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HELENA Speakers at a Big Sky Tea Party Association rally Tuesday decried what they called excessive government spending and taxation and accused the state political practices commissioner of bias.

As it has done in recent years, the group gathered on April 15, the day when federal and state income taxes are due. Several speakers blasted the Internal Revenue Service for its scrutiny of the tea party and other conservative groups.

About 45 people attended the event, some carrying signs that said Intentional Rip-Off Service, Had enough of this train wreck? Attention, Washington. You have run out of our money and Dont drone on me. One sign aimed at Political Practices Commissioner Jonathan Motl said, Motl Recuse yourself.

The tea party does not hate government, Jay Anderson of Helena said. I know that may be a popular perception in the media, but its not the fact.

Anderson said Americans should scrutinize government spending, just as business owners and employees do with businesses.

Former state Rep. Derek Skees, R-Whitefish, now running for the Public Service Commission, said: Is the tea party dead? The left would love for that to be a reality, and so would many members of our press.

He said the tea party role is to be a voice for the middle class.

The tea party is alive and well, he said. The tea party is winning victories in Montana and in America, and you guys are winning it by holding people accountable to what they say theyre going to do.

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John Perkins, a sophomore at Carroll College who chairs the College Republicans, expressed concern over the electronic information about Americans being collected by the National Security Agency and others.

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Helena tea party rally decries excessive taxes, spending