I-912 and Misplaced Anger:  ■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Oil profits hit record -- Exxon and Shell post their highest quarterly profits ever. Exxon profits soar 75% as it posts the highest revenue in U.S. corporate history, raking in more than $1 billion dollars a day, $45 million an hour, or almost $340 for every living American. But they say it's no big deal.
■  From AP --  Record oil profits draw fire; Bush opposes windfall tax 
■  At AFLCIO.org -- Probe gas price gouging -- The time for doubletalk is over. Congress should get its priorities straight and act immediately to investigate price gouging by oil companies, says the AFL-CIO.
■  In today's King Co. Journal -- Stop whining about pennies (I-912 letter) -- I'm tired of wasting gas and money sitting in traffic. I want roads built, widened, bridges repaired, etc. 9.5 cents? That's so little. It is time to stop whining about the pennies, and get going on our transportation system.
■  In today's Kitsap Sun -- We must take action on transportation woes (column) -- I-912 should be stated this way: "Should we do something -- or nothing -- about transportation in this state?"
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Daily "No on I-912:" Clearing the air (editorial) -- The sometimes-fractious environmental community is thoughtfully united in saying no to I-912.... with good reason.

Other election news:  ■  In the Columbian -- I-330 foes: Malpractice cap will hurt elderly -- The Alliance for Retired Americans says I-330 is unfair to older Washington residents: "I-330 takes fundamental rights from seniors and patients and gives unjustifiable power to the insurance industry, as well as hospitals, HMOs, nursing homes and medical providers."
■  Today from AP -- Spokane poll shows 62% say they'll vote to recall mayor 

Boeing news:  ■  In today's Seattle P-I -- With IAM strike over, Boeing meets with engineers -- "The key to making (Boeing's) transition is a work force believing that the changes that are being made actually benefit them as well, so that they will be fully engaged and support boldly moving into the future," says SPEEA's Bofferding.
■  In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing expects record sales -- The company expects jet sales that will put it ahead of Airbus for the first time in five years.

Local news:  ■  In today's News Tribune -- Child care workers vote on whether to join union (SEIU 925)
■  In the Olympian -- Harbor will rebound from mill closures (editorial) -- To her credit, Gov. Gregoire recognizes the Weyerhaeuser closures for what they are -- a man-made disaster for Cosmopolis and the surrounding communities. "We will use every available state and federal resource to help workers transition to a new job," Gregoire vowed.
■  In the Daily News -- Modern mills need educated employees (editorial) -- As welcome as Weyerhaeuser's investment in its Longview mill is, the plight of the struggling communities in Grays Harbor offers a sobering perspective on the outlook for manufacturing jobs in this area.
■  In today's News Tribune -- State grant will help industry skills panel -- Public-private partnerships will share $670,000 in grant money to establish skill panels in 10 industry sectors.
■  In today's Seattle Times -- Gregoire ponders WorkFirst cuts -- The governor is considering a recommendation to make deep cuts in the cash-grant welfare program that would end payments for about 2,700 families who have run afoul of welfare-to-work rules. In addition, about 2,250 low-income working families would lose hundreds of dollars in monthly child-care subsidies.
■  Today from the Evergreen Freedom Foundation -- Workers have right to know about union finances -- This touching bit of concern from a "think tank" that itself refuses to disclose its contributors. But thanks to our friends at MediaTransparency.org, we know the EFF is actually no more than a private-interest law firm for out-of-state rich people -- including the Walton family and the notorious Richard Scaife -- who hate public schools and unions. Speaking of the Waltons...

Leaky Wal-Mart:  ■  At AFLCIO.org -- Wal-Mart to employees: Only healthiest need apply
■  In today's NY Times -- Inside Wal-Mart: A larger debate (editorial) -- The 26-page Wal-Mart memo is required reading for all legislators, business people and advocates for change in the country's health and retirement systems. Wal-Mart is a mirror image of the health care triage affecting all Americans. It isn't pretty, but it injects much-needed honesty into the debate.
■  At the House of Labor blog -- Letting Wal-Mart off the hook -- Yes, there is a good argument for national health care insurance to diminish the incentive for discrimination against the sick and disabled, but it's ridiculous to let Wal-Mart off the hook. Employers shouldn't be excused for completely rotten, immoral activities just because a better policy would make compliance with the law easier. This is bleeding heart liberalism applied to the largest corporation on earth.
■  In today's LA Times -- Wal-Mart memo may raise litigation risk -- Employee-rights lawyers say the retailer could face additional discrimination claims.  More on the memo.

