12:04 p.m. (AP) – Missouri lawmakers have given final approval to incentives for Boeing to assemble to a new passenger airplane in the St. Louis area.
The House voted 127-20-2 Friday for the legislation that authorizes as much as $1.7 billion of incentives over more than two decades for Boeing to produce the 777X jetliner. The legislation passed the Senate on Wednesday by a 23-8 vote.
Now it’s up to Boeing to decide whether Missouri’s offer is good enough.
Boeing sought proposals from more than a dozen locations after a machinists union in Washington state rejected a proposed contract last month.
Gov. Jay Nixon called a special session in order to increase the amount of incentives Missouri could offer. Missouri’s proposed incentives are linked to the number of jobs created.
The House began debate Friday on the legislation authorizing as much as $1.7 billion of incentives over more than two decades as part of Missouri’s effort to land production of the 777X commercial airplane.
House approval is the final step necessary in a special session. The legislation passed the Senate on Wednesday.
Boeing sought proposals from more than a dozen locations after a machinists union in Washington state rejected a proposed contract last month that sought concessions on pension benefits.
Gov. Jay Nixon called a special session because he wants to offer Boeing more incentives than currently allowed under state law. Missouri’s proposed incentives would be linked to the number of jobs created.