Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely take note and address those things next time the air cleaner is off (probably very soon).

Here's what happened:

I noticed the check valve on the vacuum line was backwards and flipped it. Then to test the EGR tube for blockage, I flipped the EGR so it wouldn't be in the way, started the car and checked for vacuum on the tube. It was sucking pretty good, so I thought I had it all figured out.

I went back to the smog check and the tech put the vacuum pump on the EGR while the car was running, but the idle didn't fluctuate meaning the gas still wasn't circulating to the intake. Next thing to do is clean out the EGR. I had a good mind to do it while it was off the car, but since I had two eureka moments I thought I was all good. If anyone has any ideas please run them by. I need to pickup another vacuum pump (last one was a AutoZone plastic cheapo that died) so I can test and not waste my time driving back down there.