Leaky White House:  ■  Today from AP -- Cheney adviser resigns after indictment -- The VP's chief of staff, "Scooter" Libby, is indicted on charges of obstruction of justice, perjury and making false statements in the CIA leak investigation in a politically charged case that could cast a harsh light on Bush's push to war. Karl Rove, Bush's closest adviser, escapes indictment but remains under investigation, his legal status shadowing a White House already in trouble.

In California:  ■  In today's SF Chronicle -- Governor's ballot measures not faring well -- A coalition of labor unions and Democrats has made a substantial dent in support for Prop. 75, which would make it more difficult for public-sector unions to raise money for political purposes. Support has dropped 12 points since mid-September among likely voters, and it polls at a 46-46 dead heat.
■  In the USA Today -- Schwarzenegger losing fans in California -- A television ad featuring his world-famous face in support of his own initiatives is pulled off the air. Now, he appears only in ads used by the opposition, in which Schwarzenegger calls his opponents "union bosses."
■  At ArnoldsNeighborhood.com -- Schwarzennegger sings!

National news:  ■  In the Providence Journal -- Bankruptcy is the latest tool for breaking unions (op-ed)
■  In today's Washington Post -- Coming of "pay bands" spurs curiosity of defense employees (column)

International news:  ■  In the Hindustan Times -- Microsoft says NO to unions in India -- Microsoft India chairman Ravi Venkatesan has made it clear that unions are not welcome in India's burgeoning IT industry, hinting they could affect the momentum of growth. "It is not clear how the formation of unions will help IT. The IT sector is very proactive in bringing a disproportionate share of global wealth to India. The momentum should continue and unions are not needed in this sector at all."

THURSDAY, OCT. 27  ■  Take a survey: What's right and wrong with state government?

Also today:  ■  Cascadian janitors strike over right to organize; ULPs filed
■  In today’s King County Journal -- Janitors: Cascadian sabotaging union effort -- The union accused Cascadian of firing an employee for passing out pro-union leaflets, illegal surveillance of a union gathering during non-work hours, and changing lunch rules to prevent union meetings.

I-912 news:  ■  In the Everett Herald -- Get traffic moving, reject I-912 (editorial)
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Daily No on I-912: Our gas tax isn't tops (editorial) -- Contrary to I-912's ads, the Tax Foundation says Washington's gas tax is not even in the top 10. In fact, our current gas tax is less than a nickel higher than the national average.
■  In today’s Bellingham Herald -- County loses millions if I-912 passes
■  In today’s Seattle Times -- I-912, the feel-good mistake (Balter column) -- It's easy to hate government. It's easy to think, maybe some other, better plan will come along. It's easy to think gas prices are something in life an individual can control. The considerable challenge is to persuade voters to move beyond inchoate anger and believe a community can do something to preserve its quality of life. This misguided initiative will feel good one day and terribly shortsighted the next.
■  In today’s Seattle P-I -- Ruling upheld on I-912 radio campaigning

Other election news:  ■  In today's Seattle Times -- Nurses say no to I-330, I-336 (op-ed) -- Registered nurses are first and foremost patient advocates. That's why the Washington State Nurses Association and numerous other nursing organizations are opposing both malpractice initiatives.
■  In today's Seattle Times -- Man complains about use of photo in I-330 brochure -- A Seattle emergency-room technician (SEIU 1199NW) who opposes Initiative 330 says he complained to the state after seeing the picture of himself on the cover of a brochure supporting the measure.
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- Safeco CEO to challenge Cantwell -- Meet Mike McGavick.

