It’s always good to see that some Democrats understand the market. Cong. Denny Heck (D-WA) said that to tackle the homelessness issue and help young buyers, we need to build a lot more housing. Heck was reacting to a report by pro-growth Democrats that nationally, we’re short 7 million housing units. To those who say development brings gentrification, Heck said, “Well, what’s the alternative?” (My Northwest)

New independent ads highlight Congressional candidate Dino Rossi’s pro-free trade views. Commercials from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s $200,000 ad buy note that 40 percent of jobs in Washington are trade-dependent. Rossi reacted, “Especially here in Washington, where we export so many of our products, we have a lot to lose in a trade war.” (Seattle Times)

Later today the Seattle City Council is scheduled to vote on a bill to guarantee minimum wages, rest breaks and other rights for domestic workers, including nannies and house cleaners. Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda’s bill would also create a government board to oversee the industry. (Seattle Times)

Michael “Scott” Maclay, the candidate looking to unseat incumbent Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, seems to have a resume built on controversy. Among other speedbumps, court records describe Mr. Maclay as a con man, cyberstalker, and bully who lost his real estate license for cheating. (The Spokesman-Review)

During an economic symposium last week, state and local economic officials indicated Yakima County’s outlook is good at all levels. One strong metric noted by Don Meseck, regional economist for Employment Security, was the ongoing job growth and record low unemployment in Yakima County. (Yakima Herald-Republic)

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