Local news:

►  In today's Everett Herald -- Help for Boeing workers facing layoffs -- Boeing has lined up a series of layoff briefings for employees who have received a 60-day layoff notice. Workers learn about state unemployment benefits and services offered by Boeing and its Machinists union. Employees can attend sessions at the factory or online.

►  in yesterday's Everett Herald -- Six vie for leadership spots at SPEEA -- The engineers' union will elect new leaders this week as it battles layoffs and outsourcing issues with Boeing.

►  In Congressional Quarterly -- Obama seeks 5-year delay of tanker contract -- The White House has given the Pentagon guidance to delay procurement of aerial refueling tankers by five years and cancel plans for a new long-range bomber. No final decisions have been made.

►  In today's Seattle Times -- A day after sinkhole, drilling resumes on Brightwater tunnel -- Construction workers cautiously resume drilling a sewage tunnel after seeing no sign of settling in or around a sinkhole that swallowed the driveway of a Kenmore home on Sunday.

►  From AP -- Alaska Airlines reaches tentative terms with pilots -- After more than two years of contract talks, Alaska says it has reached "an agreement in concept" on a 4-year contract.

Legislative news:

►  In the Seattle P-I -- Poll: Voters open to "sin taxes" -- A collection of labor unions, health care groups and environmentalists have been working with state officials on a possible tax package, with hopes that a case can be made to the public for more revenue to halt the deepest budget cuts. The new polling conducted for that coalition shines a light on what kind of taxes are being considered by the people involved in a possible referendum.

►  From AP -- Children's health care called "moral" thing to do -- On a 68-28 vote, the House approved expanded children’s access to state-provided health care coverage. Under HB 2128, families whose household income exceeds 300% of the federal poverty level will be eligible to buy nonsubsidized health insurance for their children from the state after Jan. 1, 2010.

►  In the Tri-City Herald -- GOP blocks tax on employers -- SB 5809, which would divert 0.1% of the amount employers pay into the unemployment compensation fund by 0.1% of taxable wages. The money would be used for work force training grants for laid off workers. Lt. Gov. Brad Owen agreed that it met criteria in I-960 to require a two-thirds supermajority to pass.

►  From AP -- House passes bill to regulate payday lending -- The House votes 84-10 to require lenders to offer extended payment plans to borrowers who get in over their heads. It also blocks borrowers from receiving loans totaling more than 30% of their monthly income.

►  Today from AP -- House approves bill to allow unions for child care workers -- Some child care workers could get collective bargaining rights under a bill passed 65-31 by the House. 

►  In the Kitsap Sun -- Bill to privatize liquor sales still stalled -- State Sen. Tim Sheldon's bid to get the state out of the retail liquor business doesn't seem to be getting much traction (again).

►  In today's Everett Herald -- Lawmakers explore state bonds as stimulus -- Gov. Chris Gregoire thinks voter-approved bonds could be the way to improve infrastructure and cut unemployment.

►  In today's Seattle P-I -- State needs a "high incomes" tax (op-ed by Bill Gates Sr., Aubrey Davis, Marilyn Watkins, Phyllis Lamphere and John Burbank) -- A group of citizens is coming together to promote a "high incomes" income tax. It would be offset with an across-the-board cut of the state property tax. The new net revenue would be dedicated to public education. Most middle-class families would get a tax cut, the highest income families would pay an added tax (which they could deduct from their federal income taxes), and the students of our state would get a boost in the billions of dollars for their education and future well being, prosperity and productivity. We anticipate a multi-year educational campaign to achieve this vision for our future.

Employee Free Choice Act news:

►  Today from AP -- Congress to go to work on union organizing bill -- Legislation that would make it easier for workers to unionize will be introduced today in the U.S. Congress, escalating a battle between Democratic lawmakers and corporate America. 

►  At AFL-CIO Now, blogging from today's Senate hearing -- Witnesses: EFCA critical to stronger, fairer economy -- As the committee hearing on rebuilding the middle class continues, witnesses testify representing the academic, civil rights and faith communities.

►  In today's Wall St. Journal -- Labor bill faces threat in Senate -- Key Senate Democrats are wavering in their support of legislation that would give more power to labor unions, dealing a setback to labor's top priority as businesses warn of the damage the bill would cause. 

►  Yesterday on KUOW -- Labor unions: Vote or card check? -- An hourlong EFCA discussion featuring a tassel-toed management attorney, UW professor Michael Honey, and some guy.

National news: 

►  In today's Washington Post -- U.S. to toughen its stance on trade -- The Obama administration is aggressively reworking U.S. trade policy to more strongly emphasize domestic and social issues, from the displacement of American workers to climate change.

►  Today from AP -- Taking on teachers' unions, Obama backs merit pay -- The president on Tuesday embraced a new approach to education that would reward good teachers, remove limits on charter schools and lengthen both the school day and the school year. These proposals, which constitute the heart of Obama's vision of 21st century education reform, were sure to generate loud criticism, particularly from teachers' union.

►  In today's Detroit News -- Ford UAW workers OK cuts in benefits -- The workers ratify a deal that reduces benefits, break time and potentially weakens the fiscal soundness of a retiree health care fund in an effort to help the ailing automaker survive through the global recession.