Published: July 02, 2009 11:06 pm      

Local man helps organize anti-tax rally

CHAMPAIGN — Al Reynolds of Danville is a regular guy concerned about taxes.

That’s why he’s organized the East Central Illinois TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party, which will have its first events this weekend.

The East Central Illinois TEA Party is an outgrowth of the Champaign-Urbana TEA Party that staged a rally in April.

Reynolds said the East Central Illinois TEA Party reaches out to all East Central Illinois to incorporate smaller communities unable to establish a TEA party locally.

“We are organized for the purpose of protesting the current administration’s federal budget, specifically the stimulus package,” Reynolds said in a prepared letter.

“We oppose the enormous national debt, the wasteful government spending, the unnecessary government growth and the projected future tax increases including taxes on capital gains, estate taxes, federal and state income taxes, cigarette taxes, property taxes and Internet taxes.”

The East Central Illinois TEA Party is affiliated with the nationwide movement, but remains a local organized group of citizens.

“I’m interested in us,” Reynolds said about local income, property and other taxes. “Those are our issues that hit us right in our pockets.”

“We are non-partisan with members from the Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Constitution and

Independent parties,” Reynolds said. “We are committed to take back our

nation.”

Reynolds said he looked for a site to have a rally in Danville, but “no site was available.”

He said city hall officials recommended the airport.

The rally in Champaign will have five speakers including 78-year-old Hazel Fennel of Decatur and special guest speaker, Thomas N. Tabback, author of “Things Forgotten” and co-author of “Joe the Plumber: Fighting for the American Dream.”

Coming up

The East Central Illinois TEA Party will march in the Champaign County Freedom Celebration parade that starts in

Urbana (Lincoln and Nevada streets is the staging area) at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

The TEA Party will have a rally from noon to 2 p.m. on

Sunday at West Side Park, 400 W. University St., in

Champaign.

Anyone who wishes to participate in the TEA Party Movement should contact Al Reynolds at 431-2124 or http://www.ecitea.blogspot.com.