Urge Cantwell, Murray: Stop the outsourcing! (WSLC Reports

September 28, 2010

Sept. 27: Olympian: Vote "No"on 1082

Sept. 24: Labor Neighbor schedule

Sept. 23: Don't block minimum wage hike

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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Urge Cantwell, Murray: Stop the outsourcing!

Before they head off on their election season recess this Thursday, members of the U.S. Senate have the chance to take a real stand against shipping U.S. jobs overseas. Urge your senators to end the filibuster of the Creating American Jobs and Ending Offshoring Act. This legislation would give tax incentives to businesses that hire U.S. workers in place of those doing the same work overseas, plus it would end subsidies for companies that move facilities or production offshore. Read more.

Boeing news:

► In today's (Everett) Herald -- Boeing rallies forces for tanker contract -- Boeing workers and officials joined members of Congress on Monday in waving the flag at a rally promoting the 767 as the next military refueling tanker. At an event on the factory floor, they said the 767 assembled here is the best choice for the $35 billion military contract because it's the best airplane and will be made by American workers. "This is the best tanker," said James Albaugh. "It will save lives, it will protect jobs, and it will save money for the U.S. taxpayer."

► At SeattlePI.com -- Boeing executives, workers rally for tanker -- Congress won't pay for new U.S. Air Force aerial refueling tankers unless the Pentagon considers illegal subsidies in evaluating the proposed aircraft, Rep. Jay Inslee pledged during the rally: "If you don't consider these illegal subsidies in this procurement process, if you want appropriations for this contract, you're going to have to go to France."

► At SeattlePI.com -- Albaugh: Boeing bid assumed DoD would not consider subsidies -- He says he is optimistic about the company's chances even if a bid to tie subsidies into the contest fails.

► From AP -- Boeing gets order for 4 big 777s from Air China

The search for an industrial policy:

► At Huffington Post -- Priming a broken pump (by Stan Sorscher. SPEEA Legislative Director and WSLC Vice President) -- In past recessions, we used the term "priming the pump" as shorthand for economic stimulus. ... How about replacing the image of a pump with the image of a leaky bucket? The bucket is our economy. The economic stimulus is the water we pour into the bucket. The holes in the bucket are leakage into the global economy. We pour water into the bucket, and the water leaks out, creating jobs in India, Brazil, and Finland.

China did not fall for the false choice between pure free markets and protectionism. Japan, Korea and Europe did not fall for the false choice between free markets and "socialism." They found solid middle ground with effective industrial policies. Trade is good, and trade can raise our standard of living. However, to enjoy that outcome, we will need new trade policies based on practical industrial policies rather than outdated, highly idealized, and discredited free trade orthodoxies.

Election news:

Check out the comparison of 8th Congressional District Democratic challenger Suzan DelBene and three-term Republican incumbent Dave Reichert on issues that matter to working families in King and Pierce counties. It's the latest flier available for union leaders and members that explains why candidates like Suzan DelBene have earned labor's endorsement.

► At Daily Kos -- Dino Rossi's past coming back to haunt him -- Voters are reminded once again this week of the political scandal that bit him back during his second failed run for governor in 2008. What the BIAW settlement will do, just weeks before the election, is to reinforce why Washingtonians don't much like Rossi -- almost every poll shows high unfavorable ratings for him. They don't trust him.

► In the Seattle Times -- Eyman's I-1053 undermines the principle of majority rule (by Rep. Reuven Carlyle) -- This initiative isn't really about taxes. It's about your democratic right to fairness. Under I-1053, 17 legislators are encouraged and empowered to join forces to effectively seize control of our state revenue process. I-1053 allows 17 legislators to block a new user fee as small as 25 cents for 911 emergency services, or to provide financial aid for college students or supplies for teachers. Realistically, it would also have the effect of locking in each and every existing corporate tax break, loophole and special-interest deal. Forever.

► In today's Spokesman-Review -- Business owner backs income tax initiative -- Spokane business owner Janine Vaughn is backing Initiative 1098, the high-earners income tax measure on Washington's November ballot. So is the Main Street Alliance, a small-business advocacy group Vaughn belongs to. If voters approve the initiative, Vaughn said it "would help give hours back to my workers who've been hit by cutbacks."

