Protest brewing in state capital

Christopher Curry

The Signal Staff

During Labor Day weekend, more than 4,000 conservatives from Texas gathered outside the steps of the capitol building in Austin to protest the status quo of the federal government.

Many political and social issues are part of these protests, but the protesters are united behind three core values: fiscal responsibility, limited government and free markets.

Pastor Bill Lockwood addresses protesters at the Labor Day weekend Tea Party held in Austin.

The Bush and, currently, the Obama administrations have been perceived by the protesters as going against these core values.

Since late 2008 this grassroots movement, known popularly as the Tea Party protests, has continued to gain civilian and government supporters. One major testament to the influence this movement has had on government officials is House Resolution 1207: Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 and Senate Resolution 604: Federal Reserve Sunshine Act of 2009. If passed, these resolutions would force the Federal Reserve to be subject to auditing. To date, 282 congressmen and congresswomen and 23 senators support the bills as co-sponsors.

Although the protesters are united under similar values, individually they protest for a diverse range of personal reasons. Many interesting and outspoken individuals were in attendance at the Tea Party protest in Austin.

Bert Hernandez, the general manager of Bird-Kultgen Ford in Waco, is still waiting to be reimbursed by the “Cash for Clunkers” program for some of the vehicles his customers traded for discounts to buy new vehicles despite assurances that he would be reimbursed within ten days of each trade-in. His main reason to protest is the proposed employer mandate, HR 3200.

“With the mandate an employer has two choices,” Hernandez said. “They can provide employee insurance, which most companies already do, or they can pay 8 percent surtax on their payroll. The problem is that the government determines what plans qualify, and if they do not meet their standards then the company has to pay the surtax on top of the insurance, which will force employers to cut salaries.”

One man stood out from the rest of the crowd. Dressed up as a founding father from his vintage knickerbockers to his tri-corn hat, Bill Lockwood chose to speak out because he feels the Constitution is being undermined by our representatives.

“The genius of the Constitution was not that it enabled government,” Lockwood said. “The genius of the Constitution was that it restrained government. That is the founding concept.”

Healthcare reform was a great issue of debate at the Tea Party protest in Austin; however, no specific plan has been implemented.

Susan Prihoda, R.N. and director of student health and disability services at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, says she is committed to informing students that they can be covered under affordable student healthcare by the university.

“No specific plan being proposed is related to student health insurance,” Prihoda said. “The current student health plan is already lean and very rational. It is not rationed service. I do not want Senators telling me how to practice. I am very willing to self-moderate my practice in terms of rational care, not rationed.”

UHCL student healthcare is priced to be affordable because the deductibles and co-pay amounts are set to benefit low-income individuals. Prihoda encourages all uninsured students to sign up for student health insurance.

Joe Wurzelbacher, aka “Joe the Plumber,” speaks at the Labor Day Tea Party in front of the Texas Capitol in Austin.

Joe Wurzelbacher, who is more commonly recognized as “Joe the Plumber,” attended the Austin Tea Party by popular demand and was asked to speak before the crowd. The protest ended with his final statement.

“I do not serve the Republicans,” Wurzelbacher said. “I serve America because my job is to serve America. It is your job to serve America and it is our job to make sure the politicians are doing exactly that job, and that is serving America.”