FRIDAY, JUNE 16  ▪  Super-rich should stop complaining, pay their taxes  (President Rick Bender's monthly column) -- With America at war and the U.S. government bleeding red ink, with our state's schools and other pressing needs underfunded, and with the gap between rich and poor at historic levels and growing, could there be a worse time to whine about estate taxes?!
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- The Paris Hilton Tax-Relief Act (Goodman column) -- Now let us praise Paris Hilton. I raise a glass to the young and the spoiled, the rich and rhymes-with-rich, after the near-death experience of the estate tax. Paris may yet become the unwitting icon who pulls us from the brink of policy madness.

Local news:
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Hundreds turn out to call for higher pay -- Wearing red T-shirts and blowing high-pitched whistles, hundreds of hotel workers rally on Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle to call for better wages and benefits. UNITE-HERE Local 8 organized the rally in front of the Westin Hotel, as part of a national "Hotel Workers Rising" campaign.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- State's $1 billion tax windfall would wipe out projected deficit
▪  In today's Olympian -- Dark lining in economic forecast -- The state's surging economy will bring $960 million in previously unexpected state revenue in the next three years, but the forecaster warns of unsustainable surge in construction jobs and "overconsumption" by consumers.
▪  In today's News Tribune -- Mental health funding crisis -- Pierce County must reduce the number of its residents held at Western State Hospital in coming months, or risk a financial hit that could leave psychiatric patients who rely on publicly funded county services without care.
▪  In today's Olympian -- Both sides must compromise on immigration issue (editorial)
▪  In yesterday's Columbian -- Union survey Makes official's blood boil -- Vancouver Education Ass'n teacher survey includes a "tounge-in-cheek" question about whether they would be willing to sell their blood to make up a budget shortfall. Apparently, the school district didn't think it was funny.

Political news:
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Contrast in court candidates -- The Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander vs. BIAW attorney John Groen race pits Experience vs. Philosophy.
▪  In the News Tribune -- Bush visits King Co. to back Reichert
▪  In today's Oregonian -- Oregon corporate-tax disclosure falls short of ballot -- Its sponsor, the Oregon Education Ass'n, had already dropped efforts to pursue the initiative in order to concentrate on defeating two ballot measures that cut state taxes and limit growth in state spending. 
▪  In today's LA Times -- Congress wages partisan battle over Iraq war -- The Republican Party pushes debate on the issue -- which, as it turns out, is the closest many in their ranks have ever come to combat duty.

National news:
▪  In today's NY Times -- The new face of solidarity -- The nation's private sector is divided into two very different labor movements. The first comprises manufacturing unions, like the auto workers and machinists, which are on the defensive and on the decline. The second is made up of unions for the expanding service sector, which are upbeat and on the prowl for nursing home aides, janitors, cashiers, and others.
▪  In today's Miami Herald -- After victory with UM janitors, SEIU moves to organize other groups
▪  In today's Washington Post -- Federal retirees counting on COLAs to bring relief
▪  In today's NY Times -- U.S.-style CEO pay packages are all the rage in Europe