Here’s the paragraph under the Fire Dog Lake headline above:

“UPDATE: Melissa Bean will vote yes, as well. So will Baron Hill, but I already counted him as a Yes based on other statements. So it’s 204-206, 11 undecided, 10 Stupak bloc.”

If you have called or faxed her office, it’s probably time to do so again.

Phone 202-225-3711, Fax 202-225-7830.  Politicians like Bean are notoriously nervous.  No one likes to fall off the constituent tight rope on which she is walking.

Of course, you could also volunteer for opponent Joe Walsh’s campaign.

You can still contact Bean’s Washington office.  Phone 202-225-3711 or Fax 202-225-7830.

As an indication of the importance of the Congresswoman’s vote is my Google search for her name is that there were 28 references to her on the web at 1:31 this afternoon.

March 17, 2010

Dear Ms. Bean,

The corner where folks gathered near Congresswoman Melissa Bean's office March 16th.

I spent my day yesterday driving the hour from my home in Spring Grove to your office in Schaumburg to stand side by side with voters from your district.

A take-off on the show "American Idol." The Statue of Liberty is "An American Idol, Not 'Idle,'" says the message written on the white stripes.

We came hoping we could voice our opinions on the healthcare bill that is currently being forced upon the country despite the vast number of polls showing America neither wants nor appreciates having our Constitution destroyed for the whims of an administration filled with narcissists.
We understand that Mr. Obama, Ms Pelosi, and Mr. Reid feel that America has a population of numbskulls full of mush who have never had to balance a budget, have a connection with reality and believe that fairy tales do come true.

Oddly, after centuries of history to look back on, we somehow feel it is a pretty good indication of what to expect when governments become too large and no longer serve the people but try to dictate to them.

I guess, perhaps, some of us grew up at a time when our school system really taught history and did not rewrite, whitewash, delete or alter the truth.

We know that this bill will destroy our high quality healthcare system we now enjoy.

Corner with opponents facing camera and Bean supporters on the right.

We know the polls show that our doctors will drop out of their profession in numbers reaching 50 to 60%.  They currently have to deal with the government run Medicare and Medicaid and they know they will no longer be able to be productive and treat an additional 30 million people. It is an impossibility.

"Obamacare is unconstitutional malpractice," the sign says.

We know that history has shown us that government run programs NEVER function efficiently or on budget.

"HELL No!" the placard says.

Let’s face it; there is no incentive for them to do so.

With the push of a button they can vote for another tax increase and once again America looses.

Not only does this healthcare bill not affect the very ones who vote for it, but it appears to us that many in your party are under the impression that the tax laws do not apply to them.

They then turn and lecture and threaten those in our country who work hard and achieve through blood, sweat and tears a successful life independent of government handouts.

Our Founding Fathers and every soldier who gave their life to preserve this great country would not understand what you have done to it.

The Constitution is now just a document, yellowed with age and ignored by the current government.  You no longer feel the need to vote on bills for passage but “deem” them into law.

How perfect for it to be called “Slaughter.”

A view from the back of the corner where a lot of the action was.

We stood there, along with others thru out the country, begging to be heard.

We went up to your office to fill out your forms so you understand you MUST vote NO on this bill.

I heard the calls coming in as we sat there.

It was plain by your staff’s voices and responses your constituents are angry.

I asked the young man behind the counter if they really keep a tabulation of those calls. He told me they did enter them in on the computers.

I asked why you would not release the numbers of calls and the numbers for and against as Mr. Manzullo did.

He told me that it would be revealing private information about callers.

“How so?” I asked, you wouldn’t be giving out their names.

He stammered and said they received many calls about many issues. I heard that you reported to the Northwest Herald that your numbers were 2 to 1 in favor of the bill.

Oddly as I talked to the young man I looked at a yellow sticky pad next to his computer with the headers NO and YES and tabulations underneath.

Do you know the NO side had, at my best guess, 3 to 4 times the numbers of tabulations as the YES side?

When I called your office I was told you had not decided and were currently reading the bill.

You must be the ONLY person to have the bill because as far as the public is being told it is not even finished or released.

Are you REALLY undecided Ms Bean?

I have heard this from you before and you always seem to have decided to vote in line with Pelosi and her “Destroy America” agenda.

Do you really think you will be re-elected after saddling us with a bankrupt country and giving future generations no hope for a life free of extreme tax burdens?

Is this the future you want for your family?

I understand you will leave office with pensions and healthcare and perks none of us can have.

Does that seem reasonable?

Obama doesn’t want executives form private companies given payment for causing financial chaos yet he has no problem throwing Economics 101 out the window himself.

You may recognize some of the structures across the street.

As we stood out there, 500 strong, we stood next to a group of people who someone had bused in from Chicago.

I did not know your district included the city of Chicago!

