Progressive candidates deliver 36,000 'We stand with the 99%' petitions to Boehner

Seven progressive House candidates and Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) members delivered nearly 36,000 "We stand with the 99%" petitions directly to House Speaker John Boehner's Capitol Hill office Wednesday afternoon.

The petitions stated: "We stand with the 99% -- we need an economy that works for all of us, not just the richest 1%."

They were received by Boehner's press secretary after she refused entrance to the group, despite the "welcome" sign on Boehner's office door.

"I guess that should really read, 'Welcome 1%, please come in,'" joked Marko Liias, a Democratic candidate in Washington's First Congressional District.

The PCCC works to elect progressive candidates to federal office. The group said the petitions directly connected Republican obstruction on jobs and Wall Street accountability to the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. They believe it has become an election issue.

Protesters pledged to occupy lower Manhattan until something was done about the consolidation of economic and political power. They have been camped out since September 17 and have inspired others across the nation to begin their own "Occupy" demonstrations.

While Boehner has not publicly expressed his opinion about the ongoing protests, other Republicans have denounced the movement.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) called the protests "growing mobs" and said that the occupation "concerned" him. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) said the demonstrations were "sort of like a Paris mob" that could become violent thanks to Barack Obama. Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) described the movement as an "attack upon freedom."