Purchase of steel no joking matter

I would like to comment on the Tuesday article about Gov. Chris Gregoire going to Detroit to see the Hawks in the Super Bowl – in particular that part where she said she would make a friendly wager with the governor of Pennsylvania and jokingly ask for a price break on Pennssylvania steel for the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge if the Hawks win.

The structural steel for the bridge deck is being manufactured and fabricated in South Korea. This is not a new practice for our state, as the thousands of tons used in the Washington State Convention Center were obtained in a similar manner. This must result in a substantial price break for the taxpayers. The loss of good paying jobs in the states that have steel manufacturing plants coupled with the loss of good paying fabrication jobs in states such as ours, which once had several thriving fabrication shops, and the tax revenue generated by these jobs would surely diminish the final saving.

I think it would be unwise for Gov. Gregoire to initiate any discussion of the steel for the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge, jokingly or otherwise, with the governor of a steel manufacturing state such as Pennsylvania.

Mike Pendergrass Retired ironworker

Lynnwood