Apparently, the Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce $25 Melissa Bean “Town Meeting” wasn’t the only “pay a fee to see the congresswoman event.

The McHenry Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon Friday at the McHenry Country Club. Its featured speaker was Mike Moebs, who owns an economic research firm in Lake County and trained under Milton Friedman and George Stigler.

The invitation also said,

“US Congresswoman Melissa Bean will also give audience an update on legislative issues before US. Congress.”

The writer is a McHenry County constituent of 8th District Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

“OK, she came right over to my table as it was next to hers and the meeting actually started 15 minutes late because we had so many questions for her.

“It was polite, but not friendly.

“I asked why she hasn’t had a town hall meeting. She said she prefers pod cast since she can reach many more people.

“I said,

‘(16th District Congressman Don) Manzullo and the Mayor of CL managed to make our last meeting and spoke to 600 Constituents.’

She said she can reach 6,000 with pod cast.

“A Township trustee asked why she didn’t go to some meetings after she mentioned how many districts she represents.

“She replied, ‘How would I decide which ones to go to?’

“The Trustee said,

‘Pick any one.’

“She did say if you want to be part of a pod cast, call her office.

“Oh, and she only has 5 or 6 staff members in her Schaumburg office. That was a big surprise to me.

“I asked which had more meaning to her, getting letters, e mails phone calls or faxes.

“She said they were all important, but that it takes 90 or more days to get her mail as it has to be checked for anthrax.

“I am not wasting any more 44 cent stamps on her. She said faxes are probably best.

“I asked if she separates her correspondence into what the people want or don’t want and she said she did.

“She only took two questions and I got to ask the second one. I said,

‘Why no TORT reform?’

“She said that they have done some TORT reform and will do more when they get back.

“She also said there are 3 bills in the House and several in the Senate.

“Nobody know what the final bill will be.

“Nobody there believed anything she said.

“I was told she would not come in if there were anyone outside before the meeting and there wasn’t.

“She ducked out right after she finished.

“There were only about 80 people there, a very small turn out and everyone except me arrived right before it started. I figured there would be a huge turn out and came 1/2 hour early.”

There were two sign-carrying protesters at the country club entrance, as well as police.

They had signs requesting that our elected officials stop spending us into the ground and asking for a “No” vote on health care. (I wish someone had taken a picture of them and sent it to me, so I could share it with you.)

A couple of folks gave them dirty looks as they pulled into the parking lot, but it didn’t keep the demonstrators from making contract with one elderly couple who drove past twice.