Health care reform:   

►  At AFL-CIO Now -- Senate committee unveils strong health care reform bill -- Sen. Edward Kennedy's bill unveiled by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee is “a strong draft that demonstrates their commitment to comprehensive reform and the kind of leadership and energy the country needs to finally win quality, affordable health care for all,” says AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.

►  In today's NY Times -- Savings for small business in health plan -- A study finds that small businesses, already burdened by high health care costs, could save money under a mandate to purchase coverage for employees.

►  In today's LA Times -- System is sick but who pays for the cure? -- Behind the brawling over how to rebuild the nation's health-care system, the toughest battle may be this: Who should pay the bill? Obama and his allies have pledged to come up with more than $1 trillion over the next decade to offset the costs of what would be the biggest health-care overhaul in generations.

►  In today's NY Times -- AMA opposes public insurance plan -- Worrying that private insurers couldn't compete, its opposition presents a major hurdle for advocates of a public insurance plan. President Obama is preparing to address the powerful doctors’ group on Monday.

►  In today's NY Times -- This time, we won't scare (Nicholas Kristof column) -- The bottom line is that America’s health care system spends nearly twice as much per person as Canada’s (building the wealth of hospital tycoons like Health Care Reform Swiftboater Rick Scott). Yet our infant mortality rate is 40% higher than Canada’s, and American mothers are 57% more likely to die in childbirth than Canadian ones. In 1993, the “Harry and Louise” commercials frightened Americans into abandoning health reform. Let’s ensure the scare tactics don’t work this time.

Local news:  

►  In the Federal Way Mirror -- Washington state Wal-Mart employees hope to unionize -- Kim Quartimon has been part of the Wal-Mart staff for seven years, and says she has seen the company slip from a family-friendly employer to a company that uses scare tactics to intimidate workers and discourage union representation. "I know my rights," she says. "It's my constitutional right to want to be in a union." She and several other employees hope to unionize with UFCW Local 21 and secure higher wages, comprehensive health care coverage and improved working conditions.

►  At SeattlePI -- Gay city employees fight to protect identities -- Several city of Seattle workers have filed suit to prevent the release of names and membership lists of a gay and lesbian employee organization. At issue is a request by Seattle City Light employee affiliated with a conservative Christian organization opposed to gay rights.

►  In the Daily World --Montesano superintendent, teachers' union at odds -- The Montesano Education Association says its vote of no confidence in Superintendent Marti Harruff was due to financial mismanagement they say contributed to the school district’s current hard times and that Harruff “has allowed a culture of secrecy, intimidation and reprisals” to flourish.

►  In the Daily World -- Ocean Shores to lay off 5 workers -- City layoffs include a mechanic, a code enforcement/animal control officer, a firefighter, a police officer and a library worker.

►  At SeattlePI.com  -- Republican Susan Hutchison: "I don't have to say anything" to voters -- The Republican candidate for King County Executive calls Dow Constantine a liar for suggesting she's too conservative for local voters and ducking a debate. When asked what he was lying about, Hutchison said she wouldn't talk about specific issues not germane to county politics.

National news:   

►  From AP -- White House: Rein in pay across private sector -- The Obama administration says executive compensation must be better managed to prevent the sort of risk-taking that jeopardizes the economy. The administration does not want to impose caps on executive pay. But he also laid out for the House Financial Services Committee a list of guidelines calling on publicly-held companies to link compensation to long-term performance, not short-term gains.

►  In today's NY Times -- Treasury to set executive pay at 7 ailing firms -- The sweeping proposal to restrict executive pay is likely to be a humbling exercise for seven of the nation’s largest companies, which have received billions of dollars in federal assistance.

►  From AP -- 76 unionists murdered in 2008, int'l group says -- The International Trade Union Confederation says people killed for trying to protect workers' rights were mostly in Latin America: 49 in Colombia, nine in Guatemala, four in Venezuela, and three in Honduras.

►  From WFAA.com -- More safety concerns arise about foreign airplane mechanics -- A pipeline of mechanics that are being funneled into the U.S. from foreign countries and may lack the necessary English skills to read and understand the manuals needed to make proper repairs.