Millions of dollars chasing tanker contract

The war between Boeing and EADS/Northrop Grumman on Capitol Hill is one of more than words. According to Legal Times, Boeing spent more than $14.8 million in 2008 on lobbying, including $1.55 million to outside lobbyists related to the on-again, off-again Air Force tanker contract. Meanwhile, EADS spent $1.82 million on outside lobbyists and $18.4 million on in-house lobbying efforts. The lobbying star power the companies called on included former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt (Boeing) and former Louisiana Sen. John Breaux (Northrop). Meanwhile, the $35 billion bidding process is stalled, though a Northrop lawyer says, “I’m hopeful a decision will be made quickly and we’ll be moving rapidly towards a new procurement.”

3 Comments

  1. Phantom
    Posted January 4, 2009 at 6:42 am | Permalink

    If Tiahrt or Roberts cared about Ks. they’d take on Mccain and his ammendment and undo the damage they’ve helped create.

  2. TomPaine
    Posted January 4, 2009 at 4:37 pm | Permalink

    Don’t see Airbus getting a tanker contract with an Obama administration.

  3. TomPaine
    Posted January 4, 2009 at 4:38 pm | Permalink

    And a restoration of the Buy America Act should effectively end Airbus’s chances of getting the contract anyways