DAILY NEWS
Props for Schultz, 777X decision, Hanford deal, union cars…
Monday, September 30, 2013
TODAY’S MUST-READ
Take the big grocery-store chains — QFC, Safeway and so on. They have proposed dropping health coverage for part-time employees around here, which may end up touching off a strike. It’s Obamacare, they insist. But is it? No. … Obamacare is complex and confusing and so provides a convenient opportunity — an excuse — for companies to slash medical benefits and then blame the federal government. It could be they’re doing it because this is their big chance to shift more costs to the workers. And then, when some of those workers need subsidies, to further shift the costs to the taxpayers.
EDITOR’S NOTE — I agree that Schultz deserves kudos for speaking this truth. He’s got it right in the case. However, he’s got it wrong when it comes to interfering with his employees’ freedom to choose — without employer intimidation or harassment — whether they want a union or not. And then there’s the whole Sonics thing.
AEROSPACE
STATE GOVERNMENT
► In today’s Spokesman-Review — Senate tour lets public share transportation priorities — Completing the North Spokane Corridor from Francis Avenue to Interstate 90 remains a top priority for local elected leaders seeking state funding for the project. On Wednesday, two state senators will bring a statewide transportation listening tour to Spokane Valley to hear what improvements residents want, and elected officials said that includes the new freeway’s completion. The forum will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Central Valley High School theater, 821 S. Sullivan Road.
ALSO at The Stand — Citizens to state legislators: Keep Washington rolling!
► In the P.S. Business Journal — How L&I is rebuilding workers’ comp reserves, and why (by L&I Director Joel Sacks) — During the Great Recession, L&I used reserves to hold down rates. It was the smart thing to do to help struggling businesses. Now the smart thing to do is to rebuild those reserves, with moderate rate increases benchmarked against inflation and continued efforts to reduce costs and improve results.
ALSO at The Stand — L&I proposes modest 2.7% workers’ comp rate increase
LOCAL
► In today’s Bellingham Herald — BTC unions ratify contracts; strike officially over — Bellingham Technical College will hold its first day of classes Monday, Sept. 30, after two unions that represent the faculty and the college’s classified, clerical, technical, instructional and retail support staff ratified contract agreements late Sunday, Sept. 29. The board of trustees will hold a special meeting Monday to approve the agreements.
ALSO TODAY at The Stand — BTC instructors ratify contract, end strike
► In Sunday’s Seattle Times — Port of Seattle deserves more from region (editorial) — Seattle’s port brings good jobs: 21,695 directly and more indirectly. That the city takes an interest in technology companies is good. They are Seattle’s future — part of it. The city also has an industrial and maritime future, and the people should not forget that.
DOMESTIC TERRORISM
► In today’s Washington Post — D.C. braces for first government shutdown of national government in 17 years — The U.S. government was bracing on Monday for its first shutdown in nearly two decades, with frustrated and weary lawmakers expected to gather at the U.S. Capitol with little hope of finding a compromise that would keep the government in operation past midnight.
► From AP — How budget showdowns could squeeze U.S. economy — Unless Congress acts before Tuesday to fund federal spending, some of the government would shut down. Separately, the government will run out of money to pay its bills by late October unless Congress raises the federal borrowing cap. A 2011 fight over the borrowing cap rattled consumers, businesses and investors and likely slowed growth.
► In today’s Columbian — Clark County federal workers brace for possibility of government shutdown — The looming shutdown is inconveniencing agencies in Clark County and the state. As officials who oversee health programs, social services and parks brace for the impact, many say the negative effects on their agencies would depend upon how long a shutdown lasts. The same holds true for the economy.
► In The Hill — Speaker Boehner on the cliff edge — By embracing the Tea Party’s strategy aimed at thwarting ObamaCare, Boehner (R-Ohio) is betting he can win the public relations battle against President Obama’s bully pulpit. It is a huge gamble; the political fallout from it could be felt for years to come.
► At TPM — Republican senator denounces House GOP’s Obamacare strategy — Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) spoke out Sunday against her GOP colleagues in the House for threatening to force a government shutdown in an effort to defund or delay the Affordable Care Act.
► In today’s NY Times — The House rushes to a shutdown (editorial) — Scorning the impending deadline, Republicans piled high their ideological demands.
► In today’s NY Times — Rebels without a clue (by Paul Krugman) — A U.S. government default, which will happen unless Congress raises the debt ceiling soon, might cause financial catastrophe. Unfortunately, many Republicans either don’t understand this or don’t care.
► At AFL-CIO Now — The latest government crisis: Obama’s ‘make my day’ moment (by Damon Silvers) — There will be great pressure on the president from Wall Street and Washington insider types to cave in yet again. But working people have to stand with the president. The stakes could not be higher. The very idea of a working government, one that does the peoples’ business, is at stake. Clearly, there is no end to the destruction the radical elements of the Republican party will do if they get away yet again with holding our nation hostage in this way.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
► In today’s News Tribune — State health exchange CEO: Prices may surprise — Washington’s health-insurance exchange opens for business Tuesday, offering a new way for individuals to buy coverage from private companies.
► At Politico — Poll: Most will get health insurance — Asked whether they plan to get insurance when the requirement takes effect or pay the fine for not doing so, 65% of uninsured Americans said they would get health insurance, while 25% said they would pay the fine.
► In the (Longview) Daily News — St. John preparing for more patients with health care — St. John Medical Center is bulking up its primary care staff to prepare for the increase of newly insured patients taking advantage of health care coverage they’ll purchase under the ACA. By June, the hospital plans to add eight people to its staff of 24 primary care clinicians.
NATIONAL
► In today’s NY Times — A wave of sewing jobs as orders pile up at U.S. factories — Factories are finding that years of doing business overseas has withered what once was a thriving textile and apparel work force in the United States.
► At Politico — Sneaker maker wants Congress to Buy American — New Balance is leading a charge to force the military to buy U.S.-made running shoes for recruits, meeting with members of Congress and the Obama administration to press its case.
The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 10 a.m.