Published: Friday, April 12, 2013, 12:01 a.m.

The split is between budget measures in the Democratic House, which would fund the office, and the Republican-led state Senate, which has passed a budget that would not.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers in South Carolina, Washington's rising aerospace rival, are on a fast track to approve $120 million in incentives for the Boeing Co. Boeing, in turn, plans to create 2,000 additional jobs and invest $1 billion for expansion in North Charleston over the next eight years.

Washington legislators have kept an eye on Boeing's growing footprint at the Charleston, S.C., airport -- more than 6,000 jobs there so far -- while working to meet the needs of a bustling aerospace industry here.

"I think it proves we live in a global economy and we need to remain competitive," said Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, referring to the activity in South Carolina.

Hobbs, however, voted for the Senate budget that strips funding for the aerospace office.

Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett, didn't.

"I don't believe that budget sends the right message," Harper said.

The budget proposal by Democrats in the House would not only fund the aerospace office, including the director's position, but would throw in $200,000 to "implement strategies to retain and grow aerospace-related jobs."

The Office of Aerospace was created more than a year ago. Former Gov. Chris Gregoire followed the advice of consultants who completed a study of Washington's competitiveness in the aerospace industry.

Read more:

In Olympia, a mixed message on aerospace