Two weeks after the 2010 midterm elections, then Sen.-elect Mike Lee spoke at the Young America’s Foundation West Coast Leadership Conference.

The Utah Republican and tea party darling was paid $10,000 to speak in front of the conference of young conservatives. And it is a good thing he got the speaking fee when he did, because just six weeks later, he officially became a Member of Congress, which means not getting paid for speaking.

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), for example, spoke at the same conference and was paid not one cent because, well, he’s a Member of Congress.

“Sen. Lee has violated neither the letter or the spirit of the law,” Lee spokesman Brian Phillips tells HOH. “And since being elected, he has followed the law to a T.”

So, is the Senator a little bummed that he won’t get a fee to speak at this year’s YAF conference?

Nope, Phillips tells us. “The Senator does plenty of speaking from the Senate floor,” he adds.

Where we all get him for the bargain basement speaker’s fee of free.