What does Missouri have in common with Washington State?  We both play host to Boeing.  I love having Boeing in our state!  Some of my best constituents and donors work there, many from when it was McDonnell-Douglass.  Every year Boeing would arrange for a tour for the legislators and I went as often as possible to show them the respect they deserve for being with us.  I have seen these airplanes being built from start to finish.  It is a beautiful operation and we are very proud of Boeing.

The economic developers in any state will clamor to compete for these businesses.  Boeing in the St. Louis area employs about 15,000 people.  Boeing in Everett, Washington employs about 56,000.  However, a few weeks ago 67% of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union employees in Everett turned down a contract.  Now Boeing is looking elsewhere for where they will build their next aircraft.