Legislative news:  ▪  WFSE "Budget Lobbying Blitz" Wednesday morning at Capitol
▪  From AP -- Closer to mental health parity -- A bill requiring small companies to offer coverage for mental health treatment equal to their medical coverage has been sent to Gov. Gregoire's desk.
▪  In today's Spokesman-Review -- Voters could decide whether to put inmates to work -- Three years after the state Supreme Court ruled that it's unconstitutional for companies or nonprofits to use prison-inmate labor, lawmakers want to rewrite that 118-year-old clause of the constitution. SJR 8212 would ask voters this fall to approve amending the constitution to again allow so-called "Class 1" industries to set up manufacturing or other work opportunities for offenders in prisons.
▪  In today's Oregonian -- Oregon legislators pin hopes in health care draft -- The proposal will aim to  cover every Oregonian, including the estimated 576,000 who lack health insurance.

Local news:
▪  In today's Olympian -- Effort launched in some state agencies to explore removing unions -- Most of the decertification efforts in 2005 and 2006 were not successful. WFSE Executive Director Greg Devereux says his union is not focusing on decertification drives: "We are out there talking to workers on the (new) contract and not specifically not fighting the decertification."
▪  In Saturday's Seattle P-I -- Not a bad year for Boeing CEO McNerney; he rakes in $14.5 million 
▪  In today's Oregonian -- It's unions vs. business in heavyweight Portland city charter election bout

National news: 
▪  In today's LA Times -- Grocery worker strike moves a step closer in Southern California -- A strike-authorization vote by Albertsons workers brings the prospect of a grocery store strike a step closer and conjures up an unhappy sense of deja vu for employees and customers alike.
▪  Today from AP -- After 2006 success, labor looks to 2008 race -- Says Sweeney: "The level of activity by union members early in the process will lay the groundwork for the greatest involvement by working people ever in electing the president of the United States."
▪  In Saturday's NY Times -- Democrats consider deal for passage of future trade pacts -- Democrats in Congress are mulling a proposal to the Bush administration intended to resolve disagreements over labor, environmental and other issues blocking approval of pending trade deals. If endorsed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other leading Democrats, it could lead to bipartisan agreement on deals to lower trade barriers with Colombia, Panama, Peru and South Korea.
▪  In today's Wash. Post -- Hope for illegal immigrants (editorial) -- The battle over immigration reform was joined with the introduction of legislation that would toughen enforcement, tighten border controls and provide eventual citizenship for millions who entered the country illegally.
▪  In today's LA Times -- Opposition may soften to a U.S. sick-pay law -- A proposal for paid leave may have a better chance, as firms decide a federal standard may be preferable to local ones.
▪  In today's LA Times -- Intel to build $2.5 billion plan in China -- The project could spark concerns about technology transfer and the buildup of higher-end production work and jobs overseas.
▪  In today's Wash. Post -- At the FAA, a word better left unsaid -- The word "staffing" is apparently a no-no at the FAA, which has been battling its air traffic controllers over manpower issues. 

• Fully fund our negotiated contracts. Don’t listen to those who want a thumbs down on the contracts to force you to pay more for health and get less compensation.

• Save hospital safety. Tell legislators to build on the extra $250,000 added by the House for safety equipment with additional funding for personal alarms. (See below for more info.)

• Save early learning/child care. Tell legislators to amend the budget to create an early learning/child care grant program at state colleges and universities to cover federal budget cuts.

• Save gainsharing. A promise is a promise!