Dueling Amendments

Senate supporters of Boeing and EADS have filed competing amendments to the fiscal year 2011 defense authorization bill, one requiring the Pentagon to consider a subsidy ruling by the World Trade Organization and the other mandating that military leaders ignore the WTO decision when evaluating bids for the Air Force's next-generation tanker.

Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) -- whose states would benefit from the selection of a Boeing-built aircraft -- introduced a bipartisan amendment that "would require the Pentagon to consider the unfair advantage provided by illegal subsidies in the competition to replace the Air Force's aerial refueling tanker," according to a joint statement released today after the amendment was submitted.

"This amendment is about creating and saving skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs here at home," Murray said. "It will require the Pentagon to finally consider the billion in illegal subsidies that Airbus has been using to undercut American aerospace companies and workers. It will also ensure an even playing field in the tanker competition."

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) also co-sponsored the amendment.

EADS supporter Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) submitted his own amendment, taking the opposite side. "My amendment is straightforward," he said in a statement today. "It simply states that the Secretary of Defense shall not undertake any action with respect to the tanker competition that is inconsistent with the obligations and commitments of the United States to World Trade Organization agreements. The purpose of my amendment to take politics out of the tanker competition and put the focus back where it should be -- procuring the best plane for our men and women in uniform."