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Monterey "Tea Party" Takes on Stimulus Plan

MONTEREY, Calif. - A present-day version of the Boston Tea Party revolt took place at Monterey's Window on the Bay Saturday, taking aim at the massive federal stimulus spending plan.

Demonstators brought American flags, tea bags, and even pig costumes to voice their anger over the stimulus plan, saying it is laden in pork-barrel spending and could trigger inflation.

"The fact that Hawaii wants an observatory and Louisiana needs to investigate their termite problem, that's not a federal problem," said Cindy Stanley.  "That's a state problem and should be taken care on the state level."

The Monterey Tea Party group hopes to take their arguments directly to Washington.

The watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense released it's latest review of the spending plan earlier this week.  In it, Central Coast congressman Sam Farr is listed as being a part of nearly $24 million dollars worth of earmarks, with more than $8 million credited to Farr alone.

Earlier this week, Rep. Farr defended the stimulus plan as a chance to rebuild the economy,  declaring more than $33 million dollars is being set aside for Central Coast schools.