I spoke to a number of them and quite frankly all I could conclude is that they are in favor of a socialist country where population is controlled and have no understanding that they themselves if they are lucky enough to still have a job are the ones paying for this boondoggle.

Exaggerations?

They cheered at the word “socialism.”

I was told we needed population control because there aren’t enough jobs, and many told me “government “ should pay for healthcare.

This is a very sad point in America’s history.

I didn’t think my heart could break anymore than it did after 911.

Looking back, at least America was united back then.

Flags were the order of the day.

You and your fellow Democrats have in very short time managed to rip the seams right out of our beautiful flag.

You will all go down in shame, if history is correctly written.

That is a very big “IF”.

God Bless America, she is in deep trouble,

Name  Withheld

= = = = =
You can find more information about the rally here.

Bean Puts Party Politics Ahead of Constitution, Constituents:
Votes to Sanction Shady “Deem-and-Pass”

Joe Walsh

Melissa Bean

(Lake Zurich, Ill)– Yesterday, Melissa Bean voted down a bi-partisan effort that would have forced members of the House to cast their vote for or against Obamacare in the light of day.

In so doing, Melissa Bean, who voted for an even more expansive government takeover of health care last year, has endorsed the so-called “deem-and-pass” sleight-of-hand House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appears intent on employing to get Obamacare passed on Sunday.

Twenty-eight Congressional Democrats joined every Congressional Republican in voting against allowing the use of this procedural gimmick.

Former U.S. Attorney Generals Ed Meese and William Barr had this to say about the “deem-and-pass,”

“The ‘deem and pass’ and similar options under consideration in the House of Representatives plainly violate at least the spirit of the Constitution’s bicameralism and presentment requirements.

“Those constitutional requirements were intended to ensure democratic transparency with a straightforward up-or-down vote in each House on all bills that become law.

“More importantly, these requirements were designed to ensure that the new national government actually followed ‘the consent of the governed,’ which the Declaration of Independence had declared before the world to be the only basis of legitimate government.”

In an age where both parties agree on the need for transparency and accountability from our government, Melissa Bean is still cutting backroom deals and obfuscating the process to put her party ahead of her district.

Melissa Bean is hiding from constituents because she cannot defend this unprecedented federal government power grab, nor can she explain the cynical political scheming she has promoted for the passage of legislation that will cost Illinois 169,000 jobs, raise taxes on small businesses, drive talented providers from the medical profession, and worsen the quality of care for Americans, the overwhelming majority of whom are content with their care. IPI Study

Whether she will listen or not, Melissa Bean needs to hear from you.

Call her office in Washington at:  202-225-3711 or email her at: Bean Email and tell her to vote her district not her party.  Her Washington Fax number is 202-225-7830.

Joe Walsh is the Republican candidate running against Democrat incumbent Melissa Bean in 2010 for the Illinois 8th Congressional District. Born and raised in North Barrington, a policy advocate, teacher, and business entrepreneur, Joe has spent his adult life advancing limited-government and conservative principles. For more information on Joe Walsh and his campaign visit www.joewalshforcongress.com.

In other news, Walsh says he intents to attend the demonstration outside Bean’s Schaumburg office.

His press release says,

“All week the Joe Walsh campaign has been calling for Melissa Bean to represent the interests of her district and vote NO on the President’s health care bill.

Demonstration earlier this week near Woodfield Mall.

“Like many citizens in the 8th, Joe is angry and frustrated with Congress for trying to ram through the federal takeover of health care this Sunday.  He will be representing his beliefs in-person at the rally from 12:30 pm to 1 pm.  Come out and talk with Joe and make your voices heard!!!”

The map below shows the location of Bean’s office:

The web site of the Bradenton, Idaho, newspaper featured a photo of proponents of health care reform at Melissa Bean's Schaumburg office.

While Associated Press distributed a photo of the mainly out-of-district proponents of President Barack Obama’s health care reform, opponents are gearing up for another demonstration.

Word just in from Schaumburg Tea Party Coordinator Carrie Miller that opponents propose another rally this Saturday at noon at Congresswoman Melissa Bean’s office at 1701 E. Woodfield Road, Suite 200, Schaumburg, IL 60173.

If you can’t go, why not phone 847-517-2927 or Fax 847-517-2931. The phone probably won’t be answered over the weekend, but the Fax machine might be operational.

Incidentally, word from within Bean’s Schaumburg office is that calls are running 3-4 to one against the bill.

No wonder she is listed as undecided, even with the Daily Herald’s string of stories about Republican opponent Joe Walsh’s financial problems.

Schaumburg map showing where Melissa Bean's office at 1701 E. Woodfield Road is located near Woodfield Mall.

Maybe her polling is showing she is in more trouble than she has been previously.

