Boeing Heads South For Better Business Climate: Washington State Politicians Are Surprised?

On Wednesday, Boeing announced it would put a second 787 assembly line in Charleston, S.C., rather than Everett, WA.

Union leaders and politicians like Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., expressed shock, dismay and outrage at the company’s decision.

Either they are feigning surprise, or they’ve been comatose for the last decade. Your guess is as good as mine.

For years, politicians and labor leaders in Washington have ignored Boeing’s pleas to stay competitive. In 2002, Boeing CEO Alan Mulally told the State House Labor Committee that “the state of Washington is not competitive. . . . meaning it costs us more to operate [here].” He specifically pointed to Washington’s costly workers’ compensation system, which requires employers to purchase insurance coverage from the state or be on the hook to cover all claims costs themselves, rather than allowing them to choose from among competing private providers. As a result, Washington collects some of the highest premiums from employers and injured worker rates are well above the national average.

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Tags: Alan Mulally, Boeing, Boeing 787, Boeing assembly line, Charleston
Posted Oct 31st 2009 at 7:35 am in Big Labor, Economics, News, Politics, State Politics | 23366185 Commentshttp://biggovernment.com/agunn/2009/10/31/boeing-heads-south-for-better-business-climate-washington-state-politicians-are-surprised/Boeing+Heads+South+For+Better+Business+Climate%3A+Washington+State+Politicians+Are+Surprised%3F+2009-10-31+14%3A35%3A01Amber+Gunn