In today's Columbian, Don's column uses Sunday's rollout of the Boeing 787 to take a longer look at what led to the plane's assembly here and ongoing threats to our competitiveness.
In 2003, then-Gov. Gary Locke and state lawmakers approved a series of "competitiveness" bills to convince Boeing to assemble the 787 in Everett. The package included major unemployment insurance reforms, which were largely reversed in 2005. Last year, lawmakers approved another UI reform bill that took some of the sting out of the 2005 reversal, but that legislation may not survive a challenge by the U.S. Department of Labor.
There were real problems this session.
Last year, union leaders pushed a bill that essentially leverages its organizers into non-union Boeing suppliers. It died midway through the session, but will be back in 2008. If that legislation is adopted, aerospace-related companies with fabrication plants in our state could lose tax credits and other incentives granted in the 2003 competitiveness package if they don't bow to union organizing pressure....
So, while we all are encouraged by the Dreamliner's debut, we should remember that it took a lot of heavy lifting to make sure Boeing put the "Made in Washington" label on the 787. Keeping that label should be our primary goal.
Boeing's corporate headquarters were moved out of Washington. The rest can be moved, as well, if unions and elected officials aren't careful.
It's a thoughtful column and a good reminder.
