Gregoire makes pitch for aerospace tax break extension

SPOKANE — Gov. Chris Gregoire says she wants to extend a tax break for companies that do repair work on airplanes.

The tax credit in question is worth about $485,000 a year, and benefits 16 companies in Washington. It’s set to expire in 2011, but Gregoire says she’d like the Legislature to extend it until 2024.

Gregoire also told an aerospace industry summit today that she’s committed to making improvements in the state workers compensation system.

She made those pledges in a speech that pitched Washington as the best location for Boeing’s next 787 assembly line. The Boeing Co. is expected to choose the second assembly line location by year’s end, and South Carolina is seen as a top competitor.