Joint statement by Gov. Gregoire and Gov. Sebelius on Air Force tanker contract

For Immediate Release: March 4, 2008

OLYMPIA � Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius today issued the following statement:

�Like many of our fellow citizens, we were shocked by the Air Force�s decision to award a multibillion-dollar military contract to a foreign company. We cannot understand that at a time when our economy is struggling, the Bush administration would send American jobs and American money overseas.

�The decision is particularly surprising to us when Kansas and Washington have the best manufacturer of airplanes with the best work force in our states. These are high-wage, high-skill jobs � exactly the type of jobs we need to keep in America.

�We�ve been in contact with Boeing representatives and they will meet with federal officials to discuss the contract. We will support Boeing in its decision about whether to appeal the awarding of this contract.

�We also support our respective congressional delegations in asking very tough questions about this decision, and stand ready to work with them to make sure the award of the tanker contract protects our workers, our taxpayers, our military personnel and our country.�

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