Updated Feb 29, 2008 - 7:33 pm
Outrage From Washington Leaders
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E-mail this | In a rare joint statement from Washington's Congressional delegation Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell along with Representatives Norm Dicks, Rick Larsen, Jay Inslee, Adam Smith, Jim McDermott, and Dave Reichert collectively said:
We are outraged that this decision taps European Airbus and its foreign workers to provide a tanker to our American military.This is a blow to the American aerospace industry, American workers and America's men and women in uniform.
Boeing has 75 years of experience in building the tankers our military flies. Washington state's workers are second to none and so is their product.
At a time when our economy is hurting, this is a blow not only to our state, but the more than 40 states across the country who would help build this national plane.
We will be asking tough questions about the decision to outsource this contract. We look forward to hearing the Air Force's justification.
Individually Rep. Adam Smith said he looks forward to reading in detail the Air Force's justification for the contract award. The Defense Department had previously identified Boeing tankers as highly rated, cost-effective updates to the force, Smith said.
Senator Patty Murray says all Americans should be questioning whether or not they want military planes built overseas at a time when we don't know what the future brings. She says just because there may be an American flag on the plane's tail, doesn't mean the new tanker is American made.
| listen > | Senator Patty Murray Senator Patty Murray spent time with Boeing employees following the decision. She says she sympathizes with their frustration. |
Rep. Norm Dicks called Friday a "Dark day" live on 710 KIRO's Dori Monson show. Dicks said there will be a firestorm of criticism from Capitol Hill and it isn't going to be the just from the Washington delegation. Members of Congress are not happy about the French building this airplane. Dicks said that the scandal involving Boeing contracts has to carry a lot of the blame for the loss of this particular deal. He says that he'll know better what the next step will be after he talks to Boeing and the Air Force about the details of this contract.
| listen > | Rep. Norm Dicks Congressman Norm Dick's tells 710 KIRO's Dori Monson that it's a dark day as Boeing loses a massive Air Force tanker contract to Northrop Grumman. |
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson is shocked over the announcement. He says he can't believe the Air Force would award this contract to a company overseas. Stephanson wants the employees of Boeing to know that the City of Everett is thinking about them.
| listen > | Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson wants the employees of Boeing to know that the City of Everett is thinking about them. Stephanson called into the 710 KIRO Newsroom. |
Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon says he's very disappointed in the decision, but he promises the county will continue to stand behind the Boeing Company. Reardon says his focus now is keeping the Boeing employees' families and jobs secure. He's confident in the stability of the county's economy.
| listen > | Snohomish County Exec. Aaron Reardon Snohomish County Exec. Aaron Reardon calls into the 710 KIRO Newsroom to express his support for Boeing families in the area. |
Rep. Rick Larsen says he's disappointed the Air Force chose a European airplane over Boeing's. He says we're not getting the best plane of for the job. Boeing has proven it builds the best aircraft. Larsen says Congress could hold hearings to ask the Air Force what brought them to this decision, but it's up to Boeing to appeal the decision.
| listen > | Rep. Rick Larsen Rep. Rick Larsen says he's disappointed that the Air Force chose a European plane over Boeing. Larsen called into the 710 KIRO Newsroom. |
Governor Christine Gregoire says losing the tanker contract is "unfortunate for Boeing and the state of Washington."
In a written statement, the Governor said she is disappointed with today's news. She says "Boeing and its workers build the best planes in the world. They will continue to enjoy great success with their 787 Dreamliner and other products still to come."
She says she looks "forward to working with them in the future, and looks forward to talking with Boeing after the company is debriefed by the Air Force regarding the specifics of why it did not win the contract."
The governor earlier this week said that if Boeing didn't win the contract that she was considering the possibility of a congressional inquiry or a formal legal protest.
Boeing's Take
A Boeing spokesman says the company is disappointed.
Spokesman Jim Condelles in Seattle said the company won't make a decision about appealing the award until it is debriefed by Air Force officials about their decision.
Boeing believes it offered the best value and lowest risk.
A spokesman for the union representing about 24,000 engineers and technical workers at Boeing said it also was disappointed.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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