Governor Inslee just wrapped up a press conference in which he called for a special session of the state legislature to convene this Thursday, November 7. The purpose of the session is to consider a legislative package intended to persuade the Boeing Company to assemble the 777X and its carbon fiber wings in Washington.

Inslee announced that Boeing and the machinists union had agreed to a new long-term contract this morning; the contract will go to a vote of the full membership next week. Inslee said that Boeing had informed him they would build the 777X in Washington if the full union membership agreed to the contract and if the state acted on four items. These items include:

• An extension of the existing aerospace tax preferences previously adopted by the state to secure the 787 business for Washington;
• Increased investment in education;
• Improved permitting specifically around fish consumption; and
• A transportation revenue package.

"There is increasing bi-partisan support for a transportation package which is key to securing our aerospace future," said Inslee. "We have the framework for an agreement." The governor confirmed SR-167 completion was part of that package.

Later during the press conference, however, he conceded that there were "two or three significant issues that need to be resolved" and described the transportation negotiations as being "on the twelve-yard line, not the two-yard line."

Senate Majority Caucus Coalition Rodney Tom confirmed some fo the uncertainty around the transportation deal saying that key parts of the deal to land Boeing are critical but that "We might need to do transportation in a second phase." He went on to say, "We were going to be hard pressed to get things done by Committee Days [scheduled for November 20 and 21], but we'll see what we can do."

Inslee wrapped up the press conference declaring "We need a transportation package to secure this business; we can talk about timing later."

Once again, the opportunity for completing SR-167 is before the Legislature. Unfortunately, it remains unclear whether lawmakers will seize that opportunity or not.