As Florida’s legislative session began yesterday, protesters across the state organized “Awake the State” rallies to protest the cuts Gov. Rick Scott’s budget proposals. One protest in Sarasota got a surprise guest in the form of Stephen King. The author gave a speech of support and railed against Scott, comparing he, Wisconsin’s Gov. Scott Walker, and the “Tea Party guy” from his home state of Maine, Gov. Paul LePage, to “Larry, Curly, and Moe.”
One of King’s main points was about tax cuts for the wealthy.
“Now, you might say, ‘What are you doing up there? Aren’t you rich?’ The answer is, ‘Thank God, yes.’
…
And you know what? As a rich person, I pay 28% taxes. What I want to ask you is, why don’t I pay 50%? Why is everybody in my bracket not paying 50%? The Republicans will say, from John Boehner to Mitch McConnell to Rick Scott, that we can’t do that because, if we tax guys like me, there won’t be any jobs. It’s bull! It’s total bull!”
At the end of his speech, one of the protesters yelled out that King should use Rick Scott as the star of his next horror novel. He replied that he should maybe do just that.
(h/t Reddit)
Check out this (very sunny) video taken by someone in attendance: