Published: Friday, April 12, 2013, 12:01 a.m.<\/p>\n
The split is between budget measures in the Democratic House, which would fund the office, and the Republican-led state Senate, which has passed a budget that would not. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, state lawmakers in South Carolina, Washington's rising aerospace rival, are on a fast track to approve $120 million in incentives for the Boeing Co. Boeing, in turn, plans to create 2,000 additional jobs and invest $1 billion for expansion in North Charleston over the next eight years. <\/p>\n
Washington legislators have kept an eye on Boeing's growing footprint at the Charleston, S.C., airport -- more than 6,000 jobs there so far -- while working to meet the needs of a bustling aerospace industry here. <\/p>\n
\"I think it proves we live in a global economy and we need to remain competitive,\" said Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, referring to the activity in South Carolina. <\/p>\n
Hobbs, however, voted for the Senate budget that strips funding for the aerospace office. <\/p>\n
Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett, didn't. <\/p>\n
\"I don't believe that budget sends the right message,\" Harper said. <\/p>\n
The budget proposal by Democrats in the House would not only fund the aerospace office, including the director's position, but would throw in $200,000 to \"implement strategies to retain and grow aerospace-related jobs.\" <\/p>\n
The Office of Aerospace was created more than a year ago. Former Gov. Chris Gregoire followed the advice of consultants who completed a study of Washington's competitiveness in the aerospace industry. <\/p>\n
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In Olympia, a mixed message on aerospace<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Published: Friday, April 12, 2013, 12:01 a.m. The split is between budget measures in the Democratic House, which would fund the office, and the Republican-led state Senate, which has passed a budget that would not Continue reading