Cantor to Tea Party: You’re Our ‘Surge Protector’

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has nothing but love for the tea party. He says the tea party movement was responsible for Republicans retaking control of the House in last year’s elections. So the grass- roots activists represent a “surge protector” against big government, Cantor said in a speech Monday, The Hill reports.

“The reality is: taxed enough already,” Cantor said on tax payment day. “The Tea Party, they’ve been a tremendous influence, frankly, in letting us focus on the fiscal issues and helping us focus on the surge in the size and reach of the federal government — into way too many aspects of our economy and our lives.”

Cantor does see room for compromise with Democrats. President Barack Obama “believes we have to cut spending,” he said. “The question is how much and how soon — that’s the point of disagreement.”