise taxes,” Block concluded.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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