Republican Dino Rossi has hit a bit of turbulence on whether he thinks illegal subsidies to Airbus and Boeing should be a factor in which of the firms is awarded the lucrative contract to build air refueling tankers.
On Monday, he seemed to have told editors of the Tacoma News-Tribune that he did not think the Pentagon should consider subsidies received by Airbus in its consideration of that company’s bid.
But Jennifer Morris, Rossi’s spokeswoman, said he was referring only to subsidies Boeing is reported in the news to have received.
Today she issued a statement from Rossi making clear he does think subsidies received by Airbus should be a factor considered by folks at the Pentagon who will make the decision.
Here is his statement, issued today, by Morris:
“I absolutely believe the illegal subsidies received by Airbus should be taken into account when the Air Force makes its decision on the tanker contract. We don’t need a WTO ruling to know that Boeing makes the best plane at the best price and, absent unfair foreign subsidies, would win the tanker contract hands down. That’s what I’ll fight for in the Senate.”
This begged the question: Why does Mr. Rossi believe the Pentagon should only consider the WTO ruling against Airbus and not the one against Boeing?
Morris responded by e-mail: “Dino will represent Washington, not France
In the meantime, Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wa.,issued a statement today calling Rossi’ “terribly unprepared” on the issue.
It begins:
After reviewing statements made by Senate candidate Dino Rossi Monday regarding the European government subsidies that represent an unfair advantage to Airbus in the Air Force tanker competition, U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks called the Republican businessman “terribly unprepared on one of the most important jobs issues for our state this year.”
Dicks, who apparently watched the video of the editorial board meeting, concluded:
Rossi appeared unaware of the final release in July of the WTO conclusion about launch subsidies, which found that “actionable” and “prohibited” subsidies gave Airbus planes an unfair advantage in the global marketplace.
“I was stunned to hear Mr. Rossi refer to this WTO conclusion by saying ‘however it comes out’, implying that there is still some doubt about Airbus subsidies,” the congressman said. “Mr. Rossi clearly doesn’t understand the ramifications of this issue, replying ‘No. Not as far as I’m concerned. No’ when asked if the WTO issue should be a factor in the tanker competition,” Rep. Dicks said.
“On one of the biggest issues involving the fate of thousands of Boeing jobs in our state, Mr. Rossi appeared to be wholly unprepared, and it is clear to anyone who sees this editorial interview that Senator Patty Murray demonstrates a much better understanding and approach to keeping our jobs at home,” Dicks said.
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