When the Boeing gets tough, the guvs get going in Washington.
In 2003, with the state competing for a new airplane, Gov. Gary Locke brought $3.2 billion in offerings to the aerospace god.
Boeing responded by landing final production of its Dreamliner in Everett.
Six years later, with the state confronting a future of fewer planes, Gov. Chris Gregoire pledged her fidelity with a $250,000 study and a promise for two high-level advisory committees.
Boeing’s response is as yet unknown, though leaders are probably yawning in Chicago.
For one reason, Gregoire is acting in predictable fashion.
When difficult problems arise, she herds disparate forces onto a committee to come up with politically palatable solutions.
In this case, her desired Washington Council on Aerospace must find ways to ensure Boeing does the work in this state when it decides to increase production of 787s and 737s.
Those who think Washington is too generous toward Boeing will find this sedated process protects against major giveaways cropping up unseen. Those who fear Boeing will emigrate from Washington sooner than later consider it underwhelming.
Another reason is the 38-page Aerospace Industry Competitiveness Study. It revealed nothing Boeing officials and everyone else didn’t already know.
On March 15, our aerospace reporter Michelle Dunlop, writing under the headline “What Does Boeing Want,” addressed how concerns with the cost of unemployment insurance and workers compensation, offering of job training efforts and intermittent labor strife make Washington less inviting than other states to Boeing.
In its study, Deloitte Consulting cited the same issues to conclude Washington is falling behind other states in winning aerospace contracts. Its analysis — that’s a generous term — has a bevy of charts and graphs with information easily found online, by phone or with an e-mail.
The Snohomish County Economic Development Council, which commissioned the work, should be embarrassed by what the consultant turned in.
The council would have helped the state more by sending the governor to Chicago, where she could take Boeing execs out for a night of dinner and dancing.
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Around here everyone’s counting down to April 26, the day when the 2009 legislative session is scheduled to end, and wondering if it will conclude on time.
I’ve said yes, even predicted the final gavel will fall around 8 p.m. I’m relying on House Speaker Frank Chopp to prove me a sage, not a fool.
That’s not going to be easy because he’s got a Democrat problem to resolve.
At least a dozen in his 62-member Democratic caucus dislike the proposed spending cuts so much they would join Republicans to defeat the budget if it came up for a vote today.
Chopp understands they don’t want to slash funds for teaching students, treating the poor and caring for the most down and out in society.
He knows they’re frustrated at not getting a chance, yet, to vote on putting a revenue-raising measure on the ballot.
He realizes his political skills will be tested in these next two weeks as he works to lock up 50 votes for the budget.
To that end, he’s starting. He acknowledged for the first time this week that a small sales-tax hike may emerge from the House.
And on Friday, he allowed an unemployment insurance bill to pass the way these more-liberal members wanted. The legislation is not written the way the Senate and governor hoped, so negotiations with them lie ahead.
For this weekend, those disenchanted Democrats know Frank is on their side.
And in two weeks I’m betting they’ll be finishing up on time.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623, jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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