OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Chris Gregoire says that thousands of American jobs depend on Boeing’s bid for the U.S. Air Force airborne tanker contract.
Gregoire, along with the governors from Kansas, Connecticut and Utah, held a conference call Friday in support of the bid, saying that “we simply cannot let this opportunity slip away.”
Bids were due Friday for the $35 billion contract to build 179 of the planes. Boeing rival European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. submitted its bid Thursday. Boeing made its offer Friday morning.
Also Friday, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and several members of the state’s Congressional delegation rallied with aerospace workers in Everett in support of the bid.
Boeing wants to use a version of its 767 passenger jet, which is built in Everett.
