DAILY NEWS
Hostage released, bustling Boeing, Issa 2, derivative America…
Friday, June 14, 2013
STATE GOVERNMENT
EDITOR’S NOTE — Sources tell The Stand that the Senate initially insisted on the House passing its workers’ compensation “reform” bill before it would fix the estate-tax loophole, but the House held strong in its opposition. Ultimately, they agreed to make the MTCA changes rather than take $160 million out of the Education Legacy Trust Fund and give it to some of Washington’s wealthiest people.
► At Slog, how yesterday’s drama played out — House, Senate agree on compromise estate tax fix, but Senate refuses to put it to a vote — “They decided not to decouple the estate tax from the broader politics,” explained (Rep. Reuven) Carlyle. In other words, although Republican leadership has fully agreed to the estate tax compromise, they are refusing to give it a vote unless Democrats cave on the GOP’s non-budget related policy wish list.
► In today’s (Everett) Herald — Inslee won’t attend Paris Air Show, Larsen to stand in — With a shutdown of state government looming, Gov. Jay Inslee announced today he won’t be traveling to Paris next week to hawk Washington’s aerospace industry. At Inslee’s request, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) will lead the state’s contingent.
► In today’s News Tribune — Despite hopes of Senate majority, this isn’t 2003 (by Peter Callaghan) — In 2003, a narrow Senate majority controlled by Republicans ran the show in Olympia despite a Democratic governor and a House run by Democratic Speaker Frank Chopp. Reliving that decade-ago glory seems to be driving their strategy this year… A government shutdown is again looming, with great political risks for all involved. If that’s to be avoided, members of the Majority Coalition Caucus will need to acknowledge that 2013 is not 2003.
TODAY’S MUST-READ
LOCAL
► In today’s Olympian — New Evergreen College union ratifies contract — Members of a new labor union at The Evergreen State College ratified their first contract Thursday on a 52-2 vote, according to the Washington Federation of State Employees. The federation is the umbrella organization for the more than 55-member Evergreen Student Support Services Staff Union, which went on strike for one day last month after failing to strike a deal after 17 months.
ALSO at The Stand — WFSE unit ratifies contract with Evergreen State College (June 14)
► In the PS Business Journal — Horizon Air, flight attendants reach tentative contract deal — The airline, a unit of Seattle-based Alaska Air Group Inc., said it’s reached a tentative five-year contract deal with its 500 flight attendants (AFA) that “includes pay raises, quality of life improvements and more flexible scheduling.”
► At Its Our Airport — State fines Alaska Airlines, contractors for workers’ toxic exposures — The state Department of Labor and Industries has issued new citations for multiple serious health and safety violations against Alaska Airlines and two of its contractors for failing to protect workers from exposure to corrosive cleaning chemicals, caustic jet fuel, blood borne pathogens, and body fluids including vomit, urine, feces and blood.
► In today’s Spokesman-Review — Low wages may be good for business, but who else? (by Shawn Vestal) — Occasionally, we hear from the business community about the wonders of the business climate in Idaho. Usually, though, those praising the Gem State’s business-friendliness don’t point out that one of the reasons is this: Employees are paid less — and in some cases a lot less — than most employees elsewhere.
CONGRESS
► At Politico — On immigration, hurry up and wait — The Senate finished its first week of debate Thursday on a massive immigration reform bill — with almost nothing to show for it. Senators delivered hours of speeches and filed dozens of amendments. But they never figured out a way to begin casting votes on all of those proposed changes.
EDITOR’S NOTE — The National Association of Letter Carriers says Issa’s new proposal “has a number of major problems.”
► In The Hill — GOP labor bills limit ‘micro unions,’ require secret ballots — Legislation introduced in the House and Senate on Thursday would cut back on the ability of unions to form among smaller groups of workers and require that workers use a secret ballot when voting to organize.
EDITOR’S NOTE — To be clear, which this story is not, the latter bill would prevent employers from voluntarily recognizing a union when a majority of their employees sign cards indicating they want one.
NATIONAL
► In today’s Washington Post — NSA revelations, modified wheat cast a pall on U.S. trade talks with Europe — Chances for a broad trade deal between the United States and the European Union are fading following recent revelations about U.S. electronic surveillance programs, oversight of genetically modified food and other issues, according to officials and analysts.
► In today’s NY Times — Sympathy for the Luddites — Today, a much darker picture of the effects of technology on labor is emerging. In this picture, highly educated workers are as likely as less educated workers to find themselves displaced and devalued, and pushing for more education may create as many problems as it solves.
T.G.I.F.
► This day in 1975, America hit No. 1 with “Sister Golden Hair.” Songwriter Gerry Beckley admitted the opening guitar riff was “inspired” by George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord,” a 1970 song the former Beatle was found in court to have “subconsciously” plagiarized from the 1963 hit, “He’s So Fine” by The Chiffons. At press time, The Entire Staff of The Stand could find no evidence that America ever paid The Chiffons.
The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 10 a.m.