Election news: 

►  In the Columbian -- Diverse group voices opposition to Tim Eyman's I-1033 -- "The passage of 1033 would result in at least one closure of a fire station," said Mark Johnston, president of the Vancouver Firefighters Union. "People are going to die needlessly, their houses are going to burn down."

►  In today's Seattle Times -- I-1033 could hit higher ed especially hard -- State officials say state colleges and universities are more vulnerable to deep cuts because there's not a lot left to cut out of the K-12 public-school budget without running afoul of the constitution.

►  In the Kitsap Sun -- I-1033 makes cuts wrong way, at wrong time (editorial) -- After the year we’ve had, restating how lean times play out to individuals, families, businesses or public agencies is more than just redundant. It’s downright painful. Unfortunately, I-1033 would put us through the experience more often in the future. That’s why we’re endorsing a “no” vote.

►  In the Bellingham Herald -- I-1033 poses serious threat to education, other programs (guest column by United Faculty of WA State President Bill Lyne) -- Eyman's initiative has the same rigid spending limits and arbitrary formulas that caused all this damage in Colorado. And we have no reason to believe the impacts of I-1033 would be any different in Washington or cause less damage.

►  In the PS Business Journal -- Yes to Ref. 71, healthy families and economy (editorial) -- Voters can help foster healthy communities by voting to approve Referendum 71. Upholding the domestic partnership law will protect Washington families and show fairness to all citizens regardless of sexual orientation, while protecting our economy. That’s a compelling argument for many Washington businesses that have joined the campaign to approve Ref. 71 -- companies such as Boeing, Microsoft, Perkins Coie, Puget Sound Energy, Real Networks and Vulcan Inc.

►  In the Yakima H-R -- Ref. 71 is about rights, responsibilities (editorial) -- Ref. 71 about granting the same rights and responsibilities of married couples to same-sex couples and to senior domestic partners. We have no argument with this, given the state and federal constitutions' clear guidance on equal rights. That's why we urge voters to approve Referendum 71.

►  In the Columbian -- Approve Ref. 71 (editorial) -- If you approve of fairness and equality for domestic partners, vote "Approve." We hope this will be your choice.

Health reform news:

►  From Politico -- Labor chief takes on White House -- AFSCME President Gerald McEntee led workers in chanting a barnyard epithet to describe the Baucus bill, he published an op-ed warning that the plan could tax the middle class and cost workers their health care, and he blew off a plea from White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and published an open letter promising to “oppose” legislation that contained the tax. "We have had just about enough of his gratuitous slaps,” says a senior White House official. “He’s doing his members a real disservice.” But the AFL-CIO stands by McEntee and his criticism. (To learn more about labor's stance on the issue, see No new tax on middle-class families!)

►  From Bloomberg -- Obama won't demand public option, Jarrett says -- The president will not demand a government-run program be included in the health-care overhaul plan, though that’s his favored option, White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett says.

►  In the NJ Star-Ledger -- Republicans, insurers standing together to block health care reform -- The insurance giants like the present system — a competitive climate that ranges from very little to nearly nonexistent to virtual monopoly; freedom to exclude those with prior medical problems and to rescind policies for those who get sick, and little or no competitive rein on premium increases. Is this a great country or what? The GOP’s motive for opposition is far simpler and stunningly transparent: It wants to deny Obama anything that might seem a victory, then use that failure against him in next year’s mid-term congressional election.

Local news: 

►  In Sunday's Spokesman-Review -- Worker shortage looming -- Washington will be short 417,000 nurses, machinists, construction specialists and other skilled workers within a decade if training programs are not stepped up, says a new report from the Workforce Alliance, which includes labor, industry and educator groups. Beth Thew, secretary-treasurer of the Spokane Regional Labor Council, said students drop out of high school because they do not see the benefits of graduating without any hope of going to college, yet with as little as six months of additional training they could earn much higher incomes in jobs less vulnerable to outsourcing.

►  In the PS Business Journal -- China's Boeing rival -- the upside -- China's newest foray into commercial jets, a 737 look-alike called the C919, may become a significant competitor to Boeing’s cash cow 737, especially in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, China itself. But the state of Washington is responding in a way that might have been controversial in years past -- it’s helping local aerospace suppliers land work with the foreign competitor.

►  In the PS Business Journal -- Car-tab tax shortfall casts shadow over projects -- Unexpectedly meager collections come as unwelcome news as policymakers look at that source for projects such as building the viaduct tunnel replacement and shoring up Metro Transit’s funding.

►  In today's Bellingham Herald -- Bellingham mayor to propose tax increase, tapping reserves -- Mayor Dan Pike will ask council members to approve a state-allowed 1% property tax increase due to the tough economic times in which the city will have cut $28.3 million from its budget.

►  In today's News Tribune -- Employees accuse Pierce County assessor -- Six complaints have been filed against Dale Washam claiming he abused his authority and wasted public money. An official from Teamsters Local 117 cites deteriorating working conditions under Washam.

National news:

►  In the Wall St. Journal -- Obama wins a battle as teachers' union (AFT) shows some flexibility -- This week in New Haven, Conn., the local teachers union agreed to changes widely resisted by unions elsewhere, including tough performance evaluations and fewer job protections for bad teachers. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, as well as the unions, said the New Haven contract could be repeated in other school districts. "I rarely say that something is a model or a template for something else, but this is both," said AFT President Randi Weingarten, who helped broker the New Haven deal.   

►  In today's Washington Post -- Obama's top aides upbraid Wall Street -- The White House sharply criticizes Wall Street firms planning to pay big bonuses, pointedly contrasting the soaring profits some financial companies have recorded with continuing high U.S. jobless rates.

►  In today's NY Times -- The banks are not alright (editorial) -- While bank trading operations are highly profitable again, lending -- which fuels investment and job creation -- is not.

►  At Huffington Post -- White House turns its guns on Chamber -- Nine months after the Chamber helped the White House pass the stimulus and then the bank bailout, the relationship between the two has grown -- as one business insider put it -- "frosty." The Chamber has come out forcefully against several key planks of the Obama agenda.

►  At AFL-CIO Now -- Settlement of 20-year anti-union firing dispute shows need for reform -- Four construction unions have reached a settlement with Fluor Daniel over the company’s practice of discriminating against union organizers who apply for work. It took nearly 20 years to happen.

►  At AFL-CIO Now -- Nurses back Sen. Franken bill to eliminate heavy lifting -- Nurses are injured at a higher rate than laborers, movers and truck drivers because they reposition, move and lift patients. Franken's bill aims to protect RNs, ensure quality patient care and decrease injuries.

►  From AP -- Boeing, Rotorcraft workers reach 5-year deal -- UAW workers at the plant near Philadelphia will get raises of 2% to 4% a year and a lump-sum payment of $3,500.