DAILY NEWS
DelBene and Heck, city budget axes fall, job truthers…
Monday, October 8, 2012
STATE ELECTIONS
► In the Olympian — Heck is the clear choice in the 10th (editorial) — Denny Heck best represents the moderate-to-progressive views of Thurston County voters, advocating for a balanced approach of cuts and revenue increases to the budget and focusing on housing and job creation as the keys to economic recovery. On every account, Heck offers voters a more thoughtful, independent choice than his opponent.
► In the Seattle Times — GOP ad uses outdated Inslee proposal — A Republican Governors Association ad accuses gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee of proposing to invest state pension money in startup companies, but Inslee dropped the idea long ago. The ad is mostly false.
► In the Olympian — McKenna, Inslee outline plans to bring efficiency to government — Finding $5 million or $10 million more for training managers and workers to implement “Lean” efficiency improvements won’t be easy. Thus far, both candidates are hedging on how many taxpayer dollars they might invest in the effort. But both say they would look for ways to commit resources to the efforts, knowing there will be savings later.
► In today’s Seattle Times — Should restrictions be lifted on UW, WSU investments? — Voters this fall will be asked to consider a constitutional amendment that would allow the state’s two research universities to invest a portion of their reserve funds in private companies or stocks.
LOCAL
► In the Spokesman-Review — Spokane mayor hands out layoff notices — Last month, the city announced that about 100 jobs would be eliminated in the city’s 2013 budget as part of Mayor David Condon’s 2013 budget plan, which he will present to the City Council on Monday. Most the positions are vacant, but about 35 are filled. A city spokeswoman said she expects about 20 to 30 more layoff notices to be given in coming weeks.
► From AP — Longshoremen plan river protest if lockout occurs — Longshoremen plan to take to the water if northwest grain terminal owners decide to lock them out of their jobs, a U.S. Coast Guard official says.
► In the Daily News — Construction worker presumed dead after falling from Lewis & Clark Bridge — A contract worker is missing and presumed drowned after falling 200 feet from the bridge into the Columbia River on Sunday morning.
► In today’s Tri-City Herald — Union job is to protect employees and their jobs (by Fred Rumsey of the Hanford Atomic MTC) — Where are our priorities as a nation, when we’re willing to take a stand over the outcome of a football game but remain silent over the onslaught on our workers? Misplaced, that’s where.
NATIONAL
► In today’s NY Times — With Biden up next to debate, Obama’s aides plan comeback — The focus on Biden comes as the campaign tries to diagnose what went wrong in Denver and what to do about it. Advisers had seen two presidents during practice debates, one who had been listless and passive two nights before and another energetic and aggressive the next night. It turned out the former was the one who showed up in Denver.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
► Saturday, Nov. 3 on the National Mall in Washington, DC — The Million Muppet March
TODAY’S MUST-READ
The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 9 a.m.