The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

State News

Discussion

November 3, 2009

Kansas: State, Washington back Boeing for tanker contract

The Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. — With hundreds of new jobs at stake, Kansas officials are keeping an eye on the competition for an Air Force contract to build a new refueling plane.

Chicago-based Boeing Co., which has a plant in Wichita, is competing with Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp. and Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. for the $35 billion contract to build new air refuelers and replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of 179 tankers.

Northrop and Airbus are offering a tanker based on the Airbus A330. Boeing may offer tankers based on its 767 or 777 jets or both.

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson met this summer with the secretary of the Air Force to discuss military issues in the state, including the tanker project. Parkinson said Monday he and former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ administration have been strong supporters of Boeing’s bid.

“I will continue to work with Boeing and our Congressional delegation as they focus on ways to bring this important project to Kansas,” Parkinson said.

If Boeing received the contract, its Wichita plant likely would add jobs to finish construction of the aircraft, which would replace the Eisenhower-era planes currently flown by the Air Force and Air National Guard from Kansas bases.

In addition, Wichita-based Spirit Aerosystems is a major supplier to Boeing and is expected to make many of the components that would be used on the new refueler.

Jeff Glendening, vice president of political affairs for the Kansas Chamber, said the tanker contract would be a good project for Kansas, especially given the way the recession has affected the state’s aviation industry.

“We’ve been trying to show our support to Boeing in every way that we can,” Glendening said.

The Kansas House and Senate passed a nonbinding resolution last year urging the Air Force to give strong consideration to the Boeing bid.

Washington also is supporting Boeing’s bid.

Gov. Chris Gregoire said last week that she continues to work on the tanker bid, which would mean additional Boeing jobs in the Puget Sound region. Washington lost an important fight for a second 787 production line when Boeing picked a site in South Carolina.

“There will be other competitions to come and the first up is the tanker and I not only expect Washington to compete, I expect Washington to win that tanker,” Gregoire said.

Her spokesman Glenn Kuper said Tuesday that Gregoire was meeting with the Washington Council on Aerospace to develop a strategy and with Boeing officials to learn what other steps could be taken.

Rep. Todd Tiahrt, who represents Kansas’ 4th District in the U.S. House, joined 38 Boeing supporters in Congress in sending a letter to President Barack Obama, asking him to force the Air Force to consider a September ruling by the World Trade Organization regarding Airbus.

The WTO found Airbus received illegal subsidies from European governments to build its aircraft. Boeing supporters said the ruling was a clear indication that Airbus had an unfair advantage in bidding on the tanker deal.

Text Only
State News
  • Lions climb into share of MIAA men's basketball lead

    Without taking the floor, Missouri Southern has climbed into a first-place tie in the MIAA men’s basketball race.

    February 22, 2012

  • 2.6 magnitude earthquake recorded in Oklahoma

    The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded a 2.6 magnitude earthquake near Wellston in central Oklahoma.
    No injuries or damage is reported.

    January 19, 2011

  • Audit: $108,000 taken from Missouri Veterans Commission JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A former employee of the state auditor’s office embezzled nearly $108,000 while working as an accountant for the Missouri Veterans Commission, the state auditor alleged Monday.

    Stacy Griffin-Lowery was fired by the Veterans Commission in March 2008 and pleaded guilty three months later to a misdemeanor theft charge. She repaid the state $17,665, the auditor’s office said.

    But Missouri Auditor Susan Montee on Monday accused Griffin-Lowery of swiping an additional $90,192 by getting reimbursed for cash advances and purchases made on her personal credit card.

    April 12, 2010

  • Race in Kansas’ 2nd District could heat up for GOP incumbent TOPEKA, Kan. — A conservative Kansas legislator said Monday he will announce in a few weeks whether he will challenge freshman U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins in the Republican primary.

    State Sen. Dennis Pyle’s actions in recent months suggest the Hiawatha farmer, who’s served in the Legislature since 2001, is running against Jenkins in the Aug. 2 primary. He set up a campaign organization in November and has a Web site featuring a brief video of him on his farm, asking viewers for support.

    April 12, 2010

  • Oklahoma tea party leaders, lawmakers envision militia OKLAHOMA CITY — Frustrated by recent political setbacks, tea party leaders and some conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature say they would like to create a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.

    Tea party movement leaders say they’ve discussed the idea with several supportive lawmakers and hope to get legislation next year to recognize a new volunteer force

    April 12, 2010

  • Missouri: Senate panel cuts $500 million from proposed budget JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Senate committee declared Thursday that it has sliced more than $500 million from Missouri’s proposed budget for next year — meeting a target set by Gov. Jay Nixon to bring it in balance.

    April 8, 2010

  • Kansas: Wichita-area casino in doubt after governor’s decision TOPEKA, Kan. — A proposed casino south of Wichita was in doubt Thursday after Gov. Mark Parkinson refused to grant its developers a regulatory reprieve. Partners in the $225 million Chisholm Creek project wanted to delay a state board’s decision on their plans.

    April 8, 2010

  • Oklahoma: Groups oppose education spending initiative OKLAHOMA CITY — A coalition of business and labor groups said Thursday it will work to defeat a ballot initiative to dramatically increase spending on public education that coalition members said would devastate the budgets of many other state services and possibly force tax increases.

    April 8, 2010

  • Missouri: Gov. Nixon affirms support for tuition freeze COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has no plans to sit idly while lawmakers consider whether to preserve a tuition freeze deal he assembled before the state’s dire financial status was fully known.

    April 7, 2010

  • Kansas: Agency uses YouTube to illustrate road woes TOPEKA, Kan. — It’s one thing to hear about potholes and state budgets. It’s another to see how the two are connected. That’s part of the thinking behind a new video presentation on YouTube this week from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

    April 7, 2010