As Pullman resident Jeff Williams sees it, the continuing expansion of the federal government is unconstitutional.

“The Founding Fathers knew you couldn’t control the economy without controlling people,” he said in front of a crowd of about 150 on Wednesday. “We need to take our country back. Starting now.” Williams’ 20-minute speech, delivered on the sidewalk beside Taco Del Mar in downtown Pullman, was part of the nationwide Tax Day Tea Party rallies held across the nation.

The day, sponsored by a number of libertarian groups, was held to correspond with April 15, the government’s deadline for filing income tax returns, and to pay homage to the Boston Tea Party of 1773. According to taxdayteaparty.com, the idea came from a comment made by CNBC commentator Rick Santelli, who has said Americans should protest President Obama’s spending plans in the form of a tea party in Chicago.

Members of the crowd, which included about 10 students, held signs with such demands as “Stop the Bipartisan Rip-off,” “Financial Responsibility Now” and “Give Me Liberty, Not Debt.” “On the far right is anarchy. On the far left is the isms – communism, socialism and fascism,” Williams said. “They all are trying to take away your God-given constitutional rights. The fascism of Bush is the same as the socialism of Obama.” Though his speech focused predominantly on government spending, Williams also spoke against the government’s tax structure, which he described as “our blatantly unconstitutional progressive tax system.” “A tax on one group is eventually a tax against us all,” he said.

After Williams’ speech, supporters handed out pocket constitutions to various protesters.

Government spending from Congress and the Federal Reserve was the primary concern for most of the people who attended the rally.

Colfax resident Mike Scherr said the spending practices of Obama, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid need to come under control.

He said Obama’s housing proposals should be curtailed because the housing crisis only affects a few people. He also said bank bailouts need to be eliminated.

“We are trying to rescue people who don’t need to be helped,” he said.

College Republicans President Chris Howe said he is worried the government’s increased spending will spark inflation.

“Failing banks shouldn’t be bailed out,” he said. “It’s absurd to hand out money for failure.” Moscow resident Tom Eisenberg, said the government needs to stop spending immediately and stop worrying about issues such as income disparity, which he called a tactic from the left.

He said the Federal Reserve’s continuous printing of new money hurts small business and regular people.

“Big government only really benefits big business,” he said. “It’s a symbiotic relationship.”