Gov. Gregoire urges fair and transparent process for rebidding of new air tanker contract

For Immediate Release: August 19, 2008

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire issued the following statement on a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on the reissued air tanker proposal:

�Today, I, along with state Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and state House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler sent a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates outlining our concern with the recently released request for proposal for the aerial refuel tanker. We share the opinion that the Department of Defense�s proposal is written to prevent the likelihood of a fair and transparent competition. We believe they are putting expediency over thoroughness, giving Boeing�s competitor an unfair advantage.

�We strongly urge the department to take the time to fully incorporate the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office. Only then will the department have a contract that is unbiased and serves the public interest by being fair and transparent.