Boeing drops bomb in Senate race

[n2doc]

With two weeks left in the election cycle, Washington's largest private employer has roiled an already-tight Senate race between Patty Murray and Dino Rossi.

The Associated Press reported Monday that Boeing, citing the new federal health care law, would be charging 90,000 nonunion employees more for health insurance. After Rossi's Republican supporters seized on the story to attack Murray, the company tried to backpedal. Spokeswoman Karen Forte told me late Monday that Boeing would've made the move regardless of the new law, which some call "Obamacare." Boeing's health benefits are too generous compared to other employers and the company's costs are increasing, meaning employees will have to contribute more, Forte said.

Boeing didn't like the fact that The AP story keyed on the "Obamacare" element, but the letter sent to employees Oct. 14 cites the new law in the very first paragraph: "The newly enacted health care reform legislation, while intended to expand access to care for millions of uninsured Americans, is also adding cost pressure as requirements of the new law are phased in over the next several years," Senior Vice President Rick Stephens wrote.

Rossi stepped up his criticism of the law and Murray on Tuesday, appearing on "Fox News"' for a five-minute segment, saying the new rules will cost Boeing $150 million. "Sen. Murray was the 60th and deciding vote on this piece of legislation. Certainly, she has some responsibility in this, and we're going to be taking about this," Rossi said.

Boeing has really stepped in it with this letter. Regardless of one's opinion of the new federal health care law, the aerospace giant absolutely needs friends in the other Washington.

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http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/225421.asp

[ThomWV]

1. The language pisses me off

Notice how they say it ... "Boeing's health benefits are too generous compared to other employers". No, they are not "too generous" they are more generous. That is what Unions are about, to get an equitible treatment in the workplace and if that results in more generous benefits than is the norm, then so be it.

[rsmith6621]

2. Thats The Thanks....

Boeing gives Patty for trying to make the Tanker deal FAIR...

[n2doc]

3. Yep. And if they lose her they also lose her senority

Rossi will just be another backbencher who votes as the leadership tells him to.

[ladjf]

4. Boeing needs to shut up and start delivering some aircraft. nt