In Health Care, Cost Isn’t Proof of High Quality. Interesting info, good lead into "Sicko" In a Pennsylvania government survey of the state’s 60 hospitals that perform heart bypass surgery, the best-paid hospital received nearly $100,000, on average, for the operation while the least-paid got less than $20,000. At both, patients had comparable lengths of stay and death rates.–NYTimes State GOP goes outside the U.S. to hire top aide. GOP Welcomes (White) Immigrants. The California Republican Party has decided no American is qualified to take one of its most crucial positions — state deputy political director — and has hired a Canadian for the job through a coveted H-1B visa, a program favored by Silicon Valley tech firms that is under fire for displacing skilled American workers.–San Francisco Chronicle Mexico courses teach migrants American ways. We’re not surprised are we? The workshops — this one was conducted in the central city of Celaya in Guanajuato state — emerged after some 20 workers who had returned from the United States decided to educate would-be migrants about the ins and outs of toiling in the United States.–San Francisco Chronicle Immigration advocates go full steam ahead. Where we go from here. One is a white landscaping firm owner who needs immigrant labor. Another is an African American who believes in universal education. A third is a refugee from Vietnam who has experienced firsthand the pain of family separation. The three Californians joined 22 others Wednesday to launch a 10-day train tour across America to share their stories about why they believe comprehensive immigration reform is needed.–LATimes Security Is Focus of Revised Effort on Immigration. Now it’s a national security issue. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who was haggling with senators over possible amendments, said: “This is a national security bill. We are fixing a national security problem.” –NYTimes