As part of a deal announced today to keep Boeing 777X production in the region, Governor Jay Inslee has called a special legislative session to begin November 7 to pass all sorts of Boeing-demanded goodies, including:
- Extension of all commercial airplane tax incentives until 2040 and expansion of the current sales and use tax exemption on construction of buildings to manufacture “superefficient airplanes” to include all commercial airplanes and suppliers of wings and fuselages.
- Education and workforce development investments to boost enrollments in aerospace fields at community and technical colleges, train workers for manufacturing of composite wings and complete the Central Sound Aerospace Training Facility in Renton.
- Streamlined permitting actions that will speed up development and expansion of facilities at large manufacturing sites around the state.
- Developing balanced, practical solutions that achieve water quality goals (also referred to as fish consumption).
Because Boeing isn't profitable enough.
Also part of the deal, the Machinists Union has agreed to ask its members to approve big cuts in future health care and pension benefits. Again, Because Boeing isn't profitable enough.
On the bright side, Inslee will also use the special session to ask legislators to approve a new transportation funding package that presumably would include the local taxing authority necessary for King County Metro to stave off 645,000 hours of service cuts. More on Metro's woes and the potential funding obstacles in tomorrow's edition of The Stranger.
