Boeing news:

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing, Machinists deadlocked in secret talks 

Less than a week ahead of a Boeing board meeting to discuss the choice, the labor talks are deadlocked and hindered by distrust on each side, according to a source close to the talks. Boeing CEO Jim McNerney says the decision between Everett and Charleston, S.C., will be announced within two weeks. Machinists union leaders, led by IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger, reportedly said they were prepared to agree to Boeing's demand for a no-strike deal through 2020, but only if a list of conditions was met, including that Boeing would guarantee future work on new jets will come to the Puget Sound-area factories. "The 737 replacement is the big prize right now," says the source, but Boeing is refusing to guarantee any work beyond the second 787 assembly line.

►  In today's Everett Herald -- Crunch time at Boeing: Big decisions, deadlines loom -- Boeing’s experienced work force here has been credited with fixing many of the problems created by the far-flung 787 supply chain. But McNerney plays down the risks of expanding in South Carolina: “Some of the modest inefficiencies... associated with a move to Charleston are certainly more than overcome by strikes happening every three or four years in the Puget Sound” area.

►  In the News Tribune -- Boeing loses $1.6 billion -- Boeing needs to bring more of its engineering work back inside Boeing, McNerney says after announcing a $1.6 billion loss for the third quarter. He admits the company went too far in attempting to develop the 787 while also installing a new design and production scheme that relied heavily on outside suppliers.

Health care news: 

►  At HorsesAss -- Reps. Baird and Larsen undecided on public option? -- A whip count in the U.S. House of Representatives has tallied at least 210 firm votes in support of a robust public option, just a handful shy of the 218 needed for passage. Surprisingly, Washington Reps. Brian Baird and Rick Larsen find themselves on the undecided list. Surprising, because polls consistently show a public option enjoying strong support in Washington state and nationwide.

►  From AP -- Key senators may rebuff Obama on health care -- Obama and Democratic leaders have modest leverage over several pivotal Senate Democrats who are more concerned about their next election or feel they have little to lose by opposing their party's hierarchy.

►  In today's Olympian -- Basic Health Plan needs federal support (editorial) -- The link between the state-subsidized health care program for low-income workers and federal legislation to reform health care just grew a little more urgent and a little stronger. The BHP took a huge hit last legislative session as state lawmakers cut it by 43%, or $255 million, to help balance a two-year state budget. Thanks to an economy that remains sluggish, legislators will have to carve another $1 billion out of the budget. BHP could easily be back on the chopping block.

►  In today's Wash. Post -- Sen. Susan Collins of Maine could be critical crossover vote -- After Sen. Olympia Snowe voted with Democrats on the Finance Committee and the buzz subsided, now the junior senator from Maine is the fence-sitting Republican in President Obama's sights.

Election news: 

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Tim Eyman: Time to give it a rest (Joni Balter column) -- Tim Eyman's latest initiative, I-1033, comes at the worst possible time — in the midst of a deep recession. We don't need to apply a sledgehammer to public services just because he fancies himself as the Pez dispenser of initiatives.

►  At SeattlePI.com -- I-1033: Too much cross to bear, religious leaders say -- The potential for social service cuts from I-1033 has united a formidable ecumenical network of Seattle-area religious leaders. They recall stepping into the breach amid previous cuts, but say  I-1033 would create too large a breach by slapping strict limits on state and local governments. 

►  At SeattlePI.com -- Police: I-1033 could hurt public safety -- King County Police Chiefs Ass'n says the 82% of cities in the county with fewer than 50,000 residents "will be hit the hardest as these cities must carefully manage precious financial resources to provide all of the needed (law-enforcement) services."

►  In today's Everett Herald -- Eyman measure overreaches (editorial) -- I-1033 is a blunt instrument that overreaches, creating likely consequences that would actually discourage prudent financial stewardship and positive economic development, especially at the local level.  

►  At Crosscut -- In Olympia, recession is looking like an opportunity missed (Austin Jenkins column) -- The reality is that much of what state government does is already contracted out -- think road construction. Even so, it seems highly unlikely -- especially with Democrats in charge -- that the current economic crisis will result in any significant outsourcing of government work.
 

National news:

►  From AFL-CIO Now -- State-by-state data show economy still hurting -- The official unemployment rate is at a 26-year high, at 9.8%, with states like Michigan, California and South Carolina even more severely affected. And the official unemployment rate doesn’t take into account the workers who have been discouraged due to long-term absence from the job market; it’s estimated that counting these discouraged, some 26 million people are out of work.

►  In today's LA Times -- Democrats plan more moves to help jobless -- House leaders say they'll push measures to create jobs and maintain a safety net for the unemployed, including extending jobless benefits, to keep the economy from lapsing back into recession.

►  From Bloomberg -- Unemployment benefits extension stalls in Senate -- Republicans are blocking the measure that would extend benefits by up to 20 weeks because they want votes on amendments, including on how to pay for it and unrelated issues such as immigration.

►  In today's NY Times -- U.S. to order pay cuts at firms that got the most aid -- Obama's plan, for the 25 top earners at seven companies that received exceptional help, will on average cut total compensation this year by about 50%. The companies are Citigroup, Bank of America, AIG, General Motors, Chrysler and the financing arms of the two automakers.

►  From Politico -- Conservatives roar, Republicans tremble -- Many top Republicans are growing worried that the party’s chances for reversing its electoral routs of 2006 and 2008 are being wounded by the flamboyant rhetoric and angry tone of conservative activists and media personalities, according to interviews with GOP officials and operatives.