CR, IC tea parties planned July 4

It worked so well on Tax Day, organizers of protests against government taxing and spending policies will host another round of tea parties on the Fourth of July.

There's likely to be more emphasis on spending - the $787 billion federal stimulus plan, the multi-billion dollar bailout packages for General Motors than at the April 15 tea parties that attracted thousands of participants in Iowa.

"President Obama and the congressional Democrats are out of control," Deborah Thornton of Iowa City said. She's helping organize a rally in Coralville after the annual Fourth of July parade there. Plans for the rally have not been finalized. An Iowa City rally in April drew more than 300 people.

In Cedar Rapids, Tim Pugh is organizing a rally and family picnic from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tree of Five Seasons at 105 1

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Ave. NE. He's hoping for 400 people - about the same number that participated April 15.

In addition to spending, he said, people are concerned with new taxes, such as a tax on cellphones, being considered at various levels of government.

More than 1,110 Fourth of July Taxed Enough Already tea parties are being planned by the American Family Association to let citizens voice their opposition to Obama's spending plans that would result in record deficits. If government controlled health insurance is put into law, as Obama wants, the deficits will climb several trillion dollars higher, according to the group.

This round of tea parties will build on the Tax Day rallies that drew 600,000 people, the American Family Association said.

Thornton reported an uptick in attendance at Johnson County GOP meetings after that rally. Not all of the participants were Republicans, she added.

"I keep adding names to my e-mail list every day," she said.

Likewise, Pugh said, a network of people has grown out of the Tax Day tea parties. They are communicating about issues and slowly organizing to lobby decision-makers.

"In the long run, it will be good, but these sorts of things take time," he said.

For more information on the tea parties, visit: www.crteaparty.org or www.axthetax.net.