With the Washington state legislature in special (extended) session, the two bills calling for aerospace tax incentive accountability still have a chance for a vote.

Washington Legislative bills HB-2146 by Representative Richard DeBolt (R-20) and HB-2145 by Representative Noel Frame (D-36) with support on both sides of the political aisle are clear indications that Washington’s aerospace tax preferences are not achieving their intended purpose.

Machinists and SPEEA support tax incentives used to maintain and grow our state’s aerospace workforce. That’s what the Washington Legislature approved and The Boeing Company agreed to in 2013 when the state extended $8.7 billion of tax incentives to the aerospace industry.  However, instead of increasing employment in Washington as the Legislature intended and the public expected, Boeing has now cut 12,655 jobs from its workforce in the state.

SPEEA and Machinists Lodge 751 agree with Representatives DeBolt and Frame that job accountability must be added to our state’s aerospace tax preferences.  We applaud their work keeping this issue in the forefront and believe both bills provide an opportunity for the Legislature to protect Washington jobs and grow our state’s aerospace industry.

We strongly urge the House Finance Committee to consider these proposals and advance a solution that brings needed accountability to Washington’s aerospace tax preferences.