Monday, August 20, 2012

LOCAL

► In the Columbian — Obama: ‘We can’t wait’ on Columbia River Crossing — President Barack Obama announced Saturday that the Columbia River Crossing will be one of several transportation projects to be expedited by his “We Can’t Wait” initiative. The governors said the designation is aimed at speeding up the $3.5 billion project, which would replace the aging I-5 Bridge spans, extend Portland’s light rail system into Vancouver and rebuild several interchanges and miles of freeway north and south of the Columbia River.

► In the News Tribune — If Congress doesn’t act, Washington faces defense layoffs— Washington state, with its dense concentration of military-related industries, could lose at least 41,000 jobs, according to a July study by Stephen Fuller of George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis.

► From AP — Banner year for state apple crop — Washington apple growers are expecting a bumper crop this year as workers begin harvesting the fruit from trees around the state.

BOEING

► In the PS Business Journal — Boeing CEO paid more than company paid in taxes — Boeing CEO James McNerney Jr. received $18.4 million in pay last year, which was more than Boeing paid in federal taxes, according to a new report by the Institute for Policy Studies. The report also found that 25 other of America’s highest-paid CEOs received more in compensation last year than their companies paid in federal taxes.

► In the PS Business Journal — Mighty 737 has rivals on its tail — and not just Airbus — Reasons for Boeing’s struggles in the 100- to 149-passenger range include airlines “upsizing” to larger versions and rising competitive pressure from other aircraft builders, especially Bombardier of Canada.

ELECTION

► In the News Tribune — State PTA won’t back charter schools — The Washington State PTA says it won’t support the charter school measure, Initiative 1240, that will come before voters in November. PTA’s governing board criticized I-1240 for what it characterizes as a lack of citizen involvement and oversight in charter schools that could result if the initiative passes.

► In the Spokesman-Review — Rep. Shea’s picture backed by GOP — The chairman of the Spokane County Republican Party is standing behind state Rep. Matt Shea’s decision to post a picture of himself on the Internet standing on his Democratic challenger’s property despite public outcry that cuts across partisan lines.

STATE GOVERNMENT

► In Sunday’s Columbian — State officials seek to greatly expand Medicaid — The outlook for Washington’s medically uninsured population may be a bit rosier by 2014, particularly for the more than 300,000 low-income people who may find themselves eligible for the state’s Medicaid rolls. But the desired expansion comes with a hefty price tag for the federal government, potential risk for the state and new concern for health care providers already stretched to care for current Medicaid patients.

NATIONAL

► At AFL-CIO Now — Here’s to the future of the labor movement —  A group of next generation labor leaders, including union members who also are involved in the AFL-CIO’s NextUp young worker program, are receiving hands-on training on organizing, leading and building teams, communications strategies and other skills needed to be involved in their union and encourage other young workers to be more active.

► At AFL-CIO Now — Trumka statement on passing of Utah AFL-CIO’s Jim Judd — The AFL-CIO president says Judd’s “passion and commitment will live on through his work and the countless people he helped.”

► At AFL-CIO Now — Striking Caterpillar workers ratify 6-year contract — Striking workers at a Caterpillar hydraulic parts factory in Joliet, Ill., voted Friday to ratify a proposed six-year contract, ending a nearly 16-week strike.

► In today’s NY Times — Caterpillar workers ratify deal they dislike — The workers voted to ratify a proposed six-year contract that contained almost all of the concessions the company had demanded.

ROMNEY-RYAN

► In the Guardian Express — Romney may have been involved in illegal campaign to suppress union — Key Airlines, an early investment for the private equity firm Bain Capital founded by a young Mitt Romney and two associates, broke the law by attempting to coerce and then dismiss two pilots who tried to organize a union. Two months after a union vote failed, Bain agreed to sell Key Airlines at a large profit. “The anti-union activities in this case are not merely unfair labor practices as Key argues, but blatant, grievous, willful, deliberate and repeated violations of the Railway Labor Act,” Roger Foley, federal judge for the District of Nevada, wrote in 1992, in a case brought by two Key pilots.

► In the Olympian — Romney must settle tax-return issue(editorial) — The request for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney to release his tax returns is not “small-minded.” It’s a test of whether Romney believes he plays by a different set of rules than other people, and whether American voters will give him their trust.

► In today’s NY Times — An unserious man (by Paul Krugman) — Ryanomics is and always has been a con game, although to be fair, it has become even more of a con since Ryan joined the Romney ticket.

The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 9 a.m.