Legislative news:
▪  In yesterday's Aberdeen Daily World -- Several local legislators want more conservative budget -- Hatfield, Sheldon, Blake, Takko, Kessler, Van De Wege, Haigh and Eickmeyer all weigh in on.
▪  In yesterday's Columbian -- Don't dive into obvious budget disasters (op-ed by AWB's Don Brunell) -- The legislature needs to step forward and reduce the governor's budget.
▪  In today's Kitsap Sun -- Ferry system faces gap in funding for new projects -- Study of system's financing shows it will fall short of the $5.6 billion it says it needs for its capital program.
▪  In today's Yakima H-R -- Three still in running for State Senate seat -- Rep. Jim Clements (R-14th) edges Yakima businessman Curtis King in the vote by area PCOs, but King supporters have inundated county commissioners -- who'll make the call Friday -- with letters of support for King.
▪  Today from AP -- A state full of can-do women -- Our state is the first, and so far only, state to have women in both U.S. Senate seats and the governor’s mansion. A new Rutgers ranking pegs Washington as No. 3 in the country for the percentage of women in the state Legislature.

Daily story of obscenely excessive CEO pay:
▪  From AP -- Nardelli resigns as CEO of Home Depot -- As the company's stock sank 20%, Bob Nardelli pocketed nearly $245 million over five years.  For quitting, he gets a severance package worth $210 million. Home Depot ranks No. 7 in Washington state among the most highly subsidized corporations in terms of their employees' families requiring public health-care assistance. That subsidy cost taxpayers more than $3.1 million last year.

Local news: 
▪  In the Everett Herald -- Realistic minimum wage helps entire economy (Burbank column) -- There is mounting evidence that a higher minimum wage creates jobs. It captures money that might have leaked out of the local economy for trips to Europe, and instead goes to your local restaurant.
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Boeing tops its record for sales of jetliners -- It has shattered its jetliner sales record, set in 2005, by winning orders for at least 1,040 planes last year.
▪  In today's Tri-City Herald -- New Welch's owner works to reopen plant -- Its closure left 165 workers without jobs. New owner says he hopes to employ 35 by year's end, and eventually, about 100.
▪  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Litehouse is spreading the wealth -- The Sandpoint manufacturer of refrigerated salad dressing and dips is on its way to becoming an employee-owned company.
▪  In today's News Tribune -- Tacoma's Metro Parks workers get another raise 
▪  In today's NY Times -- Daylight in Boeing's shadow -- Since the 1940s, Renton’s fortunes have been tied to the airplane industry. But now the town has reduced its dependence on the cyclical aerospace industry and courted developers, companies and sports teams to move to town.

National news:
▪  Today from AP -- Poll shows support for Democrats' goals -- Fully 80% favor a minimum wage increase, including 65% of Republicans, the party that has kept that wage frozen for 10 years.
▪  In the News Tribune (12/29) -- Federal minimum wage increase can stand on its own (editorial) -- A minimum wage increase, as attractive a negotiating tool as it might be, could handily pass on its own merits. Bush and Congress should call off the political gamesmanship and get the job done.
▪  At MarineLink.com -- Shipbuilders unhappy with new port security rules -- They say the plan to screen port workers could drive up their costs while doing nothing to improve security.

The 2007 legislative session begins Monday and there are many challenges ahead: an economy not benefiting many average working families, more families without health care, and attacks on unemployment insurance and workers' compensation systems. We, in the labor movement, will meet these challenges head on and continue to work towards an agenda that improves the lives of working families.

As always, this legislative session will require a continuation of rank-and-file activism as the Washington State Labor Council works with the legislature to protect working families. Our progress and priorities in those efforts will be discussed at the WSLC's 2007 Legislative Conference beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Olympia Red Lion Hotel, with registration starting at 7:30 a.m.  We will define, with you, the steps we must take to make progress for working people.

The WSLC urges all union leaders, staffers, and especially rank-and-file member activists to attend this conference and find out what is happening in Olympia and what they can do to help us all achieve our goals.  Various legislative leaders have been invited to speak at the conference and all state legislators have been invited to join us for lunch at the end of the half-day conference.

The night before the conference on Wednesday, Feb. 21, there will be a reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the hotel. Many legislators and other state officials will attend, making the reception a great opportunity to engage in informal conversation with legislators and other officials. If you would like to bring a guest(s) to the reception on Wednesday night, there is a fee of $15 per guest. 

To make the registration for the reception (and conference) go faster and smoother, we will be opening early registration in the hotel lobby at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

The conference registration fee, which includes materials, lunch and one admission to the reception, is $30. Click here to download a registration form (in Word format) or call 206-281-8901 to have one mailed or faxed to you. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Olympia Red Lion Hotel, but the block will be released Jan. 19. Make your reservations now by calling 1-800-325-4000 or 360-943-4000. Tell them you are entitled to the Washington State Labor Council group rate.

We urge all who plan to attend to fill out and return your registration form, with your registration fee, by Friday, Jan. 26 so we can more effectively plan to accommodate all who will join us. Thank you for registering early, and urging your co-workers and other rank-and-file union members to attend.