A team at Washington’s Department of Commerce is working to complete a lengthy questionnaire for Boeing as part of a multi-state competition to land the 777X assembly line.
Meantime, state lawmakers in Missouri convened Monday in a special session aimed at improving that state’s chances.
Does this sound familiar?
“Gov. Jay Nixon called a special session that starts today. Lawmakers will work on a plan to win over Boeing,” reported KMOV-TV in St. Louis, where Boeing’s defense division is headquartered, Monday.
Last month,Washington Gov. Jay Inslee called lawmakers into special session to pass $8.7 billion worth of tax incentives over 15 years for Boeing. Now Missouri lawmakers will consider a more modest package worth about a $15 million a year.
Does Missouri pose a real threat to Washington?
“Well, certainly not laughing anybody off,” said Alex Pietsch, Washington’s director of aerospace. “It is clear to me that this is a competition, and the company is serious about potentially taking this work elsewhere.”
More than a dozen states are said to be vying for the 777X work. Boeing has set a mid-December deadline for proposals. The Chicago-based company opened up the competition after unionized machinists in the Northwest rejected a long-term contract offer that included an end to traditional pensions.