Boeing halts gift to GOP group

By Alex Fryer
Seattle Times Washington bureau

Boeing executive Bob Watt delivered the news.

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The Leadership Council, one of the political-action committees of Senate Republicans, paid for mailers criticizing two Democrats who supported the nickel gas-tax increase.

Boeing and other large companies had lobbied for the tax increase as part of a package of measures aimed at fixing the state's transportation problems.

In an exchange with business executives Friday in Vancouver, Wash., Boeing Vice President Bob Watt said the company decided to withhold the $2,500 installment to The Leadership Council to express Boeing's dismay with the Republican ads. Watt would not provide further comment yesterday.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, who controls the political-action committee, was unapologetic.

"Complaining about us bringing up a legitimate issue that is part of someone's record seems to be nitpicking," he said. "If that's what Boeing wants to do, fine. We're not going to change what we believe."

Sens. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, and Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup, were among 14 Democrats who voted for the gas-tax increase.

Also voting for the increase were 15 Republican senators, including Finkbeiner and Dino Rossi, now the GOP candidate for governor.

Campaign fliers showed up in mailboxes two weeks ago blaming Haugen and Kastama for rising gas prices.

In the past two years, Microsoft has given The Leadership Council $30,000, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. Boeing gave $22,500, and Weyerhaeuser nearly $30,000.

When the fliers came to light last week, Boeing expressed dismay that the bipartisan gas-tax vote had been politicized.
 
"We view the gas-tax increase to improve transportation systems in this state not as a partisan issue but as a competitiveness issue," company spokesman Peter Conte said.

In 2003, Haugen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate transportation committee, said it was Boeing's lobbying that won enough votes to raise the gas tax.

"I think Boeing's telling us, 'Listen, it's our No. 1 issue, we're going to leave,' " she said at the time.

Yesterday, Kastama said Boeing's move pleased him.

"Good for Boeing," he said. "They need to send a clear message that when it comes to tough decisions, they can't be political."

Kastama said lawmakers need to make tough decisions without fear their votes could later be used against them. The Leadership Council's tactics erode trust and contribute to legislative gridlock, he said.

"I think he (Finkbeiner) should be apologizing, and I'm surprised he is not," Kastama said.

Finkbeiner said the campaign fliers were worth it, despite the loss of Boeing's $2,500.

"It's worth it to let people in their districts know about it," Finkbeiner said.

Weyerhaeuser, which also supports The Leadership Council, said it had already made its annual contribution and would later review its continued support.

"We're always disappointed to see bipartisan issues used for partisan gain," said Weyerhaeuser spokesman Bruce Amundson.

Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com