Health care reform, home foreclosures, unemployment, immigration and even Social Security benefits were among the concerns of those attending Rep. Jerry McNerney’s ongoing “Congress at Your Corner” meeting at the Manteca Branch Library.

For the Pleasanton Democrat, it was the anchor leg of his whirlwind stop in San Joaquin County on Monday.

He kept his commitment to donate his automatic pay raise to five charitable organizations. This included the Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin; Catholic Charities of Stockton; Stockton-based Dignity’s Alcove; Livermore’s Tri-Valley Haven; and the Village Community Resource Center in Brentwood.

At the Emergency Food Bank, for example, McNerney hand delivered the check to be used for the annual Christmas Food Basket giveaway, providing holiday meals for an estimated 1,800 families and seniors.

His Manteca visit was for a different matter.

McNerney, who represents folks in Manteca, Stockton, Lodi, Escalon, Tracy along with Livermore, Dublin and Pleasanton, was interested in meeting with his constituents.

“A lot has happened this past year,” he said. “I’m trying to represent you (in Washington, D.C.) the best I can.”

McNerney was asked if he read the 2,000 plus pages on the Health Care bill.

“Yes, I read it,” he said, noting that he studied the plan during several of his recent six-hour flights to the nation’s Capital.

 McNerney added, “Health care is a complicated issue (particularly with the special interest groups having various demands). It would be nice if the bill consisted of a simple 10 pages.”

Clinton Boersma is a member of the John Birch Society.

“I’m curious if you would go along with us to get U.S. out of the United Nations?” he asked his local congressman.

However, McNerney believes the United Nation plays a positive role in world affairs.

“I just don’t want it to get too powerful,” he said.

Later, Boersma wanted to talk more with McNerney, who was waiting to talk to more of the locals during another “Congress at Your Corner” session that followed.

“I wish we had more time,” Boersma said.