►  At WhiteHouse.gov -- Health insurance reform: REALITY CHECK -- The facts about the stability and security you will get from health insurance reform.

►  From Reuters -- Obama woos public on health care as debate heats up -- President Barack Obama will seek to counter an onslaught of conservative opposition to his efforts to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system by taking his message to a "town hall" meeting with the public today at a New Hampshire high school. He is trying to grab back the initiative on his $1 trillion-plus healthcare plan from critics who have helped stoke public anger against his top domestic priority.

►  At Huffington Post -- PhRMA walks back claim of White House deal -- An official with the pharmaceutical lobby says that it never struck a "quote, unquote secret deal with the White House" that would have prohibited the government from negotiating lower drug prices for Medicare. "It was never brought up at the meeting," said Ken Johnson, PhRMA's senior vice president.

►  At Huffington Post -- Health care protesters largely from out of district, sign-in sheets show -- Although town-hall meetings are intended for constituents of congressional members' districts, some if not a majority of attendees seem to have come from further away.

►  At AFL-CIO Now -- Here's how one community took back a town hall on health care -- Read a firsthand account from Rosa Blumenfeld, an organizer for the North Shore (Mass.) Labor Council, on how an organized and well-briefed union presence can counter the tactics many health care reform opponents are using to disrupt congressional town hall meetings.

Local health care news: 

►  In the Bellingham Herald -- Reform needs to happen; status quo is unacceptable (op-ed by Rep. Larsen) -- Business as usual is unacceptable for small business owners who cannot afford coverage for their employees. The status quo does not work for families who are worried about their jobs and sky-high health costs. The current system must be reformed for taxpayers who have seen health care costs explode the federal budget deficit. Discrimination must stop for my constituents who are denied coverage, or charged through the roof, because of their age or gender, or because they have a preexisting condition such as diabetes or cancer.

►  In the Kitsap Sun -- Health care must pay for itself, Rep. Dicks says -- He believes the health care legislation will pass if the bill is found by the Congressional Budget Office to have enough revenue built in to not contribute to the national deficit. But it would lose his vote if it doesn’t include key Medicare reimbursement provisions negotiated by himself and Rep. Jay Inslee.

►  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Mid-Columbia health care reform supporters urged to contact lawmakers -- The Democratic party has encouraged supporters of health care reform to stop by their senators' and representatives' offices to express their views. The push is intended to keep pressure on members of Congress to pass reform, even as opponents of proposed legislation have attracted attention in recent days for their protests at town hall meetings.

►  In today's Everett Herald -- Don't buy scare tactics; reformed health care will cost less (op-ed by Sen. Karen Keiser and Rep. Eileen Cody) -- It’s estimated that 14,000 Americans lose their health care every day. That’s roughly the population of Centralia. This year, with the leadership of the Obama administration, we can reverse that trend and build a health care system that protects our choice of doctors and insurance programs, assures all Americans affordable health care, and reduces costs to make health care affordable for us all.

►  In today's News Tribune -- Reps Baird, Smith take different approaches to Town Halls (Peter Callaghan column) -- Is it better politically to condemn angry citizens, cancel forums and limit your availability to virtual meetings where citizens phone or e-mail in questions? Or is it better to show confidence in your position and stand up – perhaps with a few Teamsters in the room just in case?

Trade news: 

►  From Bloomberg -- Obama says "Buy American" stimulus rule doesn't hurt Canada trade -- “This has in no way endangered the billions of dollars of trade taking place between our two countries,” Obama says, noting that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper raises the issue “every time I see him.” The $787 billion stimulus measure approved in February stipulates that products purchased with the funds must be made in the U.S.

►  In today's Wash. Post -- "Buy American" puts strain on U.S. trade relations with Canada -- U.S. cities and states have barred Canadian businesses from bidding on stimulus-funded projects.

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Obama shows signs of warming up to trade, needs to do more (editorial) -- Obama started out more anti-trade than he is turning out to be. He should state firmly he is for trade. (Another absurdly simplistic editorial suggesting that those who support strengthening labor and environmental standards in NAFTA and other trade agreements are "anti-trade.")

Boeing news: 

►  At SeattlePI.com -- Boeing to pay $2 million in whistleblower case -- Boeing agrees to pay $2 million to the Justice Department to settle claims that the company cheated taxpayers by falsifying billing records at a San Antonio plant that maintains Air Force planes.

►  In today's Wall St. Journal -- Seattle frets as Boeing looks south for sites (subscribers only) -- (Anybody out there a WSJ online subscriber? Care to share this report?)

National news: