In a statement released Tuesday, the International Association of Machinists says, "Instead of spending another $750 million to collect the incentives the South Carolina legislature proposed today (on top of the $1 billion Boeing already spent to purchase that plant earlier this year), we would all be better off if Boeing made the rational decision, with the least amount of risk and best chance of success by simply continuing to work with us. ... Boeing faces a lot of challenges right now, and its only chance for success is to form partnerships with the people who can help it. We are those partners. We can -- and should be -- the force that drives Boeing forward in the 21st century." Read more. 

More Boeing news:

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing talks fall apart; S.C. likely to get 787 line -- Talks between the Machinists union and Boeing over the second 787 line for Everett are effectively dead, says a source. Boeing appears close to choosing Charleston, S.C. In a special session of the South Carolina Legislature, a Senate committee approved a lavish incentive package for Boeing if it picks Charleston, invests $750 million and creates 3,800 new jobs in the state within seven years. That large number suggests that if Charleston does win the 787 line, Boeing will expand there quickly and add substantial work beyond the 787.

►  At SeattleTimes.com -- Murray making last-ditch effort to save 2nd 787 line for Everett -- "The Senator has placed calls to the Machinists and Boeing, asking them to sit down in her office," says her spokeswoman. "The machinists have agreed. We are waiting to hear back from the company." Murray was involved in facilitating talks between the two sides over the weekend. 

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing, Machinists and denial (Danny Westneat column) -- Take away all the union-bashing or management second-guessing. At the core of this breakup drama is a cold statistic: The average pay of the 787 fuselage line workers in Charleston, S.C., is $14 an hour. Boeing Machinists here average $28 an hour. So Boeing is paying less to build airplanes in South Carolina than we pay in Seattle for cutting hair or shelving 3-pound jars of olives at Costco.

►  In today's Everett Herald -- Boeing suitor in S. Carolina sweetens the deal for 787 line -- As Boeing employees here strive to get the 787 back on track, lawmakers 3,000 miles away work to steal away the company's second production line.

►  In today's (Charleston) Post-Courier -- Hush-hush talks held to attract company no one will identify -- South Carolina laid out its cards for the first time in the high-stakes effort to persuade Boeing to expand in Charleston, although legislators refused to name the company they are courting.

►  In today's News Tribune -- It's the end game for Machinists, Boeing (editorial) -- The nasty reality underlying this situation is Boeing’s position. It appears to view its Northwest birthplace with no more sympathy than it might Malaysia or Mongolia. And its long history of hostilities with the Machinists seems quite sufficient to entice it to Charleston. It’s possible the company has already decided on S.C. and intends to blame the decision on the Machinists. We hope not.

Health care news:

►  In today's NY Times -- Democrats divided over Reid proposal for public option -- Senate Democrats voiced deep disagreements over the idea of a government-run health insurance plan, suggesting that the decision by the Majority Leader Harry Reid to include a public plan in major health care legislation had failed, at least initially, to unite his caucus.

►  At Huffington Post -- Reid open to majority vote to beat health-care filibuster -- The process known as budget reconciliation only requires a simple majority -- and can not be filibustered -- meaning Sen. Reid would need only 50 Democrats plus a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Joe Biden to declare victory. Is he still considering going that way? "Sure, it's always an option," Reid said. 

►  In today's Washington Post -- Health reform's Chevy tax (Harold Meyerson column) -- In 2013, the Senate's proposed tax on "Cadillac" health plans will apply to an estimated 19% of individual plans and 14% of family plans. But by 2019, it will sock 34% of individual plans and 31% of family plans. Last time I looked, a third of American motorists were not driving Cadillacs.

►  At SeattlePI.com -- Holding insurance companies accountable, finally (Rep. Jim McDermott column) -- The State of Washington and several other states have passed laws in support of patient rights, but they are unenforceable because of ERISA. Call it patient rights, consumer protection, fairness or accountability, this insurance company exemption is wrong and that's why I introduced legislation (H.R. 3295) to correct this gross injustice. I believe this is something we can deliver immediately to the American people as part of health care reform.  

