The U.S. Census Bureau has found that Massachusetts has the lowest rate of residents without health care in the country at 4.1 percent, while Texas has the highest at 24.1 percent.

The Third Congressional District, which includes the Attleboro area along with Worcester and Fall River, is No. 1 among congressional districts at 3.4 percent.

In Texas, the Houston area is the worst at 40 percent uninsured.

In general, Northeastern and some Midwestern states are doing well providing their residents with health care coverage while southern and western states are lagging behind.

For instance, Connecticut and Vermont have 9 percent uninsured, while Nevada has 21 percent and Mississippi is at 17.9 percent uninsured. That means members of Congress who are fighting hardest to kill health care reform come from states and districts that need it the most.

Both senators from Texas have been outspoken in their opposition to the government spreading health care to the uninsured, even though 5.7 million of their residents lack coverage.

In Alaska, former Gov. Sara Palin helped make universal health care more difficult to obtain by spreading the outrageously false rumor that reform would mean "death panels" that decide whether children with Down syndrome live or die, even though 20 percent of her neighbors go without coverage.

Both Democratic senators from Arkansas have weak knees over health care reform, despite polls showing their residents favor it and 18 percent of them lack coverage.

Alabama really only has one insurance company and 14 percent of residents have no insurance, but its politicians have shown more loyalty to the insurance lobby than the people.

The census figures also raise the question of why politicians from Massachusetts would support health care reform if so many of their constituents already have coverage.

U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, represents the district with the highest rate of coverage, but he said coverage is only half the battle.

Another prime goal of reform is to hold down costs.

He said the cost of health care is escalating at a rate that is unsustainable. Everywhere he visits in the district, selectmen and mayors complain about large annual increases in the price of providing coverage.

Employers, families and governments cannot afford the increases, he said. And why is Massachusetts so advanced when it comes to providing coverage?

The big reason is the universal coverage law the state passed a few years ago, which parts of the federal proposal are based upon.

An Associated Press analysis also said high-income states in general tend to have high rates of coverage, and Massachusetts is a high-income state.

And what about the Third Congressional District leading the way?

McGovern said generous employers and strong unions in the district have provided for employees.

Another reason is that the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester is one of the district's largest employers.

Of course, McGovern could not help but joke that the real reason is, "They have a heck of a congressman."

JIM HAND covers politics for The Sun Chronicle. His commentaries appear in this space on Saturdays. He can be reached at 508-236-0399 or at jhand@thesunchronicle.com.