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Rapid City has a new Tea Party group: the South Dakota Tea Party Alliance!

The South Dakota Tea Party Alliance was incorporated with the state of South Dakota this week and is organizing as a 501c4 organization. Radio talk show host Shad Olson joined with former Citizens for Liberty board members Bob Ellis, Zach Lautenschlager, Dawn Pence, and Ed Randazzo to form the group.

The mission of SDTPA is to promote constitutionally limited government as established by our Founding Fathers.

Therefore:

• We will defend the United States Constitution, and the constitution of the state of South Dakota.
• We will vigorously defend the Bill of Rights.
• We will resist irresponsible tax and spend policies.
• We will recruit, encourage and support candidates who will embrace our mission statement.
• We will hold elected officials accountable to the principles of conservative, responsible limited government.
• We will facilitate and encourage communication and cooperation among like-minded groups.

The mission statement of the group pledges to: defend the United States Constitution and the constitution of the state of South Dakota; vigorously defend the Bill of Rights; resist irresponsible tax and spend policies; recruit, encourage and support candidates who will embrace the SDTPA mission statement; hold elected officials accountable to the principles of conservative, responsible limited government; and facilitate and encourage communication and cooperation among like-minded groups.

The board of the old Citizens for Liberty sees the new CFL as distinct from the old organization, and the board members of the old organization bear no ill will toward the new CFL. We recognize the newly incorporated CFL has a fresh opportunity to resume their focus on their mission statement.

The SDTPA applauds the efforts of all American patriots to return our nation to the limited government roots that made the United States the greatest place on earth.

Catch us on Facebook!

(Note: This group is not associated with Citizens for Liberty.)
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[tab name='Mission Statement']

The mission of SDTPA is to promote constitutionally limited government as established by our Founding Fathers.

Therefore:

• We will defend the United States Constitution, and the constitution of the state of South Dakota.
• We will vigorously defend the Bill of Rights.
• We will resist irresponsible tax and spend policies.
• We will recruit, encourage and support candidates who will embrace our mission statement.
• We will hold elected officials accountable to the principles of conservative, responsible limited government.
• We will facilitate and encourage communication and cooperation among like-minded groups.

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[tab name='Leadership']

President - Shad Olson
1st VP – Dawn Pence
2nd VP – Ed Randazzo
Secretary - Bob Ellis
Treasurer - Zach Lautenschlager
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[tab name='Membership']

For those patriots who want to take their support of the South Dakota Tea Party Alliance to the next level, the “Gold Membership” level is available.

By purchasing a Gold Membership with annual dues of $25 dollars, you can make a statement about your desire to help the Tea Party cause of limited government. In return for you dues which help SDTPA advance limited government, you receive the following benefits:

• An attractive membership certificate and pocket membership card
• Access to the “members” area of our website
• Make nominations for SDTPA officers and board members
• Greater involvement in SDTPA activities
• 10% discount on SDTPA merchandise (t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc.)

To purchase a Gold Membership, go to the SDTPA table at any SDTPA event, or click the “Pay Now” PayPal button below.  Be sure to provide your full address if you want your membership certificate mailed to you.

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[tab name='About the Tea Party Movement']

The Tea Party movement exploded onto the American political landscape in February 2009 in response to the massive expansion of federal power and largess begun in the final days of the Bush Administration and accelerated under the Obama Administration.

On February 29, 2009 CNBC reporter Rick Santelli broadcast from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and launched into an impassioned condemnation of the recently announced government plan to bail out bad mortgages.  Santelli railed against the irresponsibility of government bailing out financial irresponsibility, and suggested a Tea Party be held in July, in the same vein as the original Boston Tea Party of 1773.

The idea caught like wildfire across America and soon nearly 2,000 Tax Day Tea Parties had been organized in towns across America on April 15.  Though the media tried to ignore the phenomenon, it was estimated that hundreds of thousands–if not more–Americans participated in Tax Day Tea Party rallies across the nation.

Most of the groups that organized rallies did not disband after April 15, however, and have gone on to remain a tremendous political force in local, state and national politics. The Tea Party movement is credited with helping Republican Scott Brown win the senate seat of the late Ted Kennedy–a seat which was in Democrat hands for more than half a century.

The Tea Party movement has continued to influence the 2010 primary season, and seems poised to push through a historic change in congressional power in the general election.

If you believe in America’s founding principles, if you believe our nation needs to turn back to the Constitutional government and fiscal responsibility that fostered the greatest nation on earth, if you believe a continued failure to embrace these values jeopardizes our republic–YOU NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT!

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