Legislative news:
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Political finance: Money talks (editorial) -- In a perfect political world, public financing for all candidates would level the playing field. But it would be a mistake to make the real world any less perfect with untoward limits on political opinion expressed through spending
▪  In Sunday's Olympian -- Governor, Legislature face decisions with extra $1.9 billion -- Gregoire will release her 2007 budget proposal in a series of announcements around the state this week.
▪  In the PS Business Journal -- State is not letting private sector compete, audit says -- JLARC audit says agencies are failing to act on a 2002 law that allowing private companies compete for jobs.
▪  From Times' Postman on Politics -- Gregoire piles up campaign cash, including from payday lenders
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Poll: Region keen to help Sound, but support lukewarm east of mountains  
▪  In the (Longview) Daily News -- A sit-down talk with Sid Snyder -- "There's something in legislators that makes them think that if they don't get bills passed, they're not going to get re-elected," says the 80-year-old who served as Senate Majority Leader. "That was one of my big problems."

Local news:
▪  From AP -- Western State reels from attacks by patients on hospital workers -- The number of serious attacks has doubled since 1999, a problem that many blame on inadequate staffing.
▪  In the PS Business Journal -- Boeing's talented dreamers and risky moves that launched the 787 
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Hollywood creates its own "Battle in Seattle" -- Read about the real deal.
▪  In today's Oregonian -- Sizemore vs. teachers' unions (editorial) -- Oregon's law-flouting signature-gatherer claims a win, though the anti-tax operation he formed still owes millions.

National news:
▪  In the Houston Chronicle -- Voters sent a clear message: Raise the minimum wage (Sweeney op-ed) --  In every state where the minimum wage was on the ballot as an initiative, it passed. Now, 28 states and D.C. have minimum wage laws above the federal $5.15. It's time to bring everyone up.
▪  In Saturday's P-I -- Congress extends state sales-tax deduction... for two more years
▪  In today's Washington Post -- GOP lawmakers add provision to tax package -- At the urging of major business lobbies eager to reduce their medical-insurance costs, they quietly added a billion-dollar health-care benefit to legislation rushed through Congress just before it adjourned.
▪  In the (Longview) Daily News -- Medicare needs a way to negotiate with drug makers (editorial)
▪  Today from AP -- New Ecuador leader won't sign "free-trade" pact with United States

Check out our update Dec. 12 update listing leafleting events STATEWIDE.