Health care news:

►  From AP -- Public option nears 60 votes in Senate, key Democrat says -- A proposal for the public option that is gaining wide support would allow states to choose not to participate in a government-run insurance, says Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). The "opt out" proposal is drawing support from many liberals and moderates and less opposition from lawmakers wary of government insurance.

►  From AP -- Senate likely to cut employer mandate, sources say -- Businesses would not be required to provide health insurance under legislation being readied for Senate debate, but large firms would owe significant penalties if any worker needed government subsidies to buy coverage on their own, according to sources. 

►  At Politico -- Democrats push for health benefits to start in 2010 -- Democrats are pushing Senate leaders and the White House to speed up key benefits, eager to give the party something to show taxpayers for their $900 billion investment in an election year.

►  In today's LA Times -- Insurers poised to reap benefits from healthcare overhaul -- The oft-vilified health insurance industry is on the verge of seeing a plan enacted that largely protects its financial interests. It means millions of new paying customers. What's more, there are likely to be no limits on what insurers can charge, while at the same time the plan is expected to limit competition from any new national government insurance plan that lawmakers create.

►  In today's NY Times -- After reform passes (Pail Krugman) -- If the Massachusetts experience is any guide, health care reform will have broad public support once it’s in place.

Education news:

►  From AP -- Bill Gates sways federal education dollars -- The real secretary of education, the joke goes, is Bill Gates. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been the biggest player by far in the school reform movement, spending around $200 million a year on grants to elementary and secondary education. Now the foundation is taking unprecedented steps to influence education policy, spending millions to influence how the federal government distributes $5 billion in grants to overhaul public schools.

►  In Sunday's Everett Herald -- Merits of merit pay aren't all the proponents say (column by teacher Beverly Hoback) -- Merit pay not only reduces the productivity of those who don’t receive it, it reduces the productivity of those who do. Throwing money at people to motivate them causes them to do just enough to get the “prize” rather than to do their best. And eventually many decide they don’t care enough about the prize to put forth the effort to win it. Pride in one’s work, cooperation, team spirit and self-motivation all wither away in an atmosphere of competition, cheating and resentment. Another problem with merit pay: It assumes that teacher effort is the sole factor in student test scores. Yet studies repeatedly show that parental income is the biggest predictor of student test scores. Merit pay advocate Bill Gates is undoubtedly an expert when it comes to computers. Still, I’ve never seen evidence that he knows squat about educating kids.

►  In the Oregonian -- University of Oregon faculty consider forming union -- Concerns about low pay and a rift with administration have faculty members exploring the possibility of forming a union. The effort is still in the beginning stages with meetings on campus to discuss the idea.

National news:

►  In Saturday's Detroit News -- "No strike" language riles UAW -- A misunderstanding over "no-strike" language in a proposed amendment to the United Auto Workers' contract with Ford Motor Co. has sparked a backlash from some workers who accuse union leaders of giving up their most potent negotiating tool. The Detroit News has learned that the language, which was included in recent contract changes the UAW negotiated with GM and Chrysler was mandated by the Obama administration as a condition of its bailout of the two companies. It was designed to ensure the competitive gains that were forced through by the White House could not be reversed in 2011 contract negotiations between GM and Chrysler and the UAW, according to people familiar with the situation.

►  From AP -- Hotel owner tells Hispanic workers to change names -- The tough-talking former Marine bought a failing hotel in Taos, N.M., and immediately laid down some new rules. He forbade the Hispanic workers from speaking Spanish in his presence (he thought they'd be talking about him), and ordered some to Anglicize their names. 

►  In today's NY Times -- U.S. considers reining in "too big to fail" institutions -- Congress and the Obama administration are about to take up one of the most fundamental issues stemming from the near collapse of the financial system last year -- how to deal with institutions that are so big that the government has no choice but to rescue them when they get in trouble.