Forget the 8-ball, health care is behind the glacier in terms of top issues the public is sweating as elections near. One opinion poll lists it floe-ing behind the economy, the war and the price of gas.

Democratic pollster Anna Greenberg told the Washington Post: "For a lot of people who have health insurance, they are paying more for health care, but it may not show up as concretely as paying $70 to fill their gas tank."

Yeah, imagine if Chevron hoisted a sign, "Monthly premium for couple, $225," and the Citgo 'cross the way had, "Family of four, $200, high deduct"?

People gotta get places, but gettin' healthy ain't necessarily one. Speaking of which, a new report lists California as the 41st fattest state in the union. And that's supposed to be pretty good. (More info, http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/product.jsp?id=33833 )

Oh yeah, Capitol Weekly in Sacramento just published its special annual "Ranking of the Legislators" section.  If you get "zero," you're a hero in your voting record to conservatives. Notable "zeroes" are Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines of Clovis and Senate Minority Leader Dave Cogdill, whose district includes Fresno and Madera. Notable "100s" -- darlings of the liberal persuasion -- are Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Senate pro-tem president Don Perata.

Capitol Weekly notes that the budget logjam is a battle of two zeroes and two 100's. (In the real world of numbers, it's forcing Community Medical Centers to find $3 million a week to offset unpaid Medi-Cal reimbursements from the state.)

Just to flesh the Valley out, Cap Weekly says GOP Assemblyman Bill Maze of Visalia is a zero, but his Dem colleagues Nicole Parra and Juan Arambula are more moderate -- 52 and 59, respectively. (State Sens. Dean Florez, 72; Jeff Denham, 5 -- figure what parties).

Lastly, the Sacramento Bee sez 31 members of the state Assembly/Senate are supposed to go to the Democratic National Convention next week as delegates or members of standing committees.

These include Florez and Parra (prolly not on the same flight). Of course, no state budget may mean they'll watch it in Sac on the same flat TV screens as the Reeps.