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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Demands were clear to Machinists, Boeing says 10/30/09   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, October 30, 2009 Did Democrats botch 787 deal? Republicans say so By Jerry Cornfield, Herald Writer OLYMPIA — Democratic state lawmakers don't plan on changing their attitude toward Boeing next year just because the company decided to build Dreamliner jets in South Carolina rather than Everett. “We're not going to panic like a flock of birds,” said Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish. He and other lawmakers continued to insist Thursday that nothing could have been done by the Legislature in the 2009 session to prevent the outcome. “There was a sense of inevitability that no matter what we did one way or another, they were headed out of the state,” said Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett. Republicans still view it differently, contending a number of actions by the majority party and Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire contributed to Boeing's decision. “Absolutely they need an attitude adjustment,” said Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla. Wednesday's decision is stirring a lot of emotion. When lawmakers of both parties gather for meetings in Olympia on Dec. 1 and 2, there is sure to be conversations among Democrats on what, if anything, they should do differently in 2010. “We do have to change the way we think. Not to say ‘Boeing is gone, let's go get Airbus.' We need to find the middle ground between the interests of business and labor,” said state Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett. Republicans think Democrats botched things up good last session by not swiftly reforming unemployment insurance or trying to lower companies' costs for workers compensation. Workers comp will be another battle in 2010, they said. Democrats also gave Boeing executives a reason to frown by pushing a bill that would have allowed employees to skip company meetings where managers might be speaking against unionization. Gregoire and the leaders of the House and Senate killed that bill after a labor leader's e-mail ignited a State Patrol investigation into possible influence-peddling. No wrongdoing was found. Sells, an author of the legislation, said it didn't affect Boeing's decision because the firm got what it wanted when the legislation died. He is one of many Democratic lawmakers who think Boeing needs to change its attitude and stop threatening to fly away if they don't get everything they want. “Is it always going to be their way or the highway and that's it on these issues or will there be some more talking with us?” he said. If Democrats don't recalibrate their approach in 2010 it could dim the state's prospects of winning future competitions such as building the next generation of 737 aircraft, business leaders said. “Replaying who lost Boeing is a pretty useless exercise. What we need to do is figure out what makes the state more competitive,” said Richard Davis, coordinator of the Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy. Linda Lanham, executive director of the Aerospace Futures Alliance, said this week's decision has “got to be a wake-up call.” “If they have an attitude that they don't need to improve the competitiveness of Washington state, it will give companies a reason not to stay here,” she said. Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out (No heading) I see the Republicans are in fine form, blame the Democrats. The Democrats started the wars, the Democrats got us into the recession, and the Democrats want to kill grandma. Yada, Yada, Yada. Keep in mind the Democrats gave us Social Security, Medicare and a positive economy. All the Republicans have given us in the last decade was G.W. Bush, a recession and a deficit. I suppose the many strikes had nothing to do with this? walter Lasher | Oct 30, 2009 5:28 am | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Another strike against our community As the back and forth of this issue continues the bottom line is that as a community we remained complacent and once again big business has chosen what they deem a better deal. Numbers notwithstanding, the better deal was not supported, guaranteed, or even discussed on a community level regarding Boeing's move. While it is clear that the economy continues to challenge the entire country, Everett, Snohomish County, and the State of Washington have a vested interest in maintaining and supporting some of the largest companies in the world. We have to invest in them so that they will invest in us. It is that simple and apathy is not a strategy. Where is Everett's and Snohomish County's commitment to educating our young people to find long-term sustainable employment while insuring that Boeing has skilled workers. Is it a stretch to offer full paid college scholarships to young people with the expectation that they work at Boeing for 10 years, for a reasonable salary and benefits. The other option is to watch all skilled and ambitious young people leave our city. Would Boeing have heard this as a commitment? Would they have seen an opportunity here? Where is Everett's and Snohomish County's commitment to sustainability by insuring that Boeing workers have access to affordable housing, community support for home loans, collaborations with builders in our areas to making Boeing a priority? Is is so unrealistic? Again, our investment in Boeing means that Boeing invests in us. It is how all relationships that are effective and long term work. We have to do our part! How is it a stretch to offer Boeing a commuting system that allows workers to get to and from their homes easily using a transit system that supports Boeing workers? Wouldn't we all see this as a benefit? A small investment in infrastructure provides huge returns in our community, and we reduce our risk of more layoffs and reducing work force. Again, for my tax dollar, I am willing to make that commitment. Boeing in Everett and Snohomish County bring vibrancy, money, and a competitive edge that most small cities in the country envy--and we take it for granted?! While I completely understand that nothing is simple, it is much more complicated when our elected officials, locally (Everett City Council--where is your leadership?), Snohomish County Council (Shame!), and elected state representatives (you didn't yell nearly loud enough--you spent your time on prop 71! Shame on you!)