JEFFERSON CITY - A tax-incentive package to attract Boeing to Missouri passed a house committee Thursday after less than an hour of discussion.

The House Committee on Economic Development supported an incentive that would give up to $1.7 billion dollars in tax breaks to the company over 23 years if it creates 8,000 jobs.

Missouri is one of twelve states courting Boeing to manufacture a new plane here. The project is expected to bring in $2.9 billion dollars, according to the bill sponsor Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-St. Louis County.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon said he is confident Missouri is a contender for the project.

"With the history of Boeing working here, our strong workforce, our ability to put together a bipartisan group here to have a good, solid incentive package that also protects taxpayers wallets, all of those I think put us in a strong place to compete for these jobs," Nixon said.

Support for the bill even came from Rep. Randy Dunn, D-Kansas City.

"I think this is a good project for Missouri and the potential to bring thousands of jobs to Missouri is definitely a positive thing," Dunn said.

Rep. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, supports the bill, but said he wants to see more jobs go to rural Missouri.

"We can't blame it on Bush or blame it on somebody else," Engler said. "We are not doing anything to develop out state Missouri economically."

All but one committee member voted for the incentive. Rep. Clem Smith, D-St. Louis County, works for Boeing and voted present to avoid a conflict of interest.

Missouri has a Dec. 10 deadline to present an offer to the company.