Thursday, June 9, 2016

STATE GOVERNMENT

► In today’s Spokesman-Review — Inslee approves Spokane Tribe’s West Plains casino project — Ten years after it first asked to build a casino on its tribal lands in the West Plains, the Spokane Tribe won final approval from Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to build a $400 million gaming and retail development. The Spokane Tribe Economic Project’s (STEP) proponents point to the $400 million expected to be spent to build the project over 10 years, the 5,000 jobs it will create and the $66 million annual payroll as reasons enough to support it.

ALSO at The Stand — If Inslee concurs, STEP project will be Hard Rock Spokane (July 1, 2015)

► In today’s Seattle Times — Washington’s school superintendent says it’s time to consider closing public schools — Randy Dorn says it could be time to close Washington state’s K-12 public schools. You wouldn’t expect the state superintendent of public instruction to say that. But he is serious about seeking ways to enforce the state Supreme Court’s 2012 ruling that demands education funding.

► In today’s Seattle Times — State’s aerospace tax breaks went to nearly 290 companies, large and small — The state’s aerospace tax breaks cut the tax bills of local aerospace companies over the past two years by $553 million, according to data released by the Department of Revenue. While Boeing received the lion’s share of that tax relief — 93 percent — an additional 286 companies in the state benefited in smaller ways.

► In today’s (Everett) Herald — Lovick picked for legislative seat, but appointment process draws fire — Everything was going to script until almost the end on the day the Snohomish County Council appointed John Lovick to a vacant seat in the state House of Representatives.

EDITOR’S NOTE — John Lovick has earned the Washington State Labor Council’s endorsement to retain the seat in this fall’s election.

LOCAL

► In today’s Seattle Times — Northshore teachers vote to prepare for strike if contract negotiations collapse — Northshore Education Association, which represents 1,800 members, and the Northshore School District started negotiations last year. Contract issues include school safety, staffing, class sizes and salaries. On Wednesday, the union voted to “prepare for a strike if necessary” if the union and school district fail to reach a contract agreement before it expires in August.

► In today’s Tri-City Herald — Richland getting $200M french fry plant — ConAgra Foods Inc. announced Wednesday it is investing $200 million to build a second french fry processing line at its Lamb Weston manufacturing campus in Richland. When it opens in fall 2017, the second french fry line will employ an additional 128 people.

► In today’s Columbian — Columbian announces it’s laying off staff — The newspaper’s plan is to reduce expenses, including payroll, by approximately 10 percent. The cuts will be shared across all of the company’s departments.

ELECTION 2016

► From The Hill — Obama seeks to broker peace between Clinton and Sanders — The president’s Sunday phone call to Sanders is just one example of Obama’s efforts to exert influence in the Democratic primary.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

► In today’s NY Times — The Senate’s confirmation shutdown (editorial) — The Republicans’ blockade of Judge Garland is shameful, but it is only the most glaring example of what has been a historic slowdown in filling federal court vacancies across the country. This has been enormously damaging to the district courts, which deal with hundreds of thousands of cases annually, and where backlogs drag out lawsuits and delay justice. It also harms the appeals courts, whose rulings are the final word in nearly all litigation, since the Supreme Court hears only about 75 cases a year.

► From AP — Obama vetoes legislation to thwart financial adviser rule — The president has vetoed Republican legislation designed to nullify Obama administration rules that will require financial professionals to put their client’s best interest first when giving advice on retirement investments.

► From The Hill — Ryan changes rules for spending bills — House GOP leaders on Wednesday announced that they will begin restricting contentious amendments on spending bills, a move that critics say violates the party’s commitment to regular order.

► In today’s NY Times — Senate Democrats to release a policy agenda — The Democrats’ package will include Senate bills — likely to never see the light of day on the floor under Republican control — that would hit campaign contributions, lobbying laws and other accountability issues.

TODAY’S MUST-SEE

► From AFL-CIO Now — ‘We will not sit on the sidelines:’ John Legend’s proposal for ending mass incarceration (by John Legend) — I was fortunate to grow up in a union household. I know how important they are for families and communities. I know the power unions have to organize politically on behalf of important causes. That’s why it’s so significant that the AFL-CIO, one of the largest unions in the country, has partnered with my organization #FREEAMERICA to end the harmful, immoral and unjust cycle of mass incarceration in the United States.

Check out this video from Legend’s visit in April to the Washington Corrections Center for Women at Purdy:

ALSO at The Stand:

Mass employment, not mass incarceration (by Jeff Johnson)

Heather’s journey: From Purdy to punking iron to foreperson

The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 10 a.m.