Lobbying in full swing after Boeing, Airbus submit tanker bids
EVERETT, Wash. -- The fight over who will build a new air force refueling tanker is back on.
The Boeing Co. submitted its bid Friday. The Airbus team put in its bid on Thursday.
And the lobbying has begun in earnest.
Lawmakers, machinists and even a boeing VP rallied inside the Machinists' union hall on Friday, chanting, "American planes for the American military built by Americans!"
"Today is the day we've been waiting for," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
Some of the state's most influential lawmakers heralding Boeing's bid submitted just hours earlier to build at least $35 billion worth of airborne refueling tankers.
"We are going to win this fight!" said Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash.
But Boeing has been through this before.
Two and half years ago, a number of people were angry when EADS, the European parent company of Airbus, and Northrop Grumman were awarded the contract. The contract wasn't finalized due to errors on the Air Force's part.
This time, Northrop grumman is gone, and Boeing's European rival, which submitted its bid on Thursday, has a handcuff.
"We are basically going to give Europe a red card on these illegal subsidies," said Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.
The World Trade Organization has ruled European countries illegally subsidized the development of the A-330-200, the plane Airbus will use for their tanker, and House has passed a law requiring the entagon to take that into consideration.
"The Air Force has to get money for this contract, and the Air Force has to know we are not going to be happy about awarding appropriations for this contract if it goes to a bidder and that was not taken into consideration," Inslee said.
The Boeing Co. submitted its bid Friday. The Airbus team put in its bid on Thursday.
And the lobbying has begun in earnest.
Lawmakers, machinists and even a boeing VP rallied inside the Machinists' union hall on Friday, chanting, "American planes for the American military built by Americans!"
"Today is the day we've been waiting for," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
Some of the state's most influential lawmakers heralding Boeing's bid submitted just hours earlier to build at least $35 billion worth of airborne refueling tankers.
"We are going to win this fight!" said Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash.
But Boeing has been through this before.
Two and half years ago, a number of people were angry when EADS, the European parent company of Airbus, and Northrop Grumman were awarded the contract. The contract wasn't finalized due to errors on the Air Force's part.
This time, Northrop grumman is gone, and Boeing's European rival, which submitted its bid on Thursday, has a handcuff.
"We are basically going to give Europe a red card on these illegal subsidies," said Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.
The World Trade Organization has ruled European countries illegally subsidized the development of the A-330-200, the plane Airbus will use for their tanker, and House has passed a law requiring the entagon to take that into consideration.
"The Air Force has to get money for this contract, and the Air Force has to know we are not going to be happy about awarding appropriations for this contract if it goes to a bidder and that was not taken into consideration," Inslee said.