BY SARAH ROSS

SALEM- Hundreds of citizen activists met on the steps of the state’s legislature Monday afternoon, calling for smaller government and less government spending.

Between 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, rallies hosted by the activist groups Americans for Prosperity and Freedomworks drew a variety of participants and speakers, including many Republican Representatives, leaders of other organizations in the limited government arena, and business leaders from around the state.

The major topic of every speech at the event included the impact of the tax measures 66 and 67 (passed by referendum last month), the growing state debt, and a need for smaller government and new leadership.

Kristina Ribali, a business owner from Yamhill County, seemed to express the mood of the rallies’ participants best in her speech, saying, “Don’t you dare tell me that what you’re doing is for the betterment of my kids and then leave them with a national debt that cripples them. Don’t you dare take that freedom away from my kids.”

A number of state representatives were presented with a “Friends of the taxpayer award,” given by the Freedomworks organization. After receiving his award, Rep. Matt Wingard, R-Wilsonville, spoke to the crowd, saying, “Until we defeat the corrupt political machine that is running this state, they are not going to respect us.”

A smaller protest held by Stand for Children was occurring across the street from the Tea Party rally. These protestors, seen carrying blue umbrellas, were there to demand kicker reform and cost-effective education reform for the state’s schools.