HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW. That's something we all learned in school. The process is so simple 'SESAME STREET' made it into a sketch.

First an idea is born. Then a member of the House or Senate brings it to a committee where it is discussed, a report is written and the Bill is voted out of the committee. It is then discussed by the full House or Senate and voted on. Differences between the House and Senate versions are ironed out in a bi-partisan Conference Committee and the revised version is returned to both Houses for a final vote.

Contrast this to the disgraceful process Harry Reid has led forcing Healthcare legislation through the Senate. Instead of open hearings with members from both parties participating, Harry Reid held meetings behind closed doors with just a few Democrats participating. Day after day they met behind closed doors with TV cameras limited to views of the closed door.

Despite President Obama's promise during his campaign to open healthcare discussions to the public by inviting C-Span to the deliberations, his meetings at the White House were closed to the press and Republicans. Despite his promise of openness, transparency and bi-partisanship, his staff held dozens of meetings on Capitol Hill shutting out the press and Republicans.

In the end, there was no Bill offered for hearings, no hearings, no transparency and no bipartisanship.

Once again the men and women who live in and around the village of Middleburg have joined together to help people in need.

After the Tsunami . . . after Katrina and the disaster in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast . . . and day-by-day, in a thousand ways, in a hundred volunteer organizations, an extraordinary number of those of us lucky enough to be able to help people in need, do our best do so.

This time, the call has gone out to help those stricken by the earthquake in Haiti.

Some of us are already there, on ships, on shore, in the air, or on the way.

Others are gathering in Middleburg, at the Middleburg Community Center on February 26th, to raise funds to support them.

We will see you there!