DAILY NEWS
IAM’s 777X offer, SeaTac Prop 1 tossing, federal budget, Feat don’t fail us…
Thursday, December 12, 2013
BOEING
► In today’s Seattle Times — Machinists make offer to Boeing for 777X; quick reply expected — With negotiations moving so fast, a person on the union side with knowledge of the discussions said that, if the talks are successful, a new vote on a contract extension could be held before Christmas.
MORE coverage in The (Everett) Herald and the P.S. Business Journal.
► In today’s Seattle Times — Boeing beats Airbus for big Air Canada order — Boeing ousted Airbus as Air Canada’s primary supplier of narrow-body jets, winning an big order for the 737 MAX model as they vie for supremacy in the biggest segment of the aircraft market. The 61 planes have a list price of $6.5 billion, but estimates of actual prices paid after discounts put the total closer to $3.2 billion.
LOCAL
TAKE A STAND! — Join workers and community allies for a rally Friday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. at King County Regional Justice Center, 401 4th Ave. N. in Kent, before the court hearing in Alaska Airlines’ suit against SeaTac Prop 1. Let’s send a message to the corporations and their attorneys: It’s time to drop the lawsuit and work with us to implement SeaTac’s new law fairly.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
EDITOR’S NOTE — Washington!
STATE GOVERNMENT
► In today’s Columbian — Local lawmakers leery of transportation plan — Several state legislators from Clark County remain apprehensive about supporting a transportation plan that would raise gas taxes but include little in projects for Southwest Washington, they told business and community leaders Wednesday morning.
► In today’s (Everett) Herald — Everett’s Robinson likely to become newest member of state House — June Robinson emerged Tuesday night as the party’s top choice to fill the 38th Legislative District seat John McCoy vacated when he moved to the Senate.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
► In The Hill — House to vote on budget deal — The House is expected to vote Thursday on a two-year deal that would represent the first bipartisan budget compromise of the new divided-government era. GOP leaders expect their measure will pass, despite complaints from House Democrats that it includes a fix to prevent a cut in doctor payments but does not extend federal unemployment benefits set to expire this month.
ALSO at The Stand — Deal provides ‘temporary relief,’ but deserts jobless — Budget reaction from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and WSLC President Jeff Johnson.
► From the Ways & Means Committee Democrats — 174 House Democrats to Boehner: Do not adjourn without extending unemployment insurance — House Democrats signed a letter to Speaker Boehner urging not to adjourn the House for the year without bringing up an extension of federal unemployment insurance, which is scheduled to expire Dec. 28, immediately cutting of all jobless aid to 1.3 million Americans.
EDITOR’S NOTE — The letter was signed by all Democrats from Washington’s delegation except for Rep. Adam Smith.
► In today’s NY Times — Bipartisan budget deal puts Ryan under fire from fellow conservatives — For the first time, the conservative wunderkind and former vice-presidential nominee is taking withering fire from movement conservatives who see the deal as a betrayal by a former ally.
► In today’s NY Times — The minimalist budget deal (editorial) — For most of this year, the brutal cuts to federal spending known as the sequester have wreaked havoc on important programs, cutting off hundreds of thousands from Head Start and low-income housing assistance, setting back scientific research and environmental protection, and costing more than a million jobs. Getting rid of the sequester for domestic programs was a high priority for Congressional Democrats, and they achieved much of what they wanted in a budget deal reached on Tuesday that in other important respects was disappointing.
NATIONAL
► At In These Times — Are young workers the future of labor? — Nearly two-thirds of 18–29-year-olds have a favorable impression of unions, more than any other age bracket. The time is ripe for labor leaders to bring the next generation into the fold. To discuss what’s next in efforts to recruit young members, In These Times spoke with some young rising stars in the labor movement.
T.G.I.T.
► Since we are taking Friday off, today the Entire Staff of The Stand™ presents a favorite band from our youth, Little Feat. In this gem, the late great Lowell George is joined by a pair of young backup singers named Emilylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt. It was 1977, the same year the band recorded what might be our favorite live album of all time, Waiting for Columbus. Enjoy!
The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 10 a.m.