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Rep. Mike Hope's statement
on selection of South Carolina for second 787 line
Rep. Mike Hope,
R-Lake Stevens, issued this statement regarding Boeing's decision to
build a 787 Dreamliner assembly line in Charleston:
“To call today’s announcement by Boeing disappointing is a gross
understatement. Governor Gregoire and majority Democrats in the
Legislature ignored the warning signs, and the price of Washington’s
terrible business climate will be the loss of thousands of family jobs.
At a time when unemployment is more than 9 percent, this is a painful
blow for Snohomish County and the entire state.
“When Boeing’s decision was on the line, the governor of South Carolina
wasted no time in calling a special legislative session to adopt a
package of upfront grants and tax breaks. I have to ask our governor,
‘Why were you sitting on the sidelines? Why aren’t we in session to
demonstrate an equally strong commitment to keeping the aerospace
industry vibrant and growing in Washington?’
"Governor Gregoire claims that this was a negotiation between the union
and Boeing. I strongly disagree. This was a negotiation between Boeing,
the state of South Carolina and the state of Washington, and we lost. We
lost because the business climate in our state needs immediate and
dramatic improvement.
“Consistently, my Republican colleagues and I have fought to address the
most serious obstacles to making Washington more competitive, starting
with our enormously expensive workers’ compensation system. But our
efforts were ignored, and proposals to help employers and create a more
competitive business climate were rejected.
“The governor said she thinks the company ‘made the wrong decision.’ On
that point we agree, but she has also failed to be the leader we needed
at one of the most critical times in our state’s history.”
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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