Several dozen area residents gave U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) the proverbial “pink slip” Thursday in a protest hosted by We Surround Them Jones County.

The group wrote personalized messages to the congressman on pink “Important Message” slips, delivering them to his office in Laurel. Organizers said a similar event was planned in Hattiesburg.

Richard Conrad, who organized the protest, said the purpose was to let Taylor know that his constituents expect him to vote no this weekend on a bill for nationalized healthcare.

“There was a tea party in Washington today where people could go and see their congressman face to face,” he said. “Some of us couldn’t make that trip, but we wanted to do something similar at the local office.”

Conrad said these pink slips weren’t a termination notice, but “you could take it that way.”

“It’s a very important vote,” he said. “If he does vote for it, we want him to know that people are watching him. We’re very concerned about our country. The people in his district are very upset, and he needs to be an advocate for us as well.”

Brenda Turner, who was one of those showing their support, said she hoped Taylor received the message.

“We don’t want it,” she said. “He needs to listen to us.”

Julie Harper, who carried a sign that said “Government Healthcare Makes Me Sick,” said there is a need to remind elected officials who put them in office.

“It’s time for conservative people to speak out against the socialist healthcare debate,” she said. “The government hasn’t been able to run anything else. It’s going to be a nightmare.”

One supporter even gave the event national coverage, speaking live on the Rush Limbaugh radio show.

“I think Gene heard that one if nothing else,” said Ed Willoughby, who said it was his first time calling the show. “I told them what we were doing to encourage Gene Taylor. He’s on a slippery slope as a Blue Dog Democrat. We strongly suggest he represent the people who sent him to Washington or he needs to go job hunting.”

Willoughby said he feels like those in Mississippi don’t have any control of what’s happening on the federal level.

“We’re just along for the ride,” he said. “Whatever it is, whether healthcare or cap and trade, we just have to sit here and fit the bill.”