State (and Federal) regulations certainly contributed to the cost of operating the plant. But the "idiot" is actually correct as to why this specific plant closed and this particular auction is happening. Last contract allocated to the plant ended; old plant would need top-to-bottom remodel to work on current Boeing products; that's too expensive when they have capacity elsewhere and are moving work offshore anyway; so no more business for the plant = liquidate. The sad part (not in the story; probably a story to come after the auction) is that the machinery is likely to be sold offshore, as with many U.S. factory closures in the last 20 years, so nobody here will be able to use it again.

Boeing has in fact been very blunt: they are a multinational company and have no allegiance to ANY country. They will go wherever the cost of doing business is lowest, regardless of any other effects. They made that clear last week when they made a comment about the latest Export-Import Bank shenanigans in Congress: if the Ex-Im Bank (tax-subsidized loans for overseas buyers of U.S. products - especially airplanes - so Boeing can compete on price with Airbus which is also subsidized by the countries it operates in) goes away, so will ALL Boeing plants in the U.S., regardless of location.