►  In the Wall St. Journal -- Trumka shows he's flexible on health overhaul -- Labor is flexing its muscle to pass a health overhaul plan -- and signaling its flexibility about some of the details.

►  From AP -- No guarantee Senate bill's public option -- The focus of the debate now shifts to whether Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid can persuade a handful of moderate senators to get behind his new proposal for a government-sponsored insurance plan. That's no sure bet.

►  In today's Oregonian -- Questions remain about reach of Senate's public option -- According to a quick CBO analysis, about 90% of all people seeking coverage would not be allowed to enter the insurance exchange offering the government-run choice. The only ones in the exchange would be those who currently lack coverage and a small subset of small business.

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Washington's pioneering ways inform health-care debate (guest column by Rod Hochman and David Fleming) -- The best ways to achieve more comprehensive health reform, with major changes in how health care is delivered and financed, are still under development. And many of those pioneering efforts are under way right here in our "other" Washington.

Boeing news:

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Gap remains in Boeing-IAM talks; S.C. may sweeten deal -- Boeing's board met Monday in Chicago without reaching a decision on siting a second 787 line, as high-stakes talks continue between the Machinists union and the company. In exchange for a 10-year no-strike guarantee, Boeing would agree to binding arbitration to settle wages and benefits disputes, but the union is reluctant to accept that. The union also wants Boeing to commit to place future plane-making here. Boeing opposes making such promises that extend far into the future, but the Machinists argue that's precisely what the company is asking from the union. Any 10-year agreement would have to be ratified in a vote of the union membership. The deal will reach that stage only if Boeing offers a package the union leadership thinks its members are likely to accept. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, a special legislative session to deal with the state's insolvent UI system may include a Boeing incentive package, although an effort to impeach the Gov. Mark Sanford could get in the way.

►  In today's NY Times -- Bid process for Air Force tanker is criticized -- Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who supports Northrop Grumman and a European plane maker, says the proposed bid process was “fundamentally flawed” because the Air Force gave Boeing some of its cost data during a previous round of bidding. Boeing counters that the Pentagon is not taking into account a preliminary finding that Northrop’s partner, Airbus, benefited from improper subsidies.

►  At SeattlePI.com -- Boeing approves quarterly dividend, pension contribution -- Its board of directors declare a regular quarterly dividend of 42 cents per share and approve putting up to $1.5 billion in Boeing common stock into the company's defined benefit pension plans.

►  At FlightBlogger -- Boeing completes detailed design on 787 wing fix -- Boeing says the final parts are being fabricated for the side of body modification that has kept the 787 grounded.

Local news:

►  At SeattlePI.com -- Chance of more jail cuts worry police, officials -- Due to budget cuts, the state Department of Corrections has begun sending some felons who violated probation home with an ankle bracelet instead of back to prison. Since late July, it has ended community supervision of nearly 10,000 offenders deemed low-risk. "As of a couple weeks ago, we laid off 279 in prisons," DOC Secretary Eldon Vail said. "I think we've laid off 60-plus in community corrections, but were going to get to about 250 layoffs in community corrections within the next month or so." With the state still facing a $1.7 billion budget hole, officers are worried the cuts could get worse after the Legislature reconvenes. Says WFSE's Tim Welch: "The cuts in place now are a tragedy waiting to happen."

►  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Study recommends demolishing FFTF, banning waste imports -- Ground work for significant Hanford cleanup is laid out for decades to come in a draft version of a new environmental study. Among decisions it recommends are entombing the Fast Flux Test Facility, emptying 99% of waste from underground tanks, leaving the emptied tanks in the ground, and continuing to ban some, but not all, radioactive waste from being sent to Hanford.

►  In today's Walla Walla U-B -- Minimum wage to hold at $8.55 in 2010 -- "Anybody that is trying to support a family on minimum wage is likely to, depending on family size, be on public assistance to supplement that," says a local social-service agency director. "When they get a wage increase, it just drives down then what they would get supplementary." (WSLC President Rick Bender: $8.50 an hour is still poverty wages for thousands of Washington families.)

►  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Tri-Cities has state's lowest cost of living -- Of the state's top five metro areas -- Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Spokane, Tacoma, Yakima and Kennewick-Pasco-Richland -- the Tri-Cities remains the least expensive place to live.

►  In today's Yakima H-R -- Union Gap cuts 5.5 jobs over heated protests -- Despite protests from about 50 residents and city employees, the city council votes to cut the positions. 

National news:

►  From AP -- Obama to give $3.4 billion in grants for smart grid -- The president will announce $3.4 billion in grants to help build a "smart" electric grid that will save consumers money on utility bills, reduce blackouts and carry power supplies generated by solar and wind energy. It marks the largest award made in a single day from the $787 billion stimulus package, and will create tens of thousands of jobs while upgrading the U.S. electric grid.

►  In today's NY Times -- The case for more stimulus (editorial) -- The economy is going to need more government support, or it is bound to be very weak for a very long time -- and vulnerable to a relapse into recession. Unemployment is expected to worsen. Foreclosures are expected to rise. State and local governments face budget shortfalls in 2010 that are as bad or worse than this year’s. Yet Washington is not providing a coherent plan for effective stimulus.

►  From AP -- Hawaiian Airlines pilots say talks at impasse -- The Air Line Pilots Association says it has asked the federal government to release its members at the airline from mediation, "a process that could start the clock for a future pilots strike at the airline."

►  In the NY Times -- For Delphi pensioners, union label helps -- The GM deal with the government that ensures Delphi’s 46,000 union workers have their pension benefits restored, but does not cover some 21,000 salaried nonunion workers and retirees. The latter are angry.

Chamber news:

►  At Huffington Post -- Who funds the Chamber of Commerce? Help Huffington Post find out -- The Chamber has been vociferous in opposing financial reform, opposing health care reform, opposing climate change legislation (plus opposing to freedom to choose unions and opposing the rights of gang-rape victims). It has always refused to disclose its donors or even its taxable spending on political races. HuffPost wants to find out more about the Chamber's members -- help us learn more about who is funding the Chamber by telling us what you know. Though their funding comes from membership dues, those are based on size so larger companies end up contributing most of the Chamber's revenue. HuffPost is wondering whether any companies have adjusted their level of support recently? Send us your tips at tips@huffingtonpost.com.

►  At Huffington Post -- Chamber sues group over climate change policy prank -- The Chamber files a civil complaint against a liberal activist group that staged a news conference to falsely announce that the business federation had reversed its stance on climate change legislation.

►  In today's Wash. Post -- The U.S. Chamber vs. honesty (editorial) -- Not only is the Chamber of Commerce indifferent to the truth in the Virginia governor's race; it's also hostile to the business community in the most populous and economically dynamic part of the state. In positioning itself as an arm for the Republican Party, the Chamber has cast doubt on its own credibility.