-sit back and then start pointing fingers, blaming the other side. We are all responsible and I for one am more than willing to increase my commitment to Boeing to insure longevity, sustainability, and a strong and appropriate relationship! Arthur Padilla | Oct 30, 2009 12:16 pm | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Government did too little? Others have commented that the government didn't do enough to keep Boeing. I suspect that Boeing's preference, like most businesses, would be to have less government involvement in their business, not more. Probably at the top of the list of harmful government interventions are the laws that tie Boeing's hand in dealing with it's unions. These antiquated laws shouldn't apply to a monopoly union whose members are paid so far above average, in my opinion. Boeing's unions have caused great harm to the company recently. It faces enough challenges without having to deal with a government-empowered union whose interests don't align with, and are often at odds with, stockholder interests. Blame the Democrats? It certainly is tempting, given the very long history of quid pro quo between Democrat politicians and the unions, at the expense of the rest of us. But these days, most Republican politicians seem as clueless as the Democrats have always been regarding the proper role of government in a sustainable business climate, especially in light of the rapidly changing nature of the world economy. One bright spot, in my opinion, is that at least at the local/state level, a business can still 'vote with it's feet'. Given the increasingly intrusive federal government, businesses are left with fewer and fewer options. It seems like the federal government is determined to forfeit the role of the US as the world's economic engine, and the mad dash down this path seems to be accelerating. If you are a liberal and have read this far, no doubt you disagree profoundly with me, and believe that business should serve government, not the other way around. My answer to this thinking is that it's only the immense past prosperity of the US that grants you the luxury of feeling this way. As the US declines economically, your children won't have the luxury of blaming US companies for all their ills - the only prosperous companies left to blame will be beyond the reach of their government. Milton Hathaway | Oct 30, 2009 5:56 pm | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Someone forgot to feed the dogs The union elected these individuals to advance the Union cause. They were: Gov. Chris Gregoire Sen. Patty Murray Sen. Cant-do-well and others. I would say they failed. What do you say we fire them next election! Stan Knoblich | Oct 30, 2009 3:13 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Reps versus Dems I think we need to quit fanning the reps verus dems fire. There were many business reasons why it makes sense for Boeing to start up another line on the other side of the country. To concentrate your operations in one area is never a great idea, particularly one prone to high costs, unionization and strikes, and potentional debilitating natural disasters like an earthquake. A business needs to diversify its risks. The sky is not falling - Boeing has NOT left town. Jeff Ryder | Oct 30, 2009 8:24 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Republican Blame game Here we go again.... Lets not forget the republican admin letting a tanker deal go to a European company. Come on guys..... There has to be common ground. A well paid union worker isnt going to get much sympathy from me. Times are tough... Boeing is behind.. They are looking for a cheaper way to go. NOW the genius leaders at the union hall have competition. You did it to yourselves. Ya better see the light guys. The republicans blaming the democrats? Come on guys.... This is a company vs union fight. Its funny how a guy from walla walla can blame democrats. Oh yeah the mexican migrant workers dont have unions Bill Proctor | Oct 30, 2009 7:08 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Did Democrats botch 787 deal? Republicans say so I do not think Dem or Rep or Union botched the deal. It was just a matter of time like Chicago auto manufactures. You build up and area till it gets too expensive (housing & local taxes) and congestive traffic then leave the area for a more affordable location. They say the other area has no skilled workers, people move to get jobs all the time. Skilled workers will come if they supply the job. As for Union, they will stay un union until the company screws it up. Plus as a worker it's never right to see management make multi million dollars a year and then ask the employees to have cuts. They need to lead by example. If they want employees take cuts, so does management. How many jobs will be supplied if management will just take pay cuts. Even if it's small jobs for unskilled workers to clean and paint and do building maintenance. How much does management love the community over personal gain. Doug Hetrick | Oct 30, 2009 5:38 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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