Talmadge blasts aid for Boeing, says company mistreats state

By Ralph Thomas
Seattle Times Olympia bureau

	Phil Talmadge
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OLYMPIA — Now here's something you probably haven't heard before — a major statewide political candidate bashing Boeing.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge, one of three Democratic candidates for governor, yesterday blasted Boeing for using its political and economic muscle to squeeze what he said were undeserved concessions out of Washington's lawmakers and workers. He accused Boeing of turning its back on a region that has "poured its sweat, tears and soul" into the company.

Talmadge also criticized the state's political establishment for being too eager to "gratify" Boeing with tax breaks and regulatory concessions. In fact, he's calling on lawmakers to repeal the $3 billion tax break they overwhelmingly approved for Boeing earlier this year to help the state win the company's 7E7 jetliner project.

It's all in what Talmadge calls his "declaration of economic independence," which he plans to promote today during a news conference in Seattle.

"It's time that somebody stood up and said, 'How much of this are we going to put up with?' " Talmadge said.

Boeing officials did not immediately return a call late last night to respond to Talmadge's comments.

In a state where most politicians typically do everything they can to stay on Boeing's good side, Talmadge's sharp criticism of the company is rare and risky.

Don't expect to hear any of his opponents voicing similar concerns about the company or the political influence it wields.

"Boeing is and will continue to be an important employer and a big part of Washington's future," said Christian Sinderman, campaign consultant for Attorney General Christine Gregoire, another Democratic candidate for governor. "To go on this kind of tirade seems counterproductive."

But beating on Boeing could help Talmadge score some sorely needed points, especially with labor unions, which have been unhappy about the special treatment Boeing has enjoyed in Olympia.

Nearly a year ago, Talmadge was the first Democrat to enter the governor's race. But so far he has not been able to gain much traction and has fallen far behind the other two Democrats — Gregoire and King County Executive Ron Sims — in the race for campaign cash.

In his two-page attack on Boeing, Talmadge accuses the company of "holding a sword over the heads" of Washington's politicians and its own workers. He says the tax breaks and other concessions to Boeing come at the expense of other businesses, teachers and "all others."

Talmadge paints Boeing as a company in disarray, pointing to recent news reports about scandals and executive shake-ups. He says the company has shown "rampant disrespect" for the state, namely by moving its headquarters to Chicago and by saying disparaging things about the state's business climate.

Still, Talmadge saved some of his harshest words for the state's political leaders.

"They're wasting our time and money gratifying Boeing, oblivious that the 600-pound gorilla is shrinking, stumbling and stepping all over us," Talmadge wrote.

Ralph Thomas: 360-943-9882 or rthomas@seattletimes.com

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