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Protesters are promising to keep a watchful eye on the state capital this legislative session. Dozens of Tea Party, Occupy and Awake the State protestors traveled from all over Florida to Tallahassee today to voice their displeasure with lawmakers. As Whitney Ray tells us, no political party is safe from their scrutiny.

The 2012 Legislative Session was gaveled in over the voices of protestors. Just outside the House chamber, Occupy Tallahassee protestors lined the entry way handing out flyers and shouting at lawmakers entering the chamber.

The governor took a short cut around the protestors. Once the governor was inside the House Chamber, the occupiers joined with the Awake the State group.
The two groups of protestors have similar messages.

Awake the State has more union backing and identifies more with Democrats. Occupiers say no party is meeting their needs.

“Democrats and Republicans are nearly the same. They are just different on a few social issues that get blown up by the media,” said Shelby Radcliffe and Occupier from Orlando.

The Tea Party folks are also having a tough time finding lawmakers who hear their concerns and follow through with their promises.

“We put some of these officials in office right now and we expect them to perform. If they don’t perform, we are going to eliminate them,” said Mary Lynn Geisler a Tea Partier from Ocala.

Tea Party members want to see lawmakers improve schools, repeal redlight cameras and cut spending. All the groups say they’ll hold legislators accountable at the ballot box. All the groups are planning to have members at the capitol throughout the 60 day session.