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Repeal the insurance industry's exemption from antitrust laws (editorial) -- A reform-minded Congress should begin the long road back toward regulation of the nation's financial system by repealing the health-insurance industry's exemption from antitrust laws. How the industry cozily sets prices and divides up markets is not subject to federal scrutiny. Meanwhile, a fat and sassy industry obstructs attempts to rethink how this country provides health care to those who do not have it, or pay ever higher premiums for less and less coverage.

Election news: 

►  In today's Olympian -- Poll shows I-1033 trailing, Ref. 71 ahead -- The Washington Poll shows Tim Eyman's Initiative1033 is losing 46% to 41%, with 13% undecided, among registered voters. Likely voters said they intend to vote no by a 49-40 margin. Ref. 71 is winning by a 56-39 margin among registered voters.

►  In the (Aberdeen) Daily World -- Initiative 1033 would slash more from college budget -- If I-1033 passes, Grays Harbor College could see its budget cut by about $424,000 in 2011, then $1.1 million in 2015, according to the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges.

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Judge declines to suspend rules for Ref. 71 contributions -- A judge has denied an emergency request that would have allowed opponents of Referendum 71 to accept large donations this late in the campaign.

►  In today's Seattle Times -- Ref. 71 opponents resort to distractions (editorial) -- Groups working against a sensible expansion of Washington's domestic-partnership law are desperate to change the subject. Ignore the hyperventilating arm wavers.

►  At SeattlePI.com -- UW poll: Constantine leads Hutchison, Mallahan leads McGinn -- The survey yielded one fascinating development. Mallahan and McGinn were tied during the portion of the poll taken during Oct. 14-20. After McGinn's apparent flip-flop on the Alaskan Way deep-bored tunnel replacement, subsequent polling showed Mallahan ahead 45% to 29%.

Local news:

►  In today's Seattle Times -- State lawmakers should meet soon to deal with budget imbalance (Sen. Joe Zarelli column) -- With the budget already $1.2 billion out of balance, the longer lawmakers wait, the deeper will the cuts eventually have to go. Trouble is, soon there will be nothing to force lawmakers to reduce spending. When the Legislature convenes Jan. 11, the majority party can do what it could not in 2008 or 2009: toss I-960 and raise taxes all on its own. No vote by the people, no bipartisan support or "public conversation" required, just one late-night legislative roll call and those tax-hike protections vanish. History says bet on it.

►  In today's Daily News -- Cowlitz commissioners invoke "substantial need" clause of I-747 -- For the first time, the county has declared a “substantial need” to avoid a budget crisis that would have been caused by the voter-approved measure. 

►  In today's Daily News -- Demand high for Longview Fibre's newest recycled paper -- Fibre has added about 40 jobs over the past year. The company shed 40% of its workforce in 2007 and 2008 and now employs about 1,040.

►  In today's News Tribune -- Gig Harbor preliminary budget calls for more layoffs -- More employee layoffs (5.5 jobs) are needed to balance its 2010 budget.

►  In today's Everett Herald -- Keep services in mind when cursing taxes (John Burbank column) -- It is easy to swear under your breath as you make out your property tax check, but that money is going to our government for education, parks, roads, police, and fire protection, among other public services. No one else is going to make sure these services are available to you.

National news:

►  In today's Bellingham Herald -- Unemployed hope Congress extends benefits again -- Wayne Ryan, a carpenter from Bonney Lake, and Benay Doolittle, an information technology worker from Kennewick, are among the nearly 331,000 unemployed in Washington state. A year ago there were fewer than 200,000. Theirs are the faces behind the numbers. They shared their stories of being down and out through no fault of their own as Congress considers whether to extend unemployment benefits for a third time since the recession began.

►  From AP -- Groups call for balance in labor, immigration laws -- Workplace immigration raids during the Bush administration interfered with ongoing labor investigations and allowed employers to exploit workers who complained about conditions on the job, says a report released Tuesday. The stepped-up immigration enforcement came at the expense of rigorous enforcement of labor protections that are guaranteed to all workers regardless of immigration status. (See yesterday's posting: Immigration enforcement has interfered with workers' rights.)

►  In today's NY Times -- Union vote goes against cuts at Ford -- Ford workers are rejecting the third round of concessions in two years. UAW chapters have turned down changes that include a six-year wage freeze for new workers and a provision bars the union from striking for better pay and benefits through 2015.