Ah, representatives … what a worthless phrase in this state (unless your check book is a lot deeper than mine).

Rep. Jim Matheson (D-INO), according to reports, is working harder than most Republican’ts to torpedo the health care bill and make it easier than breathing for the Utah Legislature to opt-out of any measure that would assist in helping working folks get affordable insurance.

Way to go, Jim.

SLTrib:

The House could vote on a sweeping health reform proposal as early as Saturday, but before it does, Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, wants to make a few tweaks, including dumping a public insurance option.

Matheson planned to offer five amendments Friday during a meeting of the House Rules Committee, which is charged with setting the parameters for this weekend’s big debate and vote.

“I support making needed reforms to our health care system,” Matheson said in a statement prepared for the meeting. He said the amendments are drafted “with respect to specific areas within the bill that can and should be improved.”

Apparently, supporting reforms to the system means, to Matheson, that insurance companies should still get to screw their customers to the floor while squeezing them for more money that Jack LaLanne can get from a bushel of tomatoes.

BUT WAIT! There’s more!

Matheson voted against health reform when it was before the House Energy and Commerce Committee earlier this year. He remains skeptical of the proposal announced by his party last week. Still, he has not said how he would vote.

He is pushing an amendment that eliminates the most hotly debated health reform issue — whether the government should create a public insurance option to compete against private plans for the business of people not covered by their employers.

“I agree with my colleagues that consumers deserve more choice and competition within the insurance marketplace,” Matheson is expected to say. “However, I disagree that a government-run insurance option is the only way to achieve that shared goal.”

So … basically, Matheson says that the idea of a public option is bad, but can not, will not, or doesn’t care to offer an option of his own. Empty of ideas. Not charged up and not ready to go – Democrats like Jim are plotting to the course to a Republican majority in the House in 2010.

Or – if you need an easier to understand take on the process – try this –