C.R. jobs will benefit if Boeing wins contract

Having worked for Alliant Energy for more than 39 years, I am committed to making our great city even greater. Job creation is one of the most vital components.

The U.S. Air Force is preparing to bid out a

$40 billion contract to build a fleet of aerial refueling tankers for the military's use. Two companies are in the running - the U.S.-based Boeing Company and the French-based Airbus Company, whose parent company is the foreign European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS).

If Boeing were to obtain this contract, many engineering jobs at Rockwell Collins would be created. This should be an easy decision for the U.S. government. Awarding this contract to Boeing would have a direct positive impact on the Cedar Rapids local economy.

We need to keep high-paying, high-quality jobs in the United States, not outsource them to Europe.

Del Block

Cedar Rapids