NEWS ROUNDUP
‘Scrap the cap,’ truth-challenged McKenna, R-Money, must-read blog…
SOCIAL SECURITY
► In the Federal Way Mirror — Social Security reform: Kucinich, coalition say ‘scrap the cap’ — An April 12 forum at Highline Community College promoted the lifting or outright removal of the cap on earnings taxed for Social Security. (People who make more $106,800 per year pay no Social Security taxes on that additional income.) Doing so, proponents say, will increase benefits and strengthen Social Security by trillions of dollars. Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich delivered a fiery pitch for Social Security reform at Thursday’s forum.
► Once more, with feeling…
BOEING
► In today’s Seattle Times — Boeing’s key Wichita supplier hit hard by tornado — Spirit AeroSystems, which supplies 737 fuselages and nose-and-cockpit sections for all widebody Boeing jets, suffered a “direct hit” from a powerful tornado that destroyed walls on the east side of the sprawling Wichita plant and ripped away large sections of roof. No one at the plant was injured, but the company has suspended operations at least until Wednesday.
STATE GOVERNMENT
► In today’s Seattle Times — McKenna misstates rise in health care costs — Citing an old report from a right-wing blog, gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna says state spending on health care for employees rose 10.5% in the most recent year. That’s not true. Costs of the program rose 1.2% in fiscal year 2011, and this year they’re expected to increase by less than 1%.
► In today’s Seattle Times — Some Washington state liquor workers are already leaving jobs — That early exodus could force some state stores to close ahead of schedule, as the Washington State Liquor Control Board struggles to find enough temporary workers to keep all of its 166 locations open.
► In today’s Spokesman-Review — State should stay on task in reviewing tax breaks (editorial) — Washington can be proud of its process. How fruitful those labors will be going forward rides on legislator willingness to address past mistakes, or myopia, by rallying to a two-thirds majority, a hurdle not envisioned when tax preference review was enacted just six years ago.
NATIONAL
ALSO today at The Stand — Colombia trade pact ‘puts commercial interests over workers’
► In The Hill — Business, labor groups gird for union election rule — A joint resolution for congressional disapproval would block the regulation aimed at speeding up the union election process. A Senate Republican leadership aide says a vote on the measure was expected sometime over the next two weeks.
► In The Hill — Judge rules against NLRB poster rule — A federal judge ruled Friday that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) exceeded its authority when it required employers to post notices explaining workers’ rights to form a union.
► From AP — Twinkies maker Hostess gives unions ‘final offer’— The company wants the Teamsters and bakers’ unions to accept reduced pension benefits and changes in work rules to lower costs. It wants to outsource some delivery work. If the unions reject the offer, the company threatens to push ahead with efforts in bankruptcy court to throw out the unions’ contracts, which could lead to a strike.
► At Politico — Labor tensions mark Wisconsin recall— Yet with less than two months until Election Day, the recall has turned into something more than just a war on Gov. Scott Walker. It’s a debate within the Democratic coalition over exactly what the party’s message is going to be and how central a role labor issues ought to play.
► In today’s NY Times — Keeping a promise to home care aides (editorial) — President Obama must ensure that new rules about minimum wages and overtime pay are not watered down.
R-MONEY
Remember: The tax return is a blueprint for how to earn and spend money. It encourages us to do some things and discourages us from doing others. So, taking my cue from the social engineers who’ve manipulated the code, I’m looking to follow Romney’s example next year: work less, stash money overseas, certainly don’t pay for junior year in college. And, of course, complain about my burden.
► At Salon.com — Romney mum on labor leaks — The GOP candidate has not fired an adviser who allegedly received leaked docs from a member of the NLRB.
► At Politico — Romney: Mothers on welfare needs jobs to have ‘the dignity of work’ — Mitt Romney and his campaign have been on the offensive for days, attacking Democrats for not respecting motherhood as work. But the attacks don’t gibe with comments Romney made just three months ago on the campaign trail.
TODAY’S MUST-READ
EDITOR’S NOTE — This posting at a Washington firefighter’s new blog is actually the third in a series. It’s a must-read for people interested in legislative issues and the concerns of public safety and other state employees. Check it out at LEOFF-member.com.
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.