LOCAL COLOR. Representative Don Manzullo, a Republican from the Sixteenth District, held a town meeting in Sycamore.

Manzullo pointed out some of the major problems he sees in the [health care] bill. Those include new bureacracies created, more entitlement programs and the high use of taxes and penalties.

He cited a report that the unemployment rate would rise because small businesses would be put out of business. Faced with penalties, they would be forced to buy into it, he said.

Manzullo said he has spent 60 hours reading the bill and is halfway finished reading the 1,000-page-plus document.

His solution to health care reform is to continue improving what's already being done, such as health savings accounts and refundable tax credits for low-income people to purchase health insurance.

As far as I know, there were no Nazis, paid Republican agitators, or Democratic thugs present, although the news accounts suggest a frank and open exchange of views, with no outbreaks of verbal terrorism.

It's quite likely that anybody at this meeting wearing a DeKalb seed cap was doing so with no symbolism in mind. They're available around here if you know where to look.