OLYMPIA – Rep. June Robinson (D-Everett) released the following statement in response to Boeing’s decision to open a completion and delivery facility for the 737 model in China.
“I am disappointed that once again, Boeing is moving more operations out of Washington state. In 2013, the Legislature approved the largest single tax break in history with the clear understanding that this would create more jobs in Washington and continue the long relationship that our state has with Boeing. Since that tax break was given, Boeing has moved more than 3000 jobs out of our state. These jobs have gone to South Carolina and Oklahoma, and are now heading to China.
Both Boeing and China have important relationships with Washington state. Boeing was started here more than 100 years ago and the company has grown up along with our state. Washington exports more to China than any other state. Each year China purchases over $20 billion worth of our airplanes, apples, and other products.
I certainly support Boeing and I support China, but we cannot sit by and continue to let Boeing collect on their tax breaks without making sure that jobs are staying in Washington. We are assured time and again by the lobbyists representing Boeing that without these tax breaks, Boeing will move even more jobs elsewhere. As a state, we need to account for the tax breaks that we give big corporations. We need to hold Boeing accountable for its promise of job creation.
Boeing claims that completing painting, flight testing, delivery certification and customer acceptance of the 737 in China will allow more planes to be built, boosting the aerospace economies of Washington and China. If this is true, it should be easy for Boeing to show net job creation in Washington. But Boeing continually lobbies against measures that would require accountability for promised jobs.
Washington taxpayers are paying billions of dollars to keep Boeing jobs here at home. We know that Boeing is good for our economy and we are willing to provide tax incentives to keep them here. But, it is only fair to our taxpayers that make sure that Boeing is keeping up their end of the bargain and creating jobs in Washington.
During the last legislative session I sponsored House Bill 2147, which would have tied Boeing’s tax break to jobs in Washington state. Had the measure passed, when Boeing jobs left the state, the tax break would gradually go away. But if the jobs stayed, then Boeing would get to keep the tax break. It’s a simple, common sense idea. South Carolina and Oklahoma already have similar requirements and it hasn’t driven jobs out of those states.”