Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, Inc.

The kettle was boiling last week when the Beaches chapter of the First Coast Tea Party met at the Neptune Beach Library to discuss Amendment 4 and hear from Angie’s Sub owner Ed Malin, who caught national media attention after putting a political message on the sign above his business.

Two Jacksonville City Council members, Daniel Davis and Art Graham, spoke against Amendment 4 at the meeting, telling attendees it would be a disaster for Florida.

If passed in November, Amendment 4 would require that voters approve all changes to the local comprehensive plan.

"If you want to vote for this, just keep in mind that you’re voting for the recession to stay longer," Davis told the crowd.

He said Amendment 4 would cause businesses to take their operations up into Georgia, where it’s easier to get approval for land-use, he said.

"If we don’t grow, we automatically die," said Davis. "This is like trying to kill a mosquito with a sledgehammer."

Also speaking at last weeks meeting was Ed Malin, owner of Angie’s Subs in Jacksonville Beach.

Malin made national headlines last month when he wrote "A Bible thumpin’ gun totin’ capitalist pig owns this joint," on the marquee above his business.

Malin, who was born and raised in Palm Valley, said since the sign went up he has been inundated with people calling from around the country to thank him for putting up the sign.

"I’ve put thousands of signs up but never have I even come close to the response that this sign has gotten," Malin said. "I can’t think of a state where someone has not called me from."

Malin told tea party attendees that the sign was a result of seeing his 2009 taxes.

"I’ve patriotically worked myself into a 33 percent tax bracket. I’m sure Nancy Pelosi would be very proud of me," Malin told the crowd.

Malin said the response he got from the sign has made it clear that people are frustrated.

"What is has taught me is that there is a frustration volcano in America, bubbling to the surface."

The biggest issue in the next presidential election will be taxes, Malin predicted.