Tea parties protest Senator Hutchison

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Monday, Texas Tea party groups took aim at Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison by protesting her breaking ranks with a GOP filibuster that would have stalled the health care bill.

Two dozen people rallied outside Hutchison's senate office in Downtown Austin.

Greg Holloway was among them.

"There's a lot of people that are just genuinely concerned about the health care bill," said Holloway. "And now you got Kay Bailey who says we gotta fight, we gotta fight, we gotta fight- and then she doesn't fight and so what do you do? Well, we let her know."

Holloway and other protestors were angry Hutchison voted in favor of a defense spending bill Friday that other Senate Republicans chose to filibuster in order to delay the health care vote. Senator Hutchison said she only voted on the defense spending bill after Democrats had enough votes to end the filibuster. She said the vote was symbolic to show her support for American troops.

Several Rick Perry staffers and volunteers were in the crowd at Monday's tea party in Austin.

"The more people we can get signed up, the better chances Governor Perry has of being re-elected," said Perry campaign volunteer Jeff Jackson, who handed out Rick Perry bumper stickers at the tea party.

Jennifer Baker, a spokesperson for Senator Hutchison, said the presence of Perry staffers and volunteers reeked of dirty politics.

"I think the Perry campaign, in a political smear tactic, has confused people about different votes that have nothing to do with healthcare," said Baker, who said the Senator has not wavered in her opposition to the health care bill. She voted "no" on the bill Monday morning.

"Senator Hutchison was a no vote," said Baker. "She's adamantly opposed to any government takeover of health care and she'll be fighting health care all the way through up until Christmas Eve when we anticipate the Democrats will try to cast a final vote on the issue."

Analysts said the Senate is on track to pass sweeping health care reform legislation before Christmas.