The Metropolitan King County Council this week joined local elected leaders across Washington state to oppose the award of a major Air Force contract for aerial refueling tankers to the European-based Airbus consortium.
“It is imperative that the United States government not follow the example of corporations who have exported US jobs overseas,” said Councilmember Dow Constantine, prime sponsor of the motion. “This contract represents a missed opportunity for the administration to support American workers, American industry, and the sagging American economy.”
The Boeing Company has formally protested the decision and questioned the fairness of the tanker acquisition process.
The motion approved by the Council today calls on the federal government to cancel the tanker appropriation and institute a new bidding process. The County has joined elected officials at the federal, state and local level to voice opposition to the Airbus contract.
The motion notes that Boeing has built nearly 2,000 tankers, while Airbus has no such experience. It is estimated that, if awarded to the Puget Sound-based Boeing Company, the $35 billion contract could have added more than 4,400 family wage jobs and $400 million to the Washington State economy.
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