Here’s the email’s appeal:

Many people who were not able to attend Tuesday’s rally would like to rally tomorrow.

Melissa Bean’s Office
Saturday, March 20th
12 PM

Bring your flags, signs, bullhorns!…Let your voices be heard!!!

Did you know:

• 

  If awakened Joyce Story goes to the demonstation, she will be late, because she is one of the organizers of the Patriots United Pro-Life Breakfast at D'Andrea's (southeast corner of Routes 14 &31) at 9 AM.

  Back room deals continue to be cut with Obama & Pelosi

• IRS expansion by 16,000 agents to track your HC insurance coverage
• Insurance premium increases up to 78%
• Job killing tax of $2,000 per employee on many companies
• Unfunded mandates
• Bill includes student loans…only the government can provide student loans!!!
• Walgreens will no longer accept new Medicaid customers as of April 16th
• Mayo clinic ….some of their doctors have informed their patients …should Obama Care pass they will no longer accept medicare patients
• Chicago area doctors have already begun to decline medicare patient coverage.
• 1-3 doctors will leave their practice
• 30 million people added….. no doctors to cover them….you will wait for months to get an appointment
• Prescription Drugs….how would you like to wait for those as well?

Here’s a video of the last demonstration and counter-demonstration:

More information about the rally can be found here.

The whole text of the sign can't be read, but it's easy to get the "OUCH!" message.

Collin Corbett, a friend of McHenry County Blog, sent some photos of the Schaumburg demonstration today.

A woman is being interviewed by Fran Eaton of Illinois Review.

He said that over 300 participated, not counting those who honked in support as they drove by.

There certainly appears to be a large crowd. Since proponents were separated from opponents, those seen in this picture seem to be in opposition. Several signs read, "HANDS OFF MY HEALTH CARE!"

Health care was the issue of the day.

Americans for Prosperity had participants in the rally.

Channel 7 said the proponents outnumbered the opponents by 2-1.  That was before the conservatives showed up at noon.  After that, “We dwarfed their numbers,” Corbett said.

Is that McHenry's Joyce Story? It is. She was joined by a number of citizens from McHenry County.

If you were there, do you agree that Corbett accurately reads the relative size of the proponents and opponents to President Barack Obama’s health care reform proposal?

And, what would a TEA Party be without someone dressed up as a Minuteman?

Anyone who attended like to venture an opinion whether the opponents to Obamacare outnumber those in favor?

Joe Walsh

The following press release has been received from Republican congressional candidate Joe Walsh:

Bean Set to Vote Interests of Trial Lawyers Over Interest of Constituents

(LAKE ZURICH, IL)– With the Obamacare legislation nearing a vote, Rep. Melissa Bean (D-8) remains intent on representing the special interests that control her political party as opposed to voting the interests of 8th district families.

Bean, who received more than $31,000 in campaign contributions from trial lawyers during her 2008 re-election campaign, is set to vote for a federal government takeover of health care that, among other things, fails to meaningfully address increasing health care costs directly attributable to frivolous lawsuits and excessive jury awards.

“True health care reform requires tort reform,” said Joe Walsh, Bean’s Republican challenger.

“Unfortunately, Melissa Bean is in the pocket of trial lawyers.  She has put the interests of her large campaign donors ahead of supporting simple reforms such as caps on non-economic damages that would make health care coverage more affordable for 8th district families.”

Walsh cited a U.S. Department of Health & Human Services report that concluded excessive damage awards from medical malpractice lawsuits add between $70 and $126 billion to the cost of health care borne by Americans each year.

Experts say national tort reform is estimated to save $92 to $207 billion dollars per year on health care costs.  Yet, the trillion dollar Obamacare legislation provides only $25 million to ‘projects’ and ’studies’ looking at tort reform.

“The time for ’studies’ is over,” said Walsh.  “We need action on tort reform.  This problem of lawsuit abuse is particularly acute in Illinois where medical malpractice insurance premiums in Cook County, for example, are more than twice as expensive as rates in Indiana,” said Walsh.

“The failure of the Obamacare legislation to address tort reform and Melissa Bean’s failure to embrace common sense reforms that address the problem of lawsuit abuse highlight once again why we cannot afford Obamacare and we cannot afford to have Melissa Bean in Congress.”

Veterans have lunch at Camp Algonquin. Organizer John Blanchard can be seen top right next to Amy Johnson, who is in charge of the details.

NASA Education’s John Blanchard told me that about 325 Veterans came to Camp Algonquin for the Stand Down that his organization has been putting on twice a year for a couple of years.

Here are the staffers for Congressman Don Manzullo and Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

The only “celebrity” was 8th Congressional District U.S. Representative Melissa Bean this year. She didn’t speak, rather walked around and talked to the Veterans.

Main men snaked through the service provider room waiting for lunch.

So, the two-day event was about service more than publicity.

