'I would have grounded Boeing 737 Max much sooner,' says Gov. Inslee

Washington Governor Jay Inslee says Boeing 737 Max jets should have been grounded sooner after two fatal crashes.

Inslee spoke Wednesday night on a CNN town hall program that’s part of a swing on his campaign for president.

“I come from sort of a Boeing neighborhood and family,” Inslee said. “My best friend's dad was a Boeing engineer on the 727. My uncle was a manager, my cousins are Boeing. So, this has been a very painful thing for the people who make these airplanes.

"But I have to tell you, I would have grounded these jets much sooner," he said. "Don't hold me to this because I didn't have all of the briefing. But I would have been giving serious consideration to grounding them after the first loss. And the reason is that it appeared to me at the time that there was sufficient evidence of a significant malfunction to warrant that.”

The first crash was in Indonesia in November. But even after a second jet crashed in Ethiopia last month, the United States balked at grounding the 737 Max until worldwide pressure became overwhelming as evidence emerged that a critical system aboard the jet was at fault.

The crashes have caused a crisis for Boeing, Washington's largest private employer.

Orders for the jet have dried up, the company is cutting production at its Renton plant, and airline companies are canceling orders and asking for compensation.

Inslee has been getting tough on the company of late. He originally backed an $8.7 billion tax break in 2013 for Boeing to keep 777X production in Washington state. But last month after the second 737 crash, Inslee told The Daily Show that the deal now feels like being mugged.

“These corporations put a gun to your ribs,” he said.

On CNN on Wednesday, Inslee also discussed decriminalizing marijuana and gun control, saying he's been a supporter since 1994. That’s when he voted in favor of a federal assault weapons ban as a member of the House.

“I provided one of the critical votes to get it over the top. I lost my seat,” he said. “But I have never regretted that vote, because I do not believe any congressman's or politician's seat is more important than any child's life. And I fundamentally believe that.”

Inslee also said he believes in getting rid of the filibuster and lowering the age for Medicare.

And when it comes to impeachment talks, Inslee said he believes Democrats should focus on voting President Donald Trump out of office.

Inslee continues his campaign for president this week with stops in New York, New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina.

Produced for the web by Gil Aegerter.