Topeka ? Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is continuing his campaign to help the Boeing Corp. win a contract for an Air Force refueling tanker.

Brownback was an advocate for the project when he served in the U.S. Senate. Now, as governor, he’s co-chairing the U.S. Tanker Coalition with Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire (grehg-WAHR’).

Boeing is competing with European manufacturer EADS, parent company of Airbus, for the contract to build the next generation of refueling aircraft. The work would be done in 40 states, with the bulk in Kansas and Washington. A decision is expected in the coming weeks.

Brownback and Gregoire wrote to President Barack Obama on Tuesday urging the federal government to consider all factors in the decision, including what they called illegal subsidies enjoyed by Airbus.