Tuesday, October 25, 2016

STATE ELECTIONS

► In today’s Seattle Times — Jayapal has backing of progressives, youth, unions in 7th District House race — Best known locally for her part in the push for a $15 minimum wage in Seattle and for starting One America, Jayapal moved to the U.S. for college in 1982. She became an American citizen in 2000… Some of her most vigorous backers are in the labor movement. “She’s one of us — I hear this over and over from different labor leaders,” said Nicole Grant, executive secretary of the Martin Luther King Jr. County Labor Council.

EDITOR’S NOTE — Pramila Jayapal has earned the endorsement of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. See the rest of the WSLC endorsements.

► From The Stranger — Supporters rally around Pramila Jayapal in wake of opponent’s ‘attack’ ads — An event was organized in response to Jayapal’s opponent, state Rep. Brady Walkinshaw, going negative on her through a TV “attack” ad and an accompanying web site.

► In today’s Seattle Times — Voter alert: In 3 Washington counties, one stamp is not enough to return your ballot — Snohomish, Whatcom and some Douglas County voters will be paying a little extra in postage to vote this year because of extra-long ballots. Ballots, however, can be returned for free if you use a county drop box.

EDITOR’S NOTE — Pssst. Shhhh! As the story notes at the very end, the Post Office will deliver your ballot even if you didn’t put enough postage on it. The County Auditors don’t like to publicize that because they have to pay for the postage and the Legislature has appropriated no money for that. Hey, Legislature! Ballots should be POSTAGE PAID! Forcing people to pay for postage to vote is a hindrance to voting, however minor. Fix it. Sincerely, The Entire Staff of The Stand.

► In the South Seattle Emerald — Vote for an Opportunity Economy (by Marilyn Watkins) — Our votes up and down the ballot will help shape our state and nation for decades into the future. Among the many important issues and candidates, Initiative 1433 and the Sound Transit measure allow us to directly boost economic opportunity and vitality in our communities.

► From AP — Initiative 1501 subplot: Fight between union, conservative group — The measure would stiffen penalties for identify theft and consumer fraud against seniors or disabled citizens. Opponents at the Freedom Foundation say the real purpose is for SEIU 775 to protect its members’ private information.

► In today’s News Tribune — In a first, President Obama endorses 3 Democrats in Washington state legislative races — The races that the president is throwing his weight behind are tight contests in swing districts that could decide control of the state Legislature. Receiving Obama’s endorsement this week were Lisa Wellman, a Democratic candidate challenging Republican state Sen. Steve Litzow of Mercer Island; Mike Pellicciotti, a Democrat challenging Republican Rep. Linda Kochmar of Federal Way; and Kristine Reeves, a Democrat challenging Republican state Rep. Teri Hickel of Federal Way.

► In today’s Spokesman-Review — Elway Poll: Advantage Clinton, Inslee, most Dems — The Elway Poll’s latest survey of Washington voters suggests Democrats could do well in the state on Nov. 8. Very well… In most statewide races, Democrats have a slight edge, although the lieutenant governor’s race is a dead heat and Republican Kim Wyman has a 4 point lead over Democrat Tina Podlodowski in the secretary of state race.

EDITOR’S NOTE — The WSLC’s endorsed candidates include Cyrus Habib for lieutenant governor and Tina Podlodowski for secretary of state. See the rest of the WSLC endorsements.

LOCAL

► From PRI — The people who pick your berries in Washington will now be represented by a union — Some of the happiest people in America right now can be found on the new Driscoll’s berries website. Bright smiles and dappled sunlight in a series of photos and videos make a convincing case that Driscoll’s means it when it says, “We’re serious about happiness.” This new “joy-filled approach” is the gist of an estimated multi-million dollar company rebranding unveiled in September. The rebranding was released amidst tense labor disputes from Washington state to Baja, Mexico. In Washington, a conflict between Driscoll’s supplier Sakuma Brothers berry farm and their workers reached a climax this summer in the form of protests, consumer boycotts, work stoppages and, eventually, an historic resolution.

ALSO at The Stand — Sakuma farmworkers vote to join Familias! (by Jeff Johnson)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS — Celebrate the historic union election win with Familias Unidas por la Justicia at a free reception and dinner served (although donations will be accepted) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 at the WSLC office, 321 16th Ave. South in Seattle. Get details.

► In the News Tribune — Pierce Transit looks to ride-hailing companies such as Uber, Lyft to fill service gaps — The Federal Transit Administration recently awarded Pierce Transit more than $205,000 for a yearlong pilot program that will “coordinate on-demand rides within certain areas through the use of app-based technology,” Pierce Transit said in a news release.

NATIONAL ELECTIONS

► In today’s NY Times — Voter ID laws are struck down, but hurdles remain — Contrasting laws and rulings leave election officials and voters confused, and some court remedies fall well short of restoring previous access to the voting booth.

► In today’s Washington Post — The lap dogs of democracy who didn’t bark at Trump (by Dana Milbank) — In general, media watchdogs until recently were outnumbered in this election by those who cover politics as horse race, praising the maneuvers of whichever candidate is ahead in the polls. This avowedly neutral approach — process journalism — is apolitical. But it’s also amoral — a he-said-she-said approach that in this case confused tactics for truth and what works for what’s right.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

► In today’s NY Times — Some health plan costs will rise sharply, U.S. says — Premiums for midlevel health plans under the Affordable Care Act will increase by an average of 25 percent next year, while consumers in some states will find significantly fewer insurance companies offering coverage, the federal government said Monday. But the Obama administration said three-fourths of consumers would still be able to find plans for less than $100 a month with the help of federal subsidies.

NATIONAL

► In today’s Boston Globe — Harvard, striking dining hall workers make deal — Harvard University announced in the early morning hours Tuesday it has reached a tentative agreement with its dining hall workers who have been on strike for nearly three weeks.

► In today’s LA Times — As SAG-AFTRA strikes, video game companies hit back — Close to 350 actors took their grievances to Electronic Arts in Playa Vista on Monday, marching and chanting for more pay and better working conditions for performers who do voice-over and motion-capture work on blockbuster video game titles.

TODAY’S MUST-READ

► We never thought we’d link to Dan Savage’s Savage Love column at The Stand, but then we read — The Trump Talk — A reader’s suggestion — that parents call the conversation they need to have with their daughters about predatory and entitled men the “Trump Talk” — is not trivial and it’s not snarky. It has gravitas, and here’s hoping “Trump Talk” isn’t just widely adopted, but universally practiced. Because no little girl who gets groped on a bus or in a grocery store or on a subway or in a classroom should ever have to wonder if she did something wrong.

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