Calcutta resident Linda Harrington described a rally in Washington, D.C., against the proposed health care bill as an incredible event, but the local contingent's quest to speak to U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson went unfulfilled.

"We were a little disappointed in that," she said.

A member of the Ohio Valley Tea Party movement which includes some Columbiana County residents, Harrington was one of many who shared a bus with the Wheeling, W.Va., group to rally outside the Capitol at noon Thursday with thousands of others opposed to the health care plan.

Members of the Tri-County Patriotic Tea Party group with members in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties also planned to take a bus.

The House is scheduled to vote on the health care issue Saturday.

After the rally, the demonstrators marched into the offices of their congressmen and senators to make their opinions known.

Harrington said they had a 2 p.m. appointment with Wilson, who represents the Sixth District which encompasses Columbiana County. They were about 20 minutes late due to the clogged entry into the building as long lines of protestors made their way through the metal detectors.

They didn't get to see Wilson, but instead met with a couple of his aides for about 15 minutes.

"We pretty much got talked to instead of getting to talk," she said, but added, "We made our feelings known to them before we left."

The discussion included the group's opposition to the public option in the plan being pushed by House Democrats. Harrington said people are getting tired of the government getting more intrusive in their lives.

She said Medicare's broke; Social Security is broke, and the post office is broke "... and they want us to believe they can run this."

Harrington said the group told Wilson's aides their mission will be to replace Wilson. The next project for the tea partiers will be the pink slip express, with pink slips sent out to anyone who's supposed to be representing the people but who doesn't listen to them when they speak. She said Wilson and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, also an Ohio Democrat, will be on their list.

"These representatives are not listening to their constituents," she said.

Wilson's office later released a statement from the congressman:

"I recognize that health insurance reform is a complicated and emotional issue and people are going to disagree. I appreciate all the opinions of my constituents and encourage them to continue to make their voices heard as we progress with the health care debate.

"I know some people came out from Ohio to D.C. for a protest today and my office tried to accommodate them the best that we could.

"Currently I support a plan that will bring stability and security to the health care system, lower the cost of health care, and will provide health insurance to thousands of people in my district who are currently living without coverage."

mgreier@salemnews.net