NEWS ROUNDUP
Budget ‘magic,’ home-care arrests, GOP superdonors…
STATE LEGISLATURE
► In today’s Olympian — House Democrats’ budget avoids tax increase— It does this by lopping $81.6 million of state support for local governments, delaying a chunk of K-12 public school funding into the next budget cycle, and assuming 1,554 fewer employees on the state payroll. The new proposal (HB 2127) had a public hearing Tuesday, could be voted upon as soon as this afternoon in the House Ways and Means Committee, and may get a floor vote in the House as soon as Friday.
► More coverage in the (Everett) Herald, News Tribune, Seattle Times, (Vancouver) Columbian, and from AP.
► From AP — Senate releases proposed transportation budget — Both chambers’ plans fall well short of Gregoire’s call for an infusion of $3.6 billion in transportation funds over the next decade. The centerpiece of her plan was a $1.50 fee per barrel on oil refined in the state. “We need to get our economy stronger before we ask for more revenue,” said Senate Transportation Committee Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Camano Island).
► In today’s Seattle Times — House weighs bid to use tax rise to refinance Wenatchee arena
LOCAL
► In today’s Daily News — ILWU turns up heat on prosecutor in bid to help protesters fight charges— The longshore union is stepping up pressure to get protesters off the hook for criminal charges stemming from the labor strife at the EGT grain terminal, even accusing Cowlitz County Prosecutor Sue Baur of threatening to harm protesters.
► In today’s Daily News — Group pushing E-Verify hits wall in Wahkiakum County — A county commissioners meeting Tuesday became a shouting match when strongly worded testimonies from a group seeking restrictions on employing illegal workers prompted an accusation of racism.
► In today’s Bellingham Herald — Lynden Darigold plant running at 60% capacity after fire
BOEING
► In today’s Seattle Times — Boeing use of Export-Import Bank can fly at cross purposes — The collision between the interests of the nation’s largest airline and one of its largest manufacturing companies illustrates the trade-offs facing the country as leaders weigh how to create a more durable economic recovery.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
EDITOR’S NOTE — And, oh yeah, it cuts the maximum duration of benefits from 99 to 74 weeks. (See paragraph 17 of this story.)
► In today’s LA Times — Obama wants to cut corporate tax rate to 28% — The president wants to significantly lower the top corporate income tax rate to 28% as part of a broad overhaul that would raise an additional $250 billion from businesses over the next decade by eliminating many loopholes and other breaks. Full details of the administration’s long-awaited corporate tax reform plan will be released later this morning.
► At Huffington Post — Corporate tax reform: Be careful what you wish for (Jared Bernstein column) — Everyone loves the first part of the mantra: lower the rates. Now let’s see how the feel about the second part: broaden the base.
► At The Hill — K Street pessimistic about highway bills — Labor groups supporting the $109 billion, two-year Senate transportation bill thought it could get through the upper chamber. Now they’re not so sure. Meanwhile, in the House, GOP leaders retreated from plans to hold a vote last week on their bill.
► At Politico — Feds fret over underfunded corporate pensions — Federal officials have assumed responsibility for hundreds of troubled pension plans in recent years. Those takeovers could accelerate as baby boomers start to retire, with taxpayers potentially needing to pay tens of billions of dollars to keep the private plans alive.
NATIONAL
ALSO at The Stand — Help USW call out Cooper Tire greed Feb. 25 in Puyallup
► At AFL-CIO Now — Workers in SoCal car washes win first contract — Says AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: “The headline should read: ‘Carwash workers make history in LA.’ The labor movement and Los Angeles community stand shoulder to shoulder with them and their brother and sister carwash workers across LA who are working to follow in their path.” (More coverage in today’s LA Times.)
► In today’s NY Times — Hershey’s packer is fined by OSHA for safety violations— After an investigation prompted by the protests of student workers on an international exchange program, the DOL issues fines of $283,000 for health and safety violations against a company that operates a plant in Pennsylvania packing Hershey’s chocolates, saying it had covered up serious injuries to workers.
TODAY’S MUST-READ
The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 9 a.m. These links are functional at the date of posting, but sometimes expire.