Health care news:

►  In today's LA Times -- In reversal, Rep. Kucinich says he'll vote for health reform bill -- Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat who has been critical of the president's healthcare plans for not going far enough, announced Wednesday that he will vote for the House's final bill -- offering leaders in that chamber their first switch from a "no" to a "yes" as a key vote nears this week.

►  In today's (Everett) Herald -- Pass health reform: The alternative is unacceptable (editorial) -- Starting over means keeping the broken system we have for years. And years. It means more emergency departments acting as primary-care facilities for the uninsured. It means the continuation of a Medicare system that rewards the number of services provided rather than the quality of care. It means Americans with medical conditions remaining unable to change jobs for fear of losing coverage. Those are unacceptable options.

►  In today's Washington Post -- Republicans now face democrats' Deem Team (Dana Milbank column) -- Just days before the climactic vote, the "tea party" movement issued an unexpected surrender. Now, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she favors a "deem and pass" maneuver that would allow the House to pass the Senate's health-care bill without actually having to vote on it.

►  From AP -- House leaders joust over use of parliamentary rule -- House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer declined to say if Democrats have enough votes to pass historic health care legislation, but hinted that they're poised to use an arcane parliamentary process to get it done.

Local news:

►  In today's Seattle Times -- City Light managers, advisers want to unionize -- Seattle City Light managers and strategic advisers whose jobs were targeted for cuts this year by Mayor Mike McGinn want to unionize. McGinn has since backed off on his call to demote or eliminate 200 unrepresented employees across city government. He says he still intends to trim back, but as part of midyear budget cuts later this spring. About 145 Seattle City Light employees filed last month with PERC to organize under the Washington Council of City and County Employees

►  At SeattlePI.com -- City of Seattle's insurance, labor costs skyrocket -- The number of city workers has remained essentially the same since 2002, but payroll expenses have gone up 40% and the amount spent to provide health and dental benefits has nearly doubled.

►  At SeattlePI.com -- Viaduct tunnel: Will it finish within budget? -- State experts believe it will -- with caveats. So far, the tunnel's price tag has increased slightly more than 3% since January 2009's estimate of $1.9 billion when about 1% of the design work was done. 

►  In the Daily World -- Controversial county report has recycled content -- Bolstering the argument that an operations review of the Grays Harbor Planning & Building Department is nothing more than a “flawed, fill-in-the blank, cookie cutter” document, a strikingly similar report with some identical wording criticizing the City of Denver’s planning department from seven years ago has emerged. The county employees have said all along that the report wasn’t entirely based on facts.

►  In today's Bellingham Herald -- Bellingham to hold April meeting on big-box changes -- Leaders want to consider allowing stores to expand beyond the current 90,000-square-foot limit, but only if they're not superstores and they meet environmentally friendly development standards.

►  In today's Tri-City Herald -- Hanford cases reviewed under new compensation rules -- The Department of Labor has done the initial screening of about 1,200 cases that may be newly eligible for compensation because of illnesses caused by exposure to radiation at Hanford.

►  At HA Seattle -- Why Rossi won't run -- The post-economic-collapse political climate and the financial scandals that precipitated it have virtually assured that Rossi’s own business dealings would be exposed to the kind of public scrutiny he managed to mostly avoid in 2004 and 2008. And it’s not so clear that Rossi’s reputation would hold up so well under such circumstances, including his business relationship with his mentor, Mel Heide, who bilked millions from his clients, and more recently Rossi's sweetheart deal and unreported $50,000 loan from developer Michael Mastro, who faces charges after costing his investors all of the $100 million they entrusted to him.

National news:

►  In today's NY Times -- Jobs bill passes U.S. Senate -- The measure, approved on a bipartisan vote of 68-29, would give employers an exemption from payroll taxes through the end of 2010 on workers they hire who have been unemployed for at least 60 days. It also extends the federal highway construction program and takes other steps to boost public building projects. (Both Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell voted "yes.")

