WDAM - Channel 7 - Serving Hattiesburg, Laurel and the Pine BeltJones County conservatives host "tea party"

Jones County conservatives host "tea party"

By Charles Herrington -  bio | email

JONES COUNTY, MS (WDAM) - Conservative voters from the Jones County area gathered in Laurel Saturday afternoon to protest high taxes and big government.    

The latest "tea party" at the Jones County courthouse was hosted by the 9-12 project of Jones County. 

Attendees said they are upset over current federal government spending, but are encouraged after the Tuesday victory of republican Scott Brown over democrat Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts special senate election. 

Lt. Governor Phil Bryant was one of the event's featured speakers.

"These are patriots," said Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant. "These are people who love this country.  They're concerned about a trillion dollar debt healthcare will bring us. "They're concerned about cap and trade increasing their electric bills. They're concerned about the collapse of the economy, the socialist agenda."

"Massachusetts, that outcome up there I believe that was a divine-orchestrated outcome," said John Staples, who attended the tea party event. "I just thank the Lord that things are changing."

"We're charged by these tea parties," said Barbara Staples. "They excite us and they make us want to do more and more for our country."

Law enforcement officials said about 300 people attended the event.