While mainly men were standing in the room next door, these Veterans were chowing down.

35,000 pounds of clothing were distributed.

Undoubtedly, the TV room was packed last night with 166 staying at Camp Algonquin.

166 stayed overnight at the McHenry County Conservation District-owned, but YMCA-operated campground.

The road down to the lower building, where clothes were distributed.

For the first time, there was snow. Melting.

One could still see it had been a snowy winter.

Get off the path and mud was the result.

Naturally, I arrived about lunch time.

There was a big feed.

Volunteers staffed the food line.

Some of the volunteers I recognized from before.

Blanchard told me some had been volunteering since the first Stand Down.

He also told me that seven of the Veterans would be staying in Crystal Lake to enter his group’s training program.

“This is our outreach,” he said.

“Where are you going to put those pictures,” one Veteran asked as I was leaving.

Stand Down Vets posing before the main building at Camp Algonquin.

“On McHenry County Blog,” I told them as they posed for this photo.  “And, it will show the snow.”

Melissa Bean

The Northwest Herald is running a story today about a meeting that 8th District Congresswoman Melissa Bean held at McHenry County College.

The public was not invited…again.

Just “local leaders.”

A dozen of them.

No ordinary taxpaying citizens.

No advance notice so the uninvited might express their feelings outside.

Terry Counley and Mark Eisenberg, the village presidents of McCullom Lake and Spring Grove, respectively, are quoted.

McHenry County Board member Marc Munaretto’s name is included in the article, even though he does not live in Bean’s district.

Holiday Hills Police Chief Larry Mason also gets a mention.

“She regularly conducts such forums,” the article reads.

Just not where the public can attend, I guess.

No Town Hall meetings on health care.

Not for Melissa Bean.

No debates with opponents for Melissa Bean.

Not since before Labor Day four years ago. (Political campaigns traditionally start on Labor Day.)

Just controlled appearances with known guest lists.

That’s the Melissa Bean Way.

Walsh to Bean on Health Care Vote:
Vote Your District Not Your Party

(Lake Zurich, Illinois) -  8th District Republican congressional nominee Joe Walsh today called on his liberal Democrat opponent Rep. Melissa Bean to swallow her pride and vote “No” on the Obamacare federal takeover of health care legislation nearing a vote in the House.

“For the first time in a long time Melissa Bean needs to listen to her constituents and vote her district,”  said Walsh.

“A government takeover of health care is absolutely the wrong approach to fix what ails with health care in America- and 8th district voters know it.

“Melissa Bean was not elected to represent public sector unions and march in lockstep with her party.

“She was elected to represent the interests of 8th district families and support policies that speak to their very real economic insecurities.  This legislation will worsen the quality of care we have access to and increase unemployment,” Walsh said.

The proposed takeover of health care that would cost Illinois 169,000 jobs, $4,418 per person, and shrink Illinois’ economy by 5.1 percent, according to a study by the Illinois Policy Institute.  This is against the backdrop of a state with 11% unemployment.

“A vote for this health care bill is vote against the economic interests of 8th district families, plain and simple,” Walsh added.

The legislation would also drastically reduce senior citizens’ access to the popular (and private) Medicaid Advantage program.

“I’m not in the camp that says the president is overly ambitious to take on health care,” said Bean, who votedfor the federal takeover of health care  late last year that passed the House by a slim 220-215 margin despite a sizable Democrat majority.

Town hall meeting on health care that Melissa Bean refused to attend, as she did all other public events discussing the subject last year.

Prior to her vote last year, Bean, unlike most members of Congress (Republicans and Democrats), declined to hold any town hall meetings or public forums where residents could weigh in and ask questions about this legislation.

“Melissa Bean has made it very clear that if she is not interested in the opinions of concerns of those she was elected to represent,” said Walsh.

In his keynote address to the McHenry Medical Society at their annual meeting, Walsh said there is no way the country can afford the trillion dollar takeover of one-sixth of our nation’s economy.

“There are other ways to reform health care without sending our children and grandchildren into even greater debt and forever altering the doctor-patient relationship,” Walsh said.

Walsh said incremental reforms such as allow the sale of insurance plans across state lines increase competition among insurers and passing meaningful tort reform are key to reducing costs while protecting quality of care.

Melissa Bean

USA Today is reporting that the 8th Congressional District’s Melissa Bean will meet with President Barack Obama this afternoon:

“…at 2:30 p.m., the leaders of the New Democrat Coalition come to the Oval Office.  Those members include Jason Altmire, Pa.; Melissa Bean, Illinois; Lois Capps, Cal.; Joseph Crowley, N.Y.; Ron Kind, Wis.; Allyson Schwartz, Pa.; and Adam Smith, Washington.”

It’s that touchy feely thing that chief executives do when they want to override the better judgment of legislators.