Local news:
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Domestic partner benefits OK'd -- The Port of Seattle and the Teamsters will extend medical benefits to the domestic partners of about 250 port-employed members -- opening up the possibility that 20,000 other Teamsters families might get similar coverage.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- To keep human flaggers safe, DOT looks to "roboflaggers" -- Losing your job to a machine is better than losing your life. (Is that really our choice?!) The DOT has used roboflaggers for maintenance and emergency repair work, but a Highway 2 test is the first time the system will be used on a construction project.
▪  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Radioactive sludge cleanup delayed at Hanford -- Engineering problems slow work, jeopardizing yet another legal deadline. DOE says: "We're disappointed, plain and simple."
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- Steinbrueck to hit the road -- Ten-year councilman won't seek another term so he can pursue the so-called surface-street option of not replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Legislative news:
▪  In today's Olympian -- Group says health program could cover all through growth -- State could provide health care to all residents by expanding existing programs, says Washington CAN.
▪  In today's Kitsap Sun -- Voters may have a say on NASCAR speedway -- The Senate bill moves forward after a provision is floated that would put the proposal up for a public vote.
▪  In today's Everett Herald -- If teams want public money, let them win at polls (AWBrunell™ column) 
▪  In today's Columbian -- Family-leave bill would create labor pains (AWBrunell™ column) -- Enlightened employers care. They (already) provide good benefits, including flexible leave policies to attract and retain loyal employees. ("Unenlightened" employers could not be reached for comment.)
▪  In today's Olympian -- Committee OKs fundraising freeze for races -- The compromise proposal would prohibit fundraising for Washington legislators for up to two weeks after a session ends.
▪  In today's Olympian -- Gregoire urges legislators to stop Bush impeachment talk
▪  At HorsesAss.org -- Do as I say... -- Sen. Janea Holmquist (R-Moses Lake) just introduced SB 6142 to limit legislators to prime-sponsoring just 15 bills per session.  It's her 16th bill of 2007.

National news:
▪  Today from AP -- Airbus facing threat of strikes -- Airbus emerged from one damaging battle but looked set to plunge into another, as workers staged walkouts and threatened wider strikes over expected job losses, plant sales and other restructuring measures to be announced today.
▪  Even todayier from AP -- Airbus plans 10,000 job cuts, plant spinoff 
▪  In today's NY Times -- Low pay, broken promises greet guest workers -- Experts say employers abuse guest workers far more than other workers because employers know they can ship them home the moment they complain. They also know these workers cannot seek other jobs.
▪  In today's NY Times -- Call to expand union rights could derail anti-terror bill -- Democrats push to extend union protection to 43,000 federal airport security workers, reviving a debate that stalled the creation of the Homeland Security department and could now derail antiterrorism legislation.
▪  From Bloomberg -- AFL-CIO targets Wal-Mart in campaign to rein in executive pay -- AFL-CIO asks NYSE to investigate whether Wal-Mart violated its own corporate-governance rules.

This is the last push before the U.S. House of Representatives votes Thursday on the Employee Free Choice Act -- the most important legislation in 70 years to ensure our freedom to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions.

ACTION ALERT:  Please send a fax NOW urging your representative to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act -- with no limiting amendments. Tell him or her this legislation is top priority for America's working families because it's our best chance to get ahead economically.

-- If your representative is Jay Inslee, Rick Larsen, Brian Baird, Norm Dicks, Jim McDermott or Adam Smith, click here.

-- If your representative is Cathy McMorris Rodgers, "Doc" Hastings or Dave Reichert, click here.

-- If you don't live in Washington state, click here.

The Employee Free Choice Act would restore workers' freedom to make our own choice about whether to have a union so we can bargain for a better life -- without interference from management. In theory, we've had that right for decades. But, in fact, the system for forming unions and bargaining is broken.  Employers routinely coerce, intimidate, harass, threaten and even fire workers who dare to try.

Your representative can help end that on Thursday.

Today, only 38 percent of Americans feel we're getting ahead financially -- and less than a quarter of us believe our children's generation will be better off.  Being able to bargain collectively through a union provides the best way for working people to get ahead economically, to ensure a better future for our children and to rebuild America's middle class.  CEOs may be getting contracts that protect their pay and benefits -- but they fight tooth and nail to keep us from having the same opportunity.

It's time for a change.  Please fax your representative now and urge him or her to support working families by voting for the Employee Free Choice Act -- with no limiting amendments.  Tell your representative that the Employee Free Choice Act is top priority for working families.  It's the key to restoring America's middle class and to providing working families a real opportunity to prosper.

Lobbyists for the corporate front groups opposing the Employee Free Choice Act are all over Capitol Hill right now.  Congress is definitely hearing from them.  Before the House votes, make sure your representative is hearing your voice, too.

Thank you for taking a moment to send this important message to your U.S. representative.