Weyerhaeuser news:  ■  In the Aberdeen Daily World -- Unions leaders, legislators strategize about planned mill closures -- Says Sen. Jim Hargrove: “I know we’ve done Boeing big favors, and we’ve given breaks to high-tech industries to keep them solvent. I can’t see why we wouldn’t be able to do something to help keep this (Weyerhaeuser) mill a viable business concern.”
■  In the Longview Daily News -- Weyco upgrading Longview mill -- Multimillion-dollar upgrade planned for Longview mill, even as company lays off nearly 600 workers at other plants... Industry analysts are applauding Weyerhaeuser for shutting down mills in Wright City, Okla., and Aberdeen and Cosmopolis in Washington, saying those aging facilities dragged down profits.
■  In the Aberdeen Daily World -- Cosmopolis vows to pull together in the wake of mill closure

Boeing news:  ■  In today's Everett Herald -- Boeing profit soars -- Although the IAM strike cost the company $1.5 billion, profits doubled from a year ago and a $100 billion order backlog is expected to keep area plants busy for years.
■  In today's Seattle Times -- IAM walkout's impact on profit, production to extend 4 years -- The IAM strike's costs will ripple through four years of production, and its ultimate cost could be about twice the $241 million in lost net profits for the third quarter just reported.
■  In today's News Tribune -- No hurry-up at Boeing -- Boeing workers, don’t count on massive overtime hours in the next few months. Instead of mounting a huge and costly effort to produce 30 extra airliners postponed by the IAM strike, the company is slowing its delivery schedule.
■  Today at BusinessWeek online -- Boeing roars ahead -- It looks poised to outdistance Airbus on orders for jetliners, as rising fuel prices have more carriers eyeing the 777.

Hanford news:  ■  In today’s Tri-City Herald -- Big hit expected today for Hanford vit plant budget
■  Today from AP -- Hanford budget cutbacks criticized -- More than $100 million is being slashed from the clean-up of the most dangerous radioactive waste at the Hanford nuclear reservation.

Bringing home Davis-Bacon:  ■  At AFLCIO.org -- Workers win as Bush backs off prevailing wage suspension -- In response to working families and their unions, as well as community and religious groups and members of Congress, President Bush rescinded his executive order that allowed contractors to pay substandard wages to construction workers rebuilding the Gulf Coast.
■  At the Working Life blog -- White House caves on Davis-Bacon -- Hooray for Rep. George Miller (and for Washington state's entire Democratic congressional delegation) who showed that if you have some spine and stand up for workers, you can win. And kudos to the AFL-CIO which generated 350,000 emails on this battle.
■  In today’s Washington Post -- Prevailing wages to be paid again on Gulf Coast -- The decision was a rare victory for organized labor during George W. Bush's presidency. It was a defeat for traditional Bush allies, including the construction industry and conservatives in Congress.
■  In the NY Times -- Bush backtracks on Gulf wages -- "With all the political problems (Bush) has, why pick this fight?" asks Rep. Peter King. "Politically, it seemed a gratuitous shot at unions."

Other national news:  ■  In today’s Washington Post -- Pentagon moves to alter personnel system -- The controversial National Security Personnel System, which eventually will cover 650,000 civilian employees, will replace the familiar 15-grade General Schedule pay system with one in which raises are linked to annual performance evaluations. Unions vow to sue if NSPS is implemented.
■  In today’s LA Times -- Wal-Mart memo blurs its message on benefits -- "The company story is that the workforce is everything," said David West of the Center for a Changing Workforce, a Seattle think tank that has studied Wal-Mart's benefits. In TV ads, "it's 'Our people make the difference.' But, if you read this memo, their people aren't making the difference. It's time to get a new, younger workforce that doesn't go see the doctor." Learn more.
■  In today’s Washington Post -- Kerry urges U.S. to start withdrawal from Iraq -- Senator calls for the withdrawal of 20,000 troops by year's end as the first step in 15-month timetable.

And then there's...:  ■  Today from AP -- Miers withdraws as Supreme Court nominee -- "I'm just not qualified," says the Bush loyalist. "Heck, I thought, Dick picked himself to be Vice President when he ran that search committee. Why shouldn't I?"  (OK, she didn't say that.)

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26  ■ Leaked Wal-Mart memo: Cut benefits more, hire only healthy -- Memo acknowledges that less than 45% of Wal-Mart's 1.33 million U.S. employees get  company health insurance, and 46% of those employees' children are uninsured or on Medicaid.

