Unions in Washington state are threatening to hold back their support for some Democrats in statewide races after a couple of disappointing sessions. Over the weekend, the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO had its Committee on Political Education convention and left some significant gaps in the legislative race lineup.

Not surprisingly, all incumbent Democrats in U.S. congressional races got endorsements, as well as Craig Pridemore in the open 3rd District race and Jay Clough who is running against Republican Rep. Doc Hastings in central Washington's 4th District.

In fact, the only congressional race without a labor endorsement is Eastern Washington's 5th District, where incumbent Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has drawn a challenger from the right, the Constitutional Party's Randall Yearout, but a serious Democrat has yet to materialize for the race. (And one may not. It is getting extremely late.)

Labor delegates did endorse state Rep. Timm Ormsby and Democratic hopeful Andy Billig in central Spokane's 3rd Legislative District, but otherwise ignored other Eastern Washington contests.

They voted to oppose returning the super-majority for tax increases, privatized worker's comp, privatized liquor stores or any attempt to repeal taxes the Legislature raised last seesion, and support the proposal for an income tax -- if any of them get on the ballot.

In Spokane, if you were planning to come to City Hall tonight to support independent  investigations of the city Police Department, you can stay home...for a week. The groups planning to rally before a City Council meeeting have moved their demonstration to next Monday, May 24, at 5 p.m., because the council moved the issue to next week's agenda.

Coming Tuesday:

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is in Seattle to tour a Boeing plant and Tacoma to tour the port.

The Spokesman-Review unveils its multi media package to mark the 30th anniversary of the Mount St. Helens explosion.

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