DAILY NEWS
McNerney and Eyman deja vu, TPP on drugs, TeachingCenter…
Thursday, July 30, 2015
BOEING
► From the Fiscal Times — Boeing’s largest union calls McNerney job threat ‘unacceptable’ — “This is one more example of how Jim McNerney operated during his years as Boeing’s CEO — threatening the livelihood of his employees and jeopardizing the communities they live in order to get what he wants. Enough is enough. It is time for him to go,” said Jon Holden, president of International Association of Machinists District 751.
► In the PSBJ — Small Washington state exporters ‘kneecapped’ by loss of Ex-Im Bank — At least 82 small businesses in Washington used Ex-Im loan guarantees to win export contracts in the last year, officials say.
► In today’s NY Times — Congress should reauthorize the Export-Import Bank (editorial) — Tea Party lawmakers have blocked legislation, leaving American exporters at a competitive disadvantage.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Apparently, you reap what you sow.
LOCAL
► In today’s Columbian — Oregon seeks solutions to shipping problems — The recent withdrawal of nearly all container shipping at the Port of Portland has forced businesses throughout Oregon to choose between paying more for exports or risk losing customers overseas. State officials are now asking what they can do to help.
STATE GOVERNMENT
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Washington State Labor Council opposes I-1366. As the No1366.org site puts it: “Democrats and Republicans alike agree that we need to be putting more money into education, not less. If Eyman’s I-1366 isn’t stopped, it will either blow a massive hole in the state budget beginning next April, or it will permanently prevent lawmakers from working together to fix our broken tax code, leaving our schools underfunded for years to come.”
► In today’s Seattle Times — Inslee slips in poll, but not much for GOP to cheer about either — Poll numbers released Wednesday show discontent with Gov. Jay Inslee’s leadership of the Legislature. But he still gets a better grade than state lawmakers, and there’s bad news in there for Republicans running for governor.
► In today’s (Everett) Herald — Keep pressure on Legislature (editorial) — We’re not ready to see the contempt order shelved or the threat of sanctions lifted. The court has never outlined what those sanctions might entail, although some have suggested it might want the Legislature called back to Olympia for a fourth special session to continue its work this year.
► In today’s Seattle Times — Pathetic voter turnout for the Aug. 4 primary (editorial) — Voter turnout for the Aug. 4 primary is woefully low. Voters should use the next few days to send in their ballots.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
► From AFL-CIO Now — It’s past time to stop revolving door between Wall Street, financial regulators — More than 900 former government officials—including 70 former members of Congress—have lobbied for the financial services sector. Frequently new public-service workers come directly from Wall Street in possessions of multimillion-dollar golden parachutes that were given to them because they were taking on decision-making roles in government.
► In today’s Washington Post — Harassment, hostile work environment are major complaints of congressional employees, report says — A new report indicates that congressional employees complain of harassment and hostile work environment far more than any other issue.
CAMPAIGN 2016
► From Huffington Post — Clinton, Sanders wooing organized labor, but don’t expect endorsement yet — Sanders’ recent surge in the polls has prompted talk that the AFL-CIO would delay a likely endorsement of Clinton, deemed the presumptive Democratic nominee, out of concern over her stance on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. But if history is any indication, no candidate should expect the labor federation’s endorsement unless he or she can all but lock up the party’s nomination first.
► In today’s Washington Post — Huckabee is only Republican to attend AFL-CIO endorsement meeting
► From Reuters — Harley an awkward ride for ‘union-busting’ Republican Walker — Walker has made the iconic American brand a centerpiece of his campaign kick-off tour this month, but there is another side to Harley that the Republican candidate has been less vocal about — it is a leading example of a successful company that has a strong relationship with labor unions.
NATIONAL
► From NPR — How dim sum cooks in California fought wage theft — and won — Minimum wages are moving up in parts of the country. While that’s celebrated, wage theft remains a big worry for many workers and labor advocates. It’s what makes the successful fight for lost wages at the Yank Sing restaurant in San Francisco a rare case — and one that shows just what it takes for low-wage workers, many of them immigrants, to speak up.
TODAY’S MUST-SEE
► From TPM — Key and Peele sketch raises important question: Why aren’t teachers paid more? — As states discuss education reforms such as merit pay for teachers and tying test scores to teacher evaluations, the issue of teacher salaries has become increasingly relevant…. Teacher salaries in general are 40 percent lower (at $36,141) than other professions that require college degrees
The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 10 a.m.