Bravo, Richmond Tea Party (Updated)

Like other Tea Party groups, the Richmond (VA) Tea Party has played by the rules. They paid permit fees to hold their rallies, they paid for the extra police and portajohns that such rallies demand. In all, they’ve paid $10,000 for their rallies to the local government.

The occupiers? Not so much. In fact, they haven’t filed for any permits and they haven’t paid a dime.

So the Richmond Tea Party, seeking fair treatment, has invoiced the Richmond city government to get its costs reimbursed. This is a brilliant move that other Tea Party groups should follow, if for no other reason than to highlight how the so-called 99% continue to mooch off of law-abiding citizens.

Or failing that, apply for a permit to hold a rally where the occupiers are currently squatting. Let the cities figure out what to do about it, or explain why Tea Partiers can’t rally with permits where occupiers are occupying without them.

Update: More from the AP:

The political organization is sending the city an invoice for the charges incurred for three rallies held in Kanawha Plaza over the past three years. The Occupy protesters have been camped in the plaza since Oct. 15.

Richmond Tea Party spokeswoman Colleen Owens says it’s not fair that her group had to pay fees for permits, portable toilets, police presence and emergency personnel. The group also had to purchase a $1 million insurance policy.

Other Tea Parties really should follow suit on this.