Boeing gave campaign cash before $9B tax vote

SEATTLE — Boeing Co. gave campaign contributions to seven state lawmakers a few days before the Legislature voted to give the company a massive tax break, according to records recently filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission.

The documents show that Boeing gave the maximum donation of $900 to seven lawmakers, for a total of $6,300. The donations were made on Nov. 5, the day before Gov. Jay Inslee called a special session to approve tax incentives valued at some $9 billion.

Boeing contributes to Washington state political campaigns with some regularity. But before November, the last donations from the company’s political action committee were in July, when it gave to a wide variety of lawmakers.

In the donations ahead of the special session, Boeing supported Republican Sens. John Braun, Sharon Brown and John Smith; Republican Reps. Norm Johnson, Charles Ross and Shelly Short; and Democratic Rep. Dave Upthegrove.

Six of the seven voted for the tax package, while Ross was excused from voting.

Boeing also gave some donations to local officials in November, including Snohomish County Executive John Lovick. He was among those who traveled to Olympia to testify in favor of the tax package.

Lawmakers approved the tax benefits in hopes of getting Boeing to build the 777X in Washington state. The company is still exploring its options.