‘Whatever it takes,’ says Locke on Boeing 7E7 bid

GOV. GARY Locke last week pledged to do whatever it takes to win final assembly of The Boeing Company’s 7E7 next generation aircraft.

Locke’s pledge came after Boeing released its criteria for final assembly of the 7E7.

“We want to win the Boeing 7E7 final assembly,” Locke said in a press conference.

“We want to continue being home to the world’s best commercial airplanes. We want those jobs. And we are confident that we are the best choice for Boeing,” he added.

Boeing’s top criteria include:

• Transportation

• Facilities

• Total cost of doing business

• Workforce

• Environmental considerations

• Community support

• Additional infrastructure issues.

Locke said Boeing’s list includes many of the issues that Washington is already working on or has already completed. He stressed action that he and lawmakers have taken this legislative session on top Boeing priorities. These include:

• Passage of a transportation-improvement package

• Signing shorelines legislation to help secure a rail-barge facility to expand Boeing’s operations in Everett

• Signing legislation that allows the third runway project at SeaTac Airport to move forward

• Signing legislation that establishes a permanent funding source for the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), which helps fund infrastructure for economic development in rural areas

• Signing tuition flexibility legislation giving state colleges and universities greater flexibility in setting tuition to ensure continued education of new engineers who will become future knowledge workers for Boeing and other technology industries

• Signing use tax correction legislation that clarifies use tax exemptions that complement existing sales tax exemptions for repairs on industrial equipment.

Locke said the state is committed to address unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation issues in special session, once business and labor reach an agreement.

“The best airplane assembly workforce in the world lives and works here,” Locke said.

“The best aerospace engineers on the planet live and work here. We’re proud of our Boeing heritage. We want to continue our winning streak with another great Boeing airplane,” he added.

Office of the Governor release, May 16

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