►  At Huffington Post -- Business-labor blowout threatens immigration reform -- Business and labor interests are at loggerheads over regulating the flow of foreign workers. Unions propose a panel that sets numbers in order to protect American jobs. Business wants a more market-oriented system. Talks to resolve the dispute have broken down. Says AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: "A new temporary worker program in today's economy would be political suicide."

►  From AP -- Europe sore about tanker bid -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that “trans-Atlantic economic relations must be based on open markets and fair competition, and reject the temptations of protectionism.”

►  At AFL-CIO Now -- China currency bill a "major step forward" -- Bipartisan legislation to address “egregious and ongoing” currency manipulation by China and other nations is a major step in the fight for good jobs and fair trade, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says.

►  In today's Wash. Post -- Immigrants vulnerable as recession spurs more bosses to shortchange workers -- Construction, restaurant and janitorial workers appear particularly vulnerable, especially if they are immigrants who don't speak English or lack legal status.

►  In today's Washington Post -- Outsourcing intelligence (David Ignatius column) -- The military shouldn't rely on private contractors to do its dirty work.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010
Daugharty memorial Saturday in Idaho

Former Washington State Labor Council Vice President and Operating Engineers Local 609 Business Manager Dale Irwin "Nick" Daugharty, 72, passed away on Saturday, March 13, 2010 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  A memorial celebration of Dale's life will be held at noon on Saturday, March 20 at the Clark Fork Senior Center in Clark Fork, Idaho, followed by a potluck dinner and private internment at the family plot at the Clark Fork Cemetery.

He was born in the Page Hospital in Sandpoint to M.H. "Mike" and Irene (Lynge) Daugharty on November 8, 1937. He was raised in Clark Fork graduating from high school in 1956. Following graduation he joined the United States Army where he received training as a helicopter mechanic. Three years later he was honorably discharged from his army duties that included 18 months in Korea.

Returning home he found civilian work as a helicopter mechanic with oil exploration companies in Alaska. While there he earned enough money to supplement his G.I. Bill to attend trade school obtaining an A&E license in aircraft maintenance. This education was followed by employment with Boeing Aircraft Company.

A massive labor reduction at Boeing in the early 1970’s forced him to find employment with the classified staff in the Seattle School District. He soon became active in the local union obtaining the position of Business Manager for Local 609 of the International Union of Operating Engineers. He remained in that position until his retirement in 1997.

Through union activities and his advocacy for workers rights he was elected to an office as a vice president of the Washington State Labor Council and eventually the President on the King County Labor Council that has over 70,000 members. As a Union President he dined with presidents, governors, senators and mayors, but much preferred the company of people who “worked for a living” in the cafes and establishments of Northern Idaho and Seattle discussing issues and matters of importance to them.

He was asked to serve on several governmental committees by both state legislators and governors. However if you asked him about his greatest accomplishment he would probably tell about being a member of the group that started the Washington State school breakfast program. The success of this program is directly related to a rise in academic achievement among Washington schools and an increase in children’s health.

After his retirement Dale returned to Bonner County, the land he loved best. He continued his community activities here serving on the Bonner County Historical Society Board, the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail Group and at the time of his demise he was President of the Ponderay City Council.

During his lifetime he demonstrated a fierce love for his extended family, a commitment to workingmen and women, and an appreciation for the communities where he lived. He was an ardent historian of his family and Bonner County and researched for the pleasure of himself or others. His family appreciated his counsel and support.

He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years Donna (Smith) Daugharty and son Don; stepson Matt (Kaye) Spitzenberg of Seattle, their children Brandon, Ryon, and Leslie and eight great grandchildren; brother Dave (Mary) Daugharty of Cheney, WA, sons Tim (Kim), Scott (Pat) and children; in-laws Craig (Rocky) Smith and family of Bellingham and Betty Smith and family of Mesa, AZ, and Dorothy Smith.

His untimely death was caused by colon cancer. His zest for life and strong beliefs in humanity gave him the strength to fearlessly and bravely fight cancer for seven years. Memorial donations may be made to Community Cancer Services, 1215 Michigan Street, Suite B, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit http://www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.