Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 25, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Stresses State’s Continued Push for Boeing 7E7, Highlights 2003 Legislative Accomplishments

Gov. Gary Locke today stressed that the state continues to work hard to land final assembly of the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner, even following the delivery of its proposal to The Boeing Company last week. Locke discussed Phase II of the state’s “Action Washington” 7E7 plan during his weekly news conference. He also highlighted the many successes of the 2003 legislative sessions, which included legislation critical to the state’s 7E7 proposal.

Locke delivered a copy of the state’s proposal to Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, on Friday, June 20.

“We presented a compelling, creative and highly competitive package, but our work continues,” Locke said. “It may not be as visible as before, but, behind the scenes, we are relentlessly doing all that we can to make sure Boeing chooses Washington.”

During Phase II of the site selection process, the governor said the state would work with both Boeing and its site selection consultant on more specific questions about the Everett and Moses Lake sites. Locke also said “Action Washington” will continue to gather statewide support and move on several fronts to press the case for building the 7E7 in the state.

“We’ve put our best proposal forward, thanks to the efforts of our unprecedented coalition and the bold action taken by the Legislature,” Locke said. “We have been tracking other states, and our proposal definitely has the attention of our major competitors. We are confident that we will be among the finalists to build the 7E7 Dreamliner. And we are confident that we will win.”

Martha Choe, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, joined the governor at the news conference today. Choe led the team that put the state’s 7E7 proposal together.

“We anticipate detailed questions from Boeing and its site selection consultant, and we’re ready,” Choe said. “We know we’re the right choice for Boeing and we will continue to make the case to the company that Washington state is the best place for final assembly of the 7E7.”

Locke said the state’s efforts to ensure the 7E7 Dreamliner is assembled in Washington were part of a highly productive legislative session – among the most productive on record. “We showed Boeing that we mean business and want to keep all of our great companies,” he said.

The Legislature passed several pieces of legislation supported or requested by the governor during the regular session and the two special sessions, including:

·A $4.2 billion transportation-improvement package to make roads safer and reduce congestion;
·An estimated $3 billion tax incentives package for the aerospace industry during the next 20 years if the Boeing 7E7 is built in Washington state;
·A two-year $23 billion General Fund budget that follows the governor’s innovative “Priorities of Government” approach;
·A $2.7 billion capital construction budget that mirrors the governor’s proposed capital budget, creating thousands of private-sector jobs, improving the state’s higher education, prison and mental health facilities;
·Reforms to the state’s unemployment insurance and injured workers’ compensation systems;
·New tools to ensure water quality and quantity for a growing demand; and
·Making prescription drugs more affordable by helping seniors and people with disabilities buy prescription drugs at cheaper prices as well as taking steps to reduce the overall cost of state-purchased drugs.

Locke thanked the Legislature for its hard work. “This year will be remembered as one in which the future of Washington was at stake – and we met the challenge head-on with bold, decisive action.”

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