It's Tax Day, and while people were busy filing last-minute tax forms, many others hit the streets to protest the federal government and its spending.
One such "tea party" protest took place at Austin City Hall, attracting hundreds of area residents.
Protesters said they oppose high taxes, careless government spending and stimulus and bailout packages.
"Our government is running mindlessly, blindly and with overt deafness to our voices," protester Todd Maraist said. "I would like to see the whole Congress tossed out. Let's start from scratch. We need a revolt."
Participants rallied before Gov. Rick Perry emphasized that Washington should rein in some of the spending and bailout money.
This criticism comes after Perry rejected more than $550 million of federal stimulus money to fund unemployment insurance. Perry did, however, accept roughly $17 billion of the federal package for other purposes.
"I'm not sure you're a bunch of right wing extremists, but if you are, I'm with you," Gov. Rick Perry said.
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Local tea party
News 8's Catie Beck shares why hundreds of protesters attended Austin's tea party.
 
National protests
Beck has more about why people are protesting.
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Don't assume, by the crowd that those in attendance were strictly Republicans and Perry supporters. Several people said they blamed both Democrats and Republicans for the current economic situation. Several said they were critical of state leadership, as well.
"Anger and frustration at what both political parties have delivered to America," protester Judy Morris said.
The Texas Democratic Party says concern about the economy makes sense but Perry's political tea talk doesn't. They say he's accepting a large amount of the federal stimulus money for Texas and has raised taxes on small businesses.
"Politicians like Rick Perry are taking advantage of that concern and hijacking these events in to political events," said Kirsten Gray, spokesperson for the Texas Democratic Party.
Austin wasn't the only city with a Tax Day protest. Demonstrations stretched from coast to coast, including the home of the original tea party, Boston, Mass.
Organizers of this year's events said they are upset about government spending since President Barack Obama's administration took office.
Other cities' "tea parties" were a little more focused. For example, in Kentucky, protesters rallied against recently passed tax increases on cigarettes and alcohol. And, in South Carolina the governor criticized the stimulus package.
