Boeing backers seek to raise price of tanker bid

U.S. lawmakers who support Boeing Co.'s bid for a $35 billion Air Force refueling tanker contract introduced legislation today that would require the Pentagon to add the value of government subsidies to a competing tanker bid from European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co.

"The Pentagon should add back about $5 million" per plane for each of the EADS tankers, which are based on the Airbus A330, U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt, a Kansas Republican, told reporters today. The number is based on about $5 billion in government subsidies that Airbus, an EADS subsidiary, has received for about 1,000 A330 planes, he said.