► In today's Washington Post -- "Super PACs" alter campaign -- A new political weapon known as the "super PAC" has emerged in recent weeks, allowing independent groups to both raise and spend money at a pace that threatens to eclipse the efforts of political parties. The committees spent $4 million in the last week alone and are registering at the rate of nearly one per day. They are quickly becoming the new model for election spending.

(Thanks, conservative activist judges on the U.S. Supreme Court!)

Local news:

► At SeattlePI.com -- Constantine's budget proposes laying off 200 county workers -- Staring down a $60 million shortfall next year, King County Executive Dow Constantine unveils a grim, painful budget that calls for layoffs of more than 200 people, severe cuts to criminal justice, the eradication of human services, and a near obliteration of family court services.

► In the Daily News -- City of Longview may need to cut 10 jobs -- The city may have to eliminate 10 employee positions and cut services to bridge a $1 million budget gap next year.

► At TheNewsTribune.com -- Washington still in line for that 10th congressional district -- A look at fresh Election Data Services numbers and reports the state has grown enough since the last Census to add a seat. If it happens, the state Redistricting Commission will divide the state into 10 districts rather than nine in time for the 2012 election.

National news:

► In today's LA Times -- Employers, workers to pay more for health coverage -- Healthcare premiums paid by large U.S. employers have more than doubled over the last decade, but the costs to their employees more than tripled, a study released Monday found.

► At AFL-CIO Now -- AFT's "Not Waiting for Superman" site tells whole story -- The movie "Waiting for Superman" has spurred a conversation about our nation's education system. But the movie doesn’t tell the real story about what's happening in our nation's schools. The AFT is not waiting for Superman -- its members are telling the whole story now.

► In today's LA Times -- Labor dispute erupts over "The Hobbit" -- SAG has joined six other unions who represent performers in advising their members to not work on the "non-union production" of the "Lord of the Rings" prequels now in production.

(Last Friday, we had a collection of links called "What-if-Republicans-were-in-charge news." Today, we figured, turnabout is fair play. Sincerely, The Entire Staff of WSLC Reports Today)

What-if-Democrats-were-in-charge news:

► In today's NY Times -- Profiles in timidity (editorial) -- The failure of congressional Democrats to act on Bush's expiring tax cuts was not about Republican obstructionism, of which there has been plenty. This was about Democrats failing to seize an opportunity to do the right thing and at the same time draw a sharp distinction between themselves and the Republicans.

► At Politico -- D.C. disconnect: 400 fundraisers in 14 days -- Inside the Capitol, lawmakers are marking time by naming post offices and passing a resolution to keep the government running through the elections. But outside the Capitol, in the private rooms of D.C.'s top steakhouses, political clubs and Capitol Hill salons, an epic money grab is under way, with more than 400 fundraisers for House candidates in the two weeks leading up to Friday's adjournment.

► In The Hill -- Democrats to stuff 20 bills into post-election lame-duck session -- But, given the slow pace of the Senate, they'll be hard-pressed to pass even a small part of their agenda.

► At Politico -- Joe Biden to Democrats: "Stop whining" -- The vice president stokes a firestorm of liberal discontent with President Barack Obama -- demanding that the Democratic base "stop whining" and start fighting Republicans instead of the White House.

► In today's Washington Post -- Emanuel may soon confirm his Chicago bid -- (Not soon enough.)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2010
Urge Cantwell, Murray: Stop the outsourcing!

Before they head off on their election season recess this Thursday, members of the U.S. Senate have the chance to take a real stand against shipping U.S. jobs overseas.

Click here to urge your senators to end the filibuster of the Creating American Jobs and Ending Offshoring Act (S. 3816), which includes critical steps to keep jobs in America. It would:

Give tax incentives to businesses that hire U.S. workers in place of those doing the same work overseas.
End subsidies for companies that move facilities or production offshore.

With unemployment hovering near 10 percent, this is a commonsense step to stop the bleeding of good American jobs.

Don't let your senators head off to campaign without voting now to move this important legislation forward.