Organizers of the last two TEA (Taxed Enough Already) parties in Bee County are urging interested parties to take part in a “TEA Party Patriots” event planned for Friday, July 17, at the office of U.S. Congressman Rubén Hinojosa in Beeville.

The event is being planned by TEA Party participants across the nation in an effort to encourage federal lawmakers to vote against plans for a national health care initiative.

Supporters of the protest do not want any attempt to nationalize the health care system in the United States.

Virginia Pendley, one of the organizers of the TEA parties here, said she is looking for people interested in helping to organize the event.

According to a national Web site, organizers across the country are planning to hold demonstrations simultaneously with groups gathering on the East Coast between noon and 1 p.m. and groups on the West Coast gathering between 9 and 10 a.m.

That would mean protesters would meet at Hinojosa’s office between 11 a.m. and noon.

“They wouldn’t have to stay long,” Pendley said.

“We plan to present Hinojosa’s staff with a list of questions,” Pendley said. “And we’d like to have an immediate answer. I don’t know if that would be possible.”

Pendley said work had just begun on organizing the event. More information should be available later. Anyone with questions about the event should contact Pendley at 542-1020.