WSLC Reports Today -- October 16, 2006

October 16, 2006

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WSLC Reports Today
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Links are functional at date of posting, but sometimes expire. Some links require free registration. WSLC Reports Today links to stories of interest to organized labor; some positive, some negative. The intention is to inform.

MONDAY, OCT. 16 ▪ Community immigration hearing Wednesday night in Bellevue -- Deeply disappointed by anti-immigrant legislation in Congress, a coalition of concerned Washington state groups will hold a community immigration hearing entitled, "Defending Democracy: Protecting Immigrant Rights and Strengthening Our Communities," this Wednesday night from 7-9 p.m. (with a 6 p.m. reception) at Bellevue Community College.

Local news:
▪ In the Olympian blog -- New L&I director announced -- Gov. Chris Gregoire has promoted Judy Schurke, currently deputy director at L&I, to serve as acting director of the Department.
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- Port of Seattle cargo going back to Southern California -- The amount of goods flowing through Seattle's seaport is faltering this year after two years of heady gains.
▪ In Sunday's Seattle Times -- Times poll: Voters say rebuild the viaduct -- Just 25% of voters favor a tunnel, while 51% want a new viaduct built. One quarter are undecided or prefer surface streets.
▪ In the Seattle P-I -- Road taxes could drive voters over the edge -- Projects could cost a typical Seattle household nearly $450 annually, plus any tolls, property tax surcharges, business taxes and fees officials tack on. It's got some asking whether voters are being pushed too far.

Political news:
▪ In the News Tribune -- Maria Cantwell earns six more years (editorial) -- Cantwell is a doggedly hard worker who watches out for the state. She is very attentive to her constituents and engaged with their problems. She’s been doing a fine job. Let’s hire her for another six years.
▪ In today's Seattle Times -- Support U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen in the 2nd (editorial) -- Return Rick Larsen to Congress, where he has done an able and energetic job of representing the 2nd District.
▪ In Sunday's Bellingham Herald -- U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen deserves another term (editorial)
▪ In Sunday's Olympian -- Return U.S. Reps. Brian Baird and Adam Smith to Congress (editorial)
▪ In today's Tri-City Herald -- McMorris faces a strong Democratic opponent -- In Peter Goldmark, Democrats offer a plain-talking, boots-and-stirrups cowboy right down to the western wear and mustache. But on the campaign trail, he has pointed questions for McMorris.
▪ In today's Yakima H-R -- "No" on Initiative 933 (editorial) -- I-933 severely threatens three things that are precious to the people of Washington state: Our environment. Our quality of life. Our wallets.
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- Religious leaders defend estate tax as moral and fair, oppose Initiative 920
▪ In today's Olympian -- I-920 affects about 210 a year -- Washington voters are being asked this fall to repeal an estate tax that very, very few residents -- or their relatives -- ever will pay.
▪ In today's News Tribune -- Parties hope to connect with Latino swing voters -- Whether the heated debate over immigration reform will reverse that trend remains unclear as the election nears.
▪ In the Washington Post -- A gender insurgency in politics (Broder column) -- Backing an increasing percentage of female congressional candidates is a grass-roots effort to draw more women to the polls, including one unusual AFL-CIO program called "Stirring the Pot."
▪ In today's Seattle P-I -- Desperate GOP sets sights on Pelosi (Connelly column) -- If polls are to be believed, Pelosi soon will become speaker of the House of Representatives. So Republicans are demonizing her as one of their last defensive strategies to maintain control on Capitol Hill.
▪ In today's LA Times -- GOP on a mission to save Santorum -- But what to they plan to do with it?

National news:
▪ In Sunday's NY Times -- After years of growth, what about workers' share? -- The share of the economy devoted to workers’ wages and benefits has eroded in the U.S. over the last five years.
▪ In the News Tribune -- Congressman blindsides drug discount bill -- Pressured by the White House and drug industry lobbyists, Congress has killed a Senate-passed provision that would have forced pharmaceutical manufacturers to grant the Department of Defense deep discounts.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2006
Community immigration hearing Wednesday night in Bellevue

Deeply disappointed by anti-immigrant legislation in Congress, a coalition of concerned Washington state groups will hold a community immigration hearing entitled, "Defending Democracy: Protecting Immigrant Rights and Strengthening Our Communities," this Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7-9 p.m. (with a 6 p.m. reception) at Bellevue Community College's Carlson Theater, 3000 Landerholm Circle S.E.

The hearing will highlight the drastic impact our unjust immigration system and draconian enforcement policies are having on many local communities, as well as the need for real immigration reform that protects civil rights, offers a path to citizenship and worker protections, and reunites families and helps businesses by reforming our visa system.

The forum will feature voices from the faith, immigrant, business, labor, and other perspectives, and will provide a broad view of the impact current immigration laws have on our families, communities, and businesses. A blue-ribbon commission featuring King County Executive Ron Sims, Assistant US Attorney Bruce Miyake, Karen Yoshitomi of the Japanese American Citizens’ League, Rev. Monica Corsaro of the University of Washington, and Renee Radcliff Sinclair of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will hear and offer brief responses to the community perspectives presented.

“At a time when Congress is stripping fundamental rights from immigrants, this hearing will be a reminder of the immense human suffering our broken immigration system and policies are causing,” said Pramila Jayapal, Executive Director of Hate Free Zone Washington and Regional Coordinator for the Liberty and Justice for All campaign.

Paul Benz, Director of the Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State, added, “These are the voices of real people that highlight the enormous erosions of rights and liberties taking place in America in the name of immigration reform.”

The Defending Democracy series offers community responses to anti-immigrant legislation, as well as the rising tide of anti-immigrant rhetoric in local campaigns. As part of a restrictionist “Border Security Now” agenda, the House in September passed legislation that would allow indefinite detention of immigrants, expand mandatory detention and expedited removal, encourage local police to enforce immigration law, and severely limit the due process rights of immigrants in court. Since then, Congress has passed the Military Commissions Act, which subjects non-citizens to military tribunal jurisdiction without the fundamental right to challenge their detention.

Event co-sponsors include the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington; the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (WA); CASA Latina; Catholic Community Services Refugee Assistance Program; Community to Community; the Church Council of Greater Seattle; Hate Free Zone; KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio; King County Executive’s Office; League of Women Voters; Lutheran Public Policy Office; the Minority Executive Directors’ Coalition; Northwest Federation of Community Organizations; Northwest Immigrant Rights Project; Organization of Chinese Americans of Greater Seattle; SEIU 775; Student Programs at Bellevue Community College; Tenants’ Union of Washington; UNITE HERE Local 8; Washington Association of Churches; Washington CAN; and the Washington State Democratic Party.

If you have news items regarding unions or workplace issues in Washington state that you would like to see posted here, please submit them via e-mail to David Groves or via fax to 206-285-5805.