Boeing ramps up contributions to governors groups

Boeing Co.’s political action committee is ramping up its contributions to governors groups in both parties.

{mosads}The aerospace manufacturer’s PAC contributed a total of $450,000 to the Democratic Governors Associations (DGA) and Republican Governors Associations (RGA) in the first half of 2016, according to an analysis from the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).

That figure is more than what it gave to both groups in the last three years combined.

At the federal level, however, CREW says campaign contributions from Boeing’s PAC and lobbying spending appear to be consistent with previous years.

CREW points out that governors dictate the tax breaks in states where Boeing is located.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) celebrated Boeing’s decision to open a manufacturing facility in her state, saying that the state’s aerospace tax credits helped make the expansion possible.

In May, Boeing revealed that it received tax breaks and credits from Washington state totaling $305 million in 2015 and $217 million in 2014.

But the tax credits have also come under fire in regions like Washington, where the company has cut jobs. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said he would consider rewriting the state’s tax credits to address the issue, according to Seattle Weekly.

Boeing’s PAC has dramatically increased its contributions to DGA over the past several years.

The company gave $25,000 in 2013, $50,000 in 2014 and $75,000 in 2015. But the PAC has already contributed $300,000 to the DGA so far this year, with a single gift of $250,000 in June, according to CREW.

Similarly, it gave the RGA $25,000 in 2013, $50,000 in 2014 and $50,000 in 2015. In the first six months of this year, it has given $150,000 to the RGA, according to CREW.

Boeing also is increasing its contributions to the Republican State Leadership Committee, giving $100,000 so far this year — up from $50,000 in both 2014 and 2015.

Contributions to other major state-level groups, however, are on par with previous years.

Boeing’s PAC gave $25,000 to the Republican Attorneys General Association, which is consistent with the past two years, and $22,000 to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which is slightly less than the figure it gave in 2014, according to CREW.