Today's MUST-READ article:
▪  In today's NY Times -- For $7.93 an hour, it's worth a trip across the state line -- Nearly a decade ago, when voters in Washington approved a measure that would give the state’s lowest-paid workers a raise nearly every year, many business leaders predicted that small towns on this side of the state line would suffer. But instead of shriveling up, small-business owners in Washington say they have prospered far beyond their expectations. In fact, as a significant increase in the national minimum wage heads toward law, businesses here at the dividing line between two economies -- a real-life laboratory for the debate -- have found that raising prices to compensate for higher wages does not necessarily lead to losses in jobs and profits.

U.S. minimum wage increase:  ▪  All 233 House Democrats and 82 Republicans, including Rep. Dave Reichert (R-8th), vote yes on a $2.10 three-step increase to $7.25 an hour.
▪  In today's NY Times -- By a wide margin, House backs minimum wage increase -- The legislation now goes to the Senate, where members of both parties have indicated that they intend to tie it to tax breaks for small businesses, to help offset any new costs arising from the wage increase.
▪  At AFL-CIO Now -- A decade of inaction at an end -- Says economist: There is little rationale for adding any tax cuts to this bill. Businesses large and small have enjoyed hundreds of billions of dollars of such cuts over the past decade, as the value of the minimum wage has evaporated.

Legislative news:
▪  In The Stranger -- Unsustainable bias -- The only thing unsustainable is making public-policy choices based on the Republican lie that government spending is ballooning. The more the press continues to peddle that point on behalf of Republicans, the harder it's going to be to sustain the critical services, like health care and education, that government is expected to provide.
▪  In today's Yakima H-R -- Health care plan to cover immigrant children draws support -- Local health care providers welcome Gregoire's plan to expand health care to immigrant children regardless of their legal status, saying uninsured, sick kids end up raising the cost of care for everyone else.
▪  In today's Kitsap Sun -- NASCAR track still without traction in Olympia
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- UW leader drops plan for higher tuition -- Instead, Emmert is banking on a big -- and sustained -- financial boost from the state.
▪  At the Tri-City Herald's Olympia Dispatch -- Walsh gives up committee leadership post -- Republican Rep. Maureen Walsh, having upset some members of her caucus by accepting a committee leadership post from Democratic House Speaker Frank Chopp, now says that she is giving it up.
▪  In yesterday's Daily News -- We need a new formula for teachers' raises (editorial) -- A think tank's suggestion -- particularly the part about spending more to raise minimum salaries and less on seniority pay increases -- isn't likely to be seconded by the Washington Education Association.
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- Board advises sizable raises for legislators, judges -- Citizens' panel says pay hikes ranging from 9% to 16% are in order for legislators, judges and the governor. State legislators, now earning $36,311 a year, would pocket $42,106.
▪  Today from AP -- Eyman & Co. "earn" $173,000-plus in 2006 -- Mission accomplished!

Local news:
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Hotels are big business in Seattle -- Vacancy rates have fallen to near-record lows, and the average room price has spiked above $150 per night -- about $50 higher than the national average. Labor leaders are keeping a close eye on the development in hopes of gaining members and raising the average wage of hotel workers, about $9.72 per hour.
▪  In yesterday's Daily World -- Two bidders confirmed for shuttered Cosmopolis mill -- Weyerhaeuser has temporarily stopped decommissioning its Cosmopolis Pulp Mill to review the two bids.
▪  In yesterday's Daily World -- Ample chip supply still a question for pulp mill
▪  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Workers protest against union -- Workers from the Willow Creek Dairy near Boardman protest along Highway 395 in Hermiston, saying they didn't want to unionize. The UFW says the rally is part of an ongoing effort by the dairy to intimidate workers.
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- 747 cargo jet to start flying in 787 parts from Japan "very soon" 
▪  In today's News Tribune -- Panel advises discount toll for Narrows bridge -- Its recommendation: a $3 toll for people who drive through the toll booths and pay cash and $1.75 for drivers who use transponders that automatically deduct payments from prepaid accounts.
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Corporate forces form one voice (Virgin column) -- "There's nothing like having one team, one vision, one voice, to get things done." (Word.)

Union agency fee case:
▪  Today from McClathcy -- State gains steam in union case before high court -- The Supreme Court appears ready to reject claims that the First Amendment prohibits Washington state from forcing unions to get permission before spending some of the money they collect on political causes.
▪  From AP -- Court hears case on state's law on union fees -- The case involves less than 5% of the teachers represented by the 70,000-member WEA who have chosen not to join the union. 

Immigration news:
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- Labor activist Dolores Huerta honors MLK -- The UFW co-founder speaks in Everett after a march through downtown commemorating the slain civil rights leader.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- UFW activist Huerta calls for equality for immigrant workers 
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Driving down standards for some affects all workers (Letter by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney... scroll down) -- The AFL-CIO opposes guest worker programs because they treat guest workers as second-class citizens who are not afforded the same rights as other workers and who are ripe for exploitation because their legal status is tied to their employers.
▪  In today's LA Times -- Path to citizenship for farmworkers -- California senators introduce a bill to create "blue cards" for illegal immigrant laborers they say are essential to bringing in U.S. crops.

Other national news: 
▪  In today's Wash. Post -- Bush opposes collective bargaining for screeners (scroll down) -- White House: It'd "reverse the flexibility given to TSA to perform its critical aviation security mission."
▪  In today's Washington Post -- Revisiting parent leave for federal workers -- Bill would provide eight weeks of paid leave to federally employed women after childbirth and five days of paid leave for new fathers. It also would provide five days of paid leave to federal workers who adopt children. 

Last Throes update:
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Bush announces "New Way Forward"™, warns of bloody year ahead
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- Ft. Lewis troops to deploy sooner, might stay longer -- Bush's new plan is expected to affect thousands of military personnel in the state. Plus, Mo' Troops, Mo' Money.
▪  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Sen. Murray predicts lack of support -- She says Bush seems to be misreading the results of the November election in his call for a surge in troops for Iraq.
▪  Today from AP -- Troop boost plan draws fierce opposition -- Says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: "In choosing to escalate the war, the president virtually stands alone."
▪  Today at AFL-CIO Now -- Sweeney: Iraq needs political, diplomatic efforts, not military buildup
▪  In The Independent -- Iraq admits 23,000 civilians died in 2006 -- That figure is smaller than United Nations data claiming that some 28,000 civilians were killed in the first 10 months alone of 2006.
▪  Of the 3,019 U.S. troops killed in Iraq so far, 2,882 have died (see a list) since President Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" and an end to major combat operations on May 2003; 2,553 have died since Saddam's capture. More than 5 years after 9/11, Osama bin Laden is at large.
▪  The WSLC's affiliated unions have called for an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
▪  In The Onion -- 800,000 privileged youth enlist to fight in Iraq -- Says one: "Whether I agree with the war or not, our president needs us, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let our least advantaged citizens bear the brunt of this awesome burden." ... "I didn't realize you could just sign up."