. >> for the past years ago dave schwartz and his group americans for prosperity has been an emerging voice in maryland's political landscape. >> we are a group that has been involved in organizing local tea parties. >> schwartz said his group's popularity shows in its membership. that tops 10,000. new gallop poll numbers show 28 percent of all adult americans support the tea party movement. and along with that growth comes criticism from across the aisle from a bloger, steve lee bow witnesses that now said schwartz and his group should register with the state as a lobbyist. >> gandhi had a famous quote. first ignore, then laugh then fight then you win. and we're in the fight stage. >> this is a very intense kind of conflict right now. and what the registration requirement is all about, this arguing about registration is really about the right of these people to, fully in the political process. >> state ethics law mandates grassroots groups register, if expenditures top $200,000 in a reporting period. >> we went through the expenditures and we found out that we do not meet the thresho