Political news:

►  In Sunday's Seattle Times -- Washington state's labor leaders don't get it -- This editorial was written regarding last week's Times story reporting that unions are not contributing to Democratic campaign funds because of unhappiness over the party leaders' agenda and performance in Olympia. The editorial suggests this "is a kamikaze effort that works against the interests of the Democratic Party and the workers of Washington." It goes on to point out that labor's legislative agenda -- from restoring unemployment benefits cut in 2003 to the passage of the Worker Privacy Act -- are misguided. That the conservative Seattle Times editorial board opposes labor's legislative agenda is nothing new. What is new here is the Times' concern about the Democrats' re-election prospects. As blogger David Goldstein points out, "nobody is a bigger supporter of the Democratic Party than the Bush/Rossi/McGavick/Reichert/Hutchison endorsing Times."

Feel free to disagree with the WSLC's new political strategy -- which, as outlined here, is essentially to support legislators who support labor, as opposed to party organizations. Feel free to disagree with delegates representing WSLC's affiliated unions, who unanimously approved a convention resolution for the WSLC to make no campaign contributions in 2009 to anyone. Feel free to disagree that labor has a right to be upset after what happened in the last legislative session. But ask yourself this: to what extent is the Democratic Party entitled to labor contributions? We're talking about the withholding of contributions -- not the funding of opponents, the withholding of money -- and it is being described as a "kamikaze effort" that one former party chairman calls a "strategy of self-destruction." Who is threatening who here? 

Meanwhile, we can't wait to read The Seattle Times exposés on the Sierra Club only contributing to pro-environment candidates or NARAL only supporting pro-choice candidates.

►  In today's Everett Herald -- Unions want Hans Dunshee to replace Steve Hobbs in State Senate -- Members of the WEA and the SEIU don't want the freshman Democrat from Lake Stevens winning a second term in the state Senate in 2010. Hobbs crossed them last session by voting for a controversial education reform law and opposing a bill enabling child care center workers to unionize. Ever since, the unions been seeking a challenger behind whom they can rally. They may have found their special someone in Rep. Hans Dunshee (D-Snohomish). 

Legislative news:

►  In The Olympian -- Caseloads add to state budget woes -- The budget hole facing state lawmakers in January has widened to a projected $2 billion, swollen by more recent dips in revenue collections and other factors. A new state revenue-forecast due out Thursday could paint an even bleaker picture. The state’s revenue-forecast agency also reported this week that tax collections over the past two months have fallen short of expectations by about $97 million since September’s forecast. Added to that are rising caseloads in public schools and other programs, and greater costs associated with medical assistance provided to the poor. The latter costs for people already receiving services likely will increase by an additional $200 million by June 2011, Gov. Chris Gregoire’s budget office confirmed Friday.

►  In today's Bellingham Herald -- Help grow economy by repealing estate tax (guest column) -- Washington should repeal its estate tax if it wants to keep as many businesses and jobs in state as possible. And so should Congress, which plans to revisit the issue this fall.

Health care news:

►  In Roll Call -- Labor leader Trumka eyes changes, pushes agenda -- Making bold predictions during his first weeks on the job, the AFL-CIO President is assuring passage of a liberal health care overhaul by the 2010 State of the Union, followed by imminent consideration of contentious “card check” legislation. He also is not ruling out launching TV ads or rallying his members against a Democratic-backed health care bill if it taxes benefits, does not include a public insurance option or if it does not force companies to cover their employees.

►  In today's NY Times -- Drug prices rise fast before overhaul -- Even as drugmakers promise to support the overhaul by shaving $8 billion a year off the nation's drug costs after the legislation takes effect, the industry has been quietly raising its prices at the fastest rate in years.

►  From AP -- AP poll: Fine print prompts worries -- What's it going to cost me? Americans are worried about the fine print in the health care overhaul, the poll says, and those concerns are creating new challenges for President Obama as he tries to overcome doubts in Congress.

►  In the News Tribune -- Reichert "just getting started" in attack on AARP policies -- Angered by the AARP's support of the health care bill, the Republican congressman's staff is asking the state insurance commissioner if AARP should be regulated. “I’m just getting started,” he says.

National news:

►  At AFL-CIO Now -- Trumka to launch jobs initiative tomorrow -- AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka will announce a major new initiative to create and save jobs. With unemployment at its highest rate in more than 20 years, Trumka says America needs bold, quick action to put people back to work, in addition to longer term, structural fixes for our economy. The AFL-CIO initiative he announces will include calls to extend help for the unemployed, rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, provide aid to struggling states and communities, create federally funded community-based jobs and increase lending to small and medium-sized businesses to spur job creation.

►  In today's NY Times -- World out of balance (Paul Krugman column) -- International trade imbalances are about to get substantially worse unless China changes its weak-currency policy.

►  In the Arizona Republic -- Readers hurl insults to express hatred for labor unions -- Many, many anonymous commenters others (often in language that didn't make it through our Web site's obscenity filters) write, "Unions exist for no reason." Really? Local labor attorney Stan Lubin says, "About 15 or 20 years ago high schools stopped teaching labor history. Add that to the media harping on unions and you have a misplaced hostility at working folks. And most of it is spewed by people whose lifestyle is based on gains made by unions." The 40-hour work week. Paid vacation. Health care. Safety regulations. Protections against discrimination. None of that was pervasive before unions, and each victory cost some union member his life or livelihood.