McDonnell Douglas Sale Inquiry Wins Support

The Los Angeles City Council, faced with a slate of resolutions supporting domestic industry, voted Wednesday to support a congressional inquiry into the proposed sale of part of McDonnell Douglas to foreign buyers.

The council voted its support for Rep. Mel Levine’s resolution asking President Bush to conduct a 60-day inquiry into the proposed sale of 40% of McDonnell Douglas Corp.’s commercial aircraft division to the Taiwan Aerospace Corp. But the council backed away from a resolution that would have had the city ask the president and Congress to intervene in the sale.

The council unanimously approved a resolution that “the president and the Congress be urged to make their highest priority assistance to the American workers and reinvestment in America.” But a fourth motion that would allow the city to give purchasing preference to products made, supplied or leased from U.S. companies was sent to the Administrative Services Committee.