WICHITA — The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said three Gulf Coast states are illegally using federal Katrina disaster relief funds to skyjack aircraft manufacturing plants from other states. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, union president Tom Buffenbarger seeks an investigation into Louisiana’s $400 million offer to lure Hawker Beechcraft from Wichita to Baton Rouge. Last year, the governors of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi formed the “Aerospace Alliance” to bring aerospace manufacturing jobs to their states, Buffenbarger said. Local development corporations are advertising the creation of aerospace parks for new facilities and are specifically touting special federal Katrina funds as a way to help companies’ moves to the Gulf. He said federal laws forbid the use of Katrina funds to pirate other states’ industries.
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m.
