Cog in the machine...

There's a story in the Lawrence Journal-World discussing the half [pinky finger to lips] BILLION dollars in bonds the state granted to Boeing a couple years back.

The short version of the story is that some Legislator from Lansing seems to think that the tax break should be granted, outright, to Onex, ignoring that (1) Onex hasn't asked for the bonds and (2) perhaps the State House should first have some discussion about the effects the sale is going to have on the local and state economies.

Sure, the first point is moot. While the story quite plainly states that Onex hasn't expressed a desire for the bonds -- "'Onex is aware that that offer exists ["that offer" meaning the bond deal] but we have no further comment aboot it," Dan Wilinsky, [Onex spokesman] said." -- they'd be foolish to not try to get this kinda tax break. As their recent successes seem to indicate that they're not foolish, I must assume that they'd be quite desirous of the bond deal. So if they haven't yet asked for it, they're bound to, sometime in the near future.

The second point, however, is hardly "moot"... as my pal Hoyt says in the story, there really needs to be some oversight about the economic fallout from this sale.

First off, the primary provision of the bond deal is that Boeing's payments to the state will be offset by income taxes paid by future employees. Well, I certainly hope the reported 4000 "new hires" required is over and above those management plans to layoff in the immediate future.

More importantly, the rumored cuts to retirement benefits and compensation will ripple through the Wichita economy and need to be mitigated. Boeing workers won't be retiring as early as they might, freeing up those high-paying jobs for the young adults in our community. Wage freezes will stop Wichita from growing; wage cuts will mean layoffs for local small businesses, as Boeing employees cut back on our purchases, fearing we will soon be unemployed.

It's imperative that the legislators we've elected do their job and protect us and our community from the corporation's unreasonable desire for unlimited profit. Please contact our legislators and tell them your opinion on just how much you and your family, their constituents, should be required to pay for this sale of Boeing-Wichita.

Senator Sam Brownback
Senator Pat Roberts
Congressman Todd Tiahrt
Congressman Jerry Moran

Kansas Legislators
- Sedgwick County
- Butler County
- Harvey County
- Reno County
- Kingman County
- Sumner County
- Cowley County


-- Bill, who'd suggest phone calls work better than e-mail, but do what you can...