Hilltown Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, February 18, 2010
Hilltown Homefront Patriots join the tea-party movement
By Zach Simeone
HILLTOWNS — Several riled Helderbergers have formed a group called the Hilltown Homefront Patriots to fight state and federal regulations that they believe threaten their rural way of life.
Among the group’s goals are lower taxes, smaller government, upholding of Second Amendment rights, questioning global warming, and reforming health care.
“We’re not Democrats, and we’re not Republicans,” said Tom Cavanagh, a member of the group. “We’re small government, and we want to reduce the tax burden,” he said.
“The tea party movement is spreading,” added Daniel Smith, another member. “We’ve been restricted, the whole state, from burning brush and lumber. What I would say to the people out here is — a lot of people heat with wood; what makes you think that they won’t, under an environmental auspice, tax you for burning wood or eliminate it altogether?”
The group also challenges the federal government’s bailing out the auto industry last year.
“In my era, companies rose and fell on their own merits,” said Smith. “The government takes over Chrysler and General Motors; the way the government propped up the financial system; the spending; the stimulus; there’s too much government interference in our daily lives.”
The Hilltown Homefront Patriots will be hosting events on the following dates to gather supporters:
— On Saturday, Feb. 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Berne firehouse with guest speaker Steve Van Zandt; and
— On Saturday, Feb. 27, at 11 a.m. at the Highlands Restaurant and Tavern with guest speaker Tom Rigatti.