The Alliance for Aviation Across America announced today that 21 mayors from the state – including Auburn’s Pete Lewis – have joined town and city officials from throughout the country in recognizing the critical importance of general aviation to communities.
The petition – the alliance said – comes in response to recent White House remarks about general aviation, which stated that American companies that use business aircraft do so because “it’s extremely convenient and they can afford it.”
The petition specifically cites the harm of the Obama administration’s negative rhetoric and increased taxes on businesses, farms and nonprofit organizations that depend on general aviation, and highlights the struggle that the industry has faced.
In Washington, general aviation contributes more than $3.18 billion to the economy every year and supports 7,615 jobs, according to the alliance.
Formed in 2007, the Alliance for Aviation Across America is a nonprofit, non-partisan coalition of more than 6,000 individuals representing businesses, agricultural groups, FBOs, small airports, elected officials, charitable organizations and leading business and aviation groups that support the interest of the general aviation community across various public policy issues.
Washington mayors supporting the petition:
Pete Lewis – Auburn
Barbara Tolbert – Arlington
Robert Goedde – Chelan
Lee Webster – Brewster
Patty Lent – Bremerton
Chuck Spieth – Oroville
Bill Simpson – Aberdeen
Patrick D. Rushing – Airway Heights
Doug Plinski – Odessa
Ken Estes – Montesano
Lisa Walters – Battle Ground
Patrick Plumb – Tonasket
Glenn A. Johnson – Pullman
Bill Ecret – Moses Lake
Vikki Bonfield – Asotin
Neil Johnson, Jr. – Bonney Lake
Rebecca Olness – Black Diamond
Marilynn Lynn – Bridgeport
Randall Crowner – Albion
Jack Durney – Hoquiam
David Baker – Kenmore
To view the mayors’ petition, click here.