Sen. Mike Hewitt’s statement on South Carolina’s new incentives for Boeing; the company’s imminent decision

October 28, 2009

“Yesterday the South Carolina Legislature passed a package of incentives to lure Boeing and create 3,800 jobs there. Let me say that slowly:  Three thousand, eight hundred family-wage jobs that should be going to Washington – and would be, if everyone involved really understood what’s at stake. Think how many Washington families’ lives would be changed if those jobs were created here.    

“It’s obviously ‘game on’ in South Carolina. They get it. Why isn’t the Washington Legislature in special session right now enacting reasonable workers’ compensation reform and looking at other ideas to attract and retain these jobs?  

“This is like a football game where South Carolina’s team is marching down the field in the final minutes ready to score a touchdown. Washington knows the score is close, but just hopes it has enough points already on the board to win the game. Is that the time to sit on the sidelines and simply hope for the best? No – and neither is this.  

“Labor, business and policy leaders need to unite to retain good jobs here. Time is almost up. It isn’t just Boeing jobs that are at stake. It’s the jobs at all the smaller companies that supply Boeing, plus those who provide services and goods to its workers. Washington must show it’s serious about keeping those jobs here. If we don’t, we’ll regret it for generations to come.”  

For more information contact Senate Republican Caucus Communications Director  Rebecca Japhet at (360) 786-7516 or japhet.rebecca@leg.wa.gov.