Oregon Public Broadcasting

Anti-tax conservatives across the country spent Wednesday’s tax deadline protesting government spending with so-called “tea party” rallies.

In Olympia, around four-thousand people gathered in front the capitol. One protester, David Callon, came to express his feelings about government spending and intervention in the economy.

David Callon: “I feel like we’re headed the way of Russia -- Socialism. First they wanted to take over the banks, now the car companies -- finance. They’ve taken over item after item after item. It’s called socialism. Pretty soon they’ll own everything.”

The anti-tax protests come at a time when Washington state lawmakers are crafting a tax package to send to voters. The proposal would increase the state sales tax .3 percent to restore cuts to programs like healthcare.