Last year's drama in Congress over reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank (the bank was eventually reopened in December 2015) continues this year in a different form. U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama and the Senate Banking Committee chairman, is blocking the nomination of a third Ex-Im Bank board member. At least three members must sit on the bank's board in order to approve deals of more than $10 million.

As a consequence, reports The New York Times, "More than 30 transactions worth more than $20 billion to U.S. businesses are stuck awaiting assistance for their buyers." Boeing is one of those businesses, and nearly three months ago its CEO indicated "Boeing is on the verge of losing orders."

The Ex-Im Bank is very important to Washington state. As Seattle Times columnist Jon Talton noted last June during the reauthorization fight, the bank

has helped a total 234 companies here since 2007. This provided support for $135 billion in exports and constituted nearly half the bank’s total lending. Washington’s merchandise exports since 2007 have totaled more than $524 billion.

We'll keep an eye on this issue and provide updates as events warrant.