Hartford - Carrying stryofoam pitchforks and signs demanding smaller government, a crowd estimated in size at 700 gathered outside the Capitol Friday afternoon for an annual Tea Party tax day rally.

While last year's tax day in Connecticut featured rallies in three different cities, organizers invited all of the state's Tea Party groups to Hartford this year to show united discontent against the $1.5 billion tax increases in the proposed budget of new Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. The event's speakers and attendees urged the legislature to instead cut spending.

"Are we Connecticut or are we Connectitax?" yelled Jen Ezzell, of Lisbon, an organizer of the Second District Tea Party Patriots. "No more taxes. We have given them way too much money."

Another speaker, former state Sen. Tom Scott, a prominent state conservative, told the crowd that with Malloy's budget plan and tax increases, "Connecticut is about to go over a cliff."

The rally featured an introduction of about a dozen conservative state legislators of whom Tea Party leaders generally approved. Included in the roll call was state Rep. Christopher Coutu, R-Norwich.

"You represent the majority of Connecticut citizens who are sick and tired of being sick and tired," Coutu said.