Industry supports 2000 jobs in the state
CEDAR RAPIDS Hundreds of workers state & local officials and aviation enthusiasts gathered in the Rockwell Collins hanger at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids Aug. 17 to send a message to President Barack Obama: stop attacking private jet owners and by doing so their jobs.
Clay Johnson Rockwell Collins Chairman President and CEO extolled to the crowd that
General aviation is one of the few manufacturing industries that provides a trade surplus for the United States and supports more than 1.2 million jobs across the country. In Iowa alone GA contributes $1.4 billion to the economy annually."
Obama has repeatedly singled out corporate jet owners" as an example of wealthy individuals who should sacrifice tax breaks. The President has proposed scaling back a tax break for private jet owners to raise about $3 billion over the next decade.
Iowas congressional delegation joined Jones on stage as he told the crowd In the current economic environment it is important that we capitalize on things that are working. Fortunately you dont have to look any further than general aviation."
U.S. Rep. Tom Latham R-IA said that he has been troubled by the remarks made by the president and said they must end. U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell D-IA praised Jones for defending the use of corporate jets in congressional testimony in 2009 after auto company executives came under attack for using them to fly to Washington.
Boswell detailed how Jones told members of Congress he used his corporate jet to have meetings in New York and Florida that same day
illustrating how such transportation is crucial for business and saves time.
A U.S. government plane similar to Air Force One which is used to transport members of Obamas cabinet happened to be parked across from the hanger during the event.
GAMAs President and CEO Pete Bunce closed the rally by pointing out that the taxpayer-funded plane to the crowd and noted that government officials use it to conduct business across the globe in the same way that corporate executives use their planes.
Its a business jet" he said.
