Boeing jobs at issue as newly elected lawmakers tour plant

Two newly-elected members of Congress are concerned about the future of jobs at the Boeing plant in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, and associated businesses that have contracts with the huge facility. 

Delaware Democratic Congressman-elect John Carney joined Pennsylvania Republican Congressman-elect Pat Meehan at the Boeing plant Tuesday.  The military’s V-22 Osprey and Chinook helicopter aircraft are made there, and the plant employs nearly 6,000 people.

A commission is looking at ways to reduce the federal deficit, and there is concern that the tilt-rotor aircraft produced at Boeing may be targeted for cuts.  Meehan says after early problems, the performance of the   V-22 Osprey has improved.

“You’ve got people down in Washington who are often times talking from the perspective of history but not current capability and not current utilization,” Meehan said.  He also says the Osprey’s ability to vertically take off and land is more vital to the military’s current anti-terrorism mission.

Carney added that the Boeing plant employs more than 750 Delawareans.  Nearly 70 suppliers based in Delaware conducted more than $56,000,000 worth of business with Boeing over the last twelve months.

“This is an incredibly important worksite in the region,” Carney said.