Last Throes update:  ■  Today from AP -- Accident brings the death toll of American soldiers to 2,001 -- In Iraq, many heard of the 2,000 figure on Arab satellite TV and complained that the attention was misguided because far more Iraqis have died in the conflict. There is some consensus that an independent count of 30,000 is a relatively credible tally of civilian deaths.
■  In today's Seattle Times -- The American death toll in Iraq since March 19, 2003 (an online memorial)
■  In today's Seattle P-I -- The pain of local soldiers' deaths doesn't go away -- Profiles of four grieving families that are trying to understand the inexplicable.
■  In today's News Tribune -- Washington troops pay heavy toll in Iraq -- The list of 109 U.S. service members from Washington or Washington-based who've died in Iraq.
■  In today's Washington Post -- Vice President for torture (editorial) -- Cheney is aggressively pursuing an initiative that may be unprecedented for an elected official of the executive branch: He is proposing that Congress legally authorize human rights abuses by Americans.
■  In the LA Times -- The White House cabal (MUST-READ op-ed by Lawrence B. Wilkerson, chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell from 2002 to 2005) -- Today, we have a president whose approval rating is 38% and a vice president who speaks only to Rush Limbaugh and assembled military forces. We have a secretary of Defense presiding over the death-by-a-thousand-cuts of our overstretched armed forces. It's a disaster. 

Election news:  ■  In today's Seattle Times -- I-330's damage limits won't lower doctors' insurance rates (Gary Locke op-ed) -- Evidence from around the nation proves it won't happen. That, coupled with all of the problems found in I-330's fine print, makes it clear this initiative should be rejected.
■  In the Walla Walla U-B -- Reject I-912 (editorial) -- We believe it is critical that the state continue to improve our roads. It's particularly important for Eastern Washington's economy, which is heavily dependent on getting agricultural products to market.
■  In the Seattle P-I -- Daily No on I-912: What message? (editorial) -- Proponents say passing I-912 will "send a message" to politicians. What's the message? We're still pouting over the gubernatorial election? We think roads and bridges come from the Tooth Fairy? That we don't care about the state's economy? That we don't trust legislators' transportation plan but somehow trust them to come up with a better one?

Local news:  ■  In today's News Tribune -- L&I finds no safety violations in death of Tacoma dockworker
■  At WashBlog -- Weyerhaeuser needs a new slogan -- It continues to close profitable domestic mills, laying off hundreds in our state, in favor of more profitable overseas mills in China, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Uruguay. (Also today from AP, Weyerhaeuser lays off 250 in Oklahoma)
■  In today's Yakima H-R -- Valley unions, school districts often turn to mediators
■  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Sprague-Lamont teachers reject union on an 8-3 vote -- "I think unions are harmful to the economy in the private sector," says the science teacher who led the decertification campaign against the WEA. "They're not helpful to education at all."
■  In today's Seattle Times -- UW profs awarded back pay -- Judge rules UW breached its duty in not awarding most of its 3,000-plus faculty an annual merit increase in the 2002-03 academic year.
■  In today's Yakima H-R -- Economist warns farmers of overseas competition -- A man says Washington farmers' technological advantages are slipping. Plus, competition from rapidly growing countries with cheaper work forces such as India and China are intensifying.
■  In today's Oregonian -- Striking Oregon Trail teachers want a voice

National news:  ■  In today's Wash. Post -- Planned GOP budget cuts target foster care, other programs
■  In today's NY Times -- Stalking the poor to soothe the affluent (editorial) -- Congress's attempt to find budget cuts after four years of tax cuts for the affluent should be scuttled and the poor protected.
■  Today from AP -- Foster Farms poultry workers go on strike -- Independent Workers of the San Joaquin Valley, a small union that represents the plant's 2,400 workers, claims the company has illegally harassed, demoted and suspended employees over the years.
■  In today's NY Times -- German labor's new reality -- Germany's unions are waging a battle to remain viable, as global competition threatens to undo half a century of rights won by millions.

Leaky White House news:  ■  In today's Washington Post -- Bush aides brace for charges
■  In today's NY Times -- Leak counsel said to focus on Rove's role -- Indictments could come today.
■  In the Seattle Weekly -- Meet Mr. Valerie Plame -- The former Olympic Peninsula carpenter Joseph Wilson is in Seattle as news of indictments are about to break.