Off Beat: Herger's apple a day law for DC

Your man in Washington, Rep. Wally Herger, recently announced he's introduced legislation to, as his press release blared, "Keep Washington Out of the Doctor's Office."

The Herger bill — he's a co-sponsor — is the Doctor-Patient Relationship and Research Protection Act, which would "prevent bureaucratic interference in health care decisions that should be left up to the patient and their doctor," according to the release.

"As we move forward in the debate over how to best reform our health care system, it is absolutely essential that we protect the relationship between patients and their doctors. Most people agree that comparative effectiveness research is a valuable tool for getting better health care information into the hands of doctors and patients, but it must not be used to deny coverage for needed health care because of a cost-based decision by Washington officials," Herger said in a statement.

At about the same time, Wally railed against House Democrats and their plan for national health care.

"With this year's federal deficit already approaching $2 trillion, we can't afford the high cost of a massive new government-run program, and we can't have an honest and open debate without acknowledging the price tag that accompanies it," Herger said. "Along with the sticker shock that will occur when the price of the Democrat Leadership's plan is made public, with more information the American people will begin to see the non-monetary costs of government-run health care:lower quality, less accessibility, and bureaucratic meddling in decisions that should be made by doctors and patients."

Both of Herger's announcements left out one notable item: His wife, Pam, works for Catholic Healthcare West, a fact noted last month in the New York Times. It's even mentioned in Herger's annual disclosure statement.

Bermuda Triangle of drugs

The crime fighters at the U.S. Justice Department have released their drug market analysis for the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

The report defines the Central Valley as stretching from Kern County to Shasta County.

But when you look at the document, particularly the accompanying map, something quite shocking stands out: There's nothing between Sacramento and Shasta counties.

Nothing. No Sutter County. No Yuba County. No Butte County. No Colusa County.

They don't exist.

The Central Valley HIDTA was established a decade ago and covers 10 counties.

So there must not be any drug trafficking around here, obviously.

How many pot plants were eradicated around here? None, apparently. There's no information for the great Mid-Valley section of the Sacramento Valley section of the Central Valley.

Maybe some day the counties around here will be asked to join the HIDTA. Until then, when the feds release their annual reports, there will be this giant hole in the map of the Central Valley.