COMMENTARY

January 22, 2004

Boeing makes right decision on freighter provision

Bob Williams | President | Evergreen Freedom Foundation
The Seattle Times reported today that Boeing officials have decided to drop the state’s offer of $5 million (one part of a large agreement) to help the company develop an operating model for a new cargo 747-400 freighter. We also understand that Boeing is forgoing a state-hired coordinator who would have been responsible for working with the company on issues related to freight cargo.

Boeing officials made the right decision and we commend them.

We hope they have also dropped the state’s plan to identify funding sources for designing and building three 747-400 large cargo freighters. The contract should be amended to reflect these changes.

The provisions uncovered in the governor’s contract with Boeing this week fit into two different categories: legitimate reforms that ease the state’s onerous regulatory and tax burdens, and illegitimate corporate welfare paid for by individuals and businesses already suffering under a heavy tax burden.

We believe the legitimate reforms granted to Boeing in the areas of regulatory, land use, tax, permitting and transportation policy should be extended to all businesses in our state. This would improve the business climate for all companies, instead of improving it for just one at the expense of others. We know Boeing officials concur with this, too.

Legislators should continue to work with Boeing to identify other provisions in the governor’s contract that cannot be legitimately given to a business at the expense of hard-working taxpayers, and revise the agreement accordingly. Then legislators should take the lead in bringing about true reform for all Washington businesses.

Contact: Marsha Richards | Communications Director | 